Biden - I'm not going to be an attack dog

[RamboLiberal]

VIRGINIA BEACH — Call him Senator Nice Guy.

One day after Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin wowed her party's convention with a speech that mocked Barack Obama's record and the Democratic Party's policies, her opponent, Joe Biden, said he has no intention of answering in kind.

"I'm not going to be an attack dog," the Democratic vice presidential nominee told USA TODAY here in an interview. "I'm not going to fool with my brand."

A veteran member of the U.S. Senate who counts GOP nominee John McCain as a close friend, Biden lived up to his vow at a town hall meeting here, calling Palin's national debut "very impressive" and offering an impassioned defense when a member of the audience suggested that McCain's Navy record never measured up to those of his father and great-grandfather, both admirals.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-09-04-biden_N.htm

Damn it Joe, you need to take the gloves off with this pit bull in lipstick! She needs slammed in to the boards - HARD!

[LSparkle]

1. Talk about BUYERS' REMORSE ... wish you'd told us that FIRST, Joe ...

WE NEED AN ATTACK DOG RIGHT NOW ... It's nothing to be ashamed
of, or to think is "beneath" you ... THIS IS HARDBALL POLITICS
and if you want to be VP, Mr. Biden, you've got to be willing
to FIGHT FOR IT.

[Abacus]

7. Not this buyer, I couldn't be more pleased with our ticket

[LSparkle]

14. I just hope as this campaign continues that he will POINT OUT the lies

and not just allow BombBomb, Inc. to keep MISLEADING
the public.

I'm seeing the clip from "Morning Joe" though, and
he looks STRONG.

I just SO want us to take it to them this time; I was
disappointed in Kerry last time and even a bit so in
Gore. We've got to show we can match them, inch by
inch and attack by attack -- by RESPONDING, not allowing
their lies to hang out there and become "urban legend."

[themaguffin]

10. do you think that he's going to say "I'm the attack dog?"

[nini]

12. EXACTLY

:thumbsup:

[ejbr]

61. The problem is

that he called her national debut "very impressive". Being "impressed" with your opponent allows wafflers to choose to be impressed with her too.

Even still, Biden can't help but be blunt. He might not want to be an attack dog, but he'll zing them along the way. No worries here.

[goddess40]

13. Attack dog implies doing what ever is necessary (like republicans do)

I think Joe means he's going to tell the truth and let the chips fall where they may.

[1corona4u]

18. I don't think Obama wants him to be an attack dog...

remember? Obama wants to stop the "old politics". He even said so today. go look for the video. It's the same reason they are not attacking back.

PS. You didn't buy him, Obama did.

[gateley]

23. Biden is not going to snark for snark sake.

He has never attacked a person, only their policies. And how he does that is devastating.

I'm sorry you're looking for a vicious predator.

And I'm sorry you've got buyer's remorse. Perhaps you should shop at the other store? They seem to have what you're looking for.

[Doremus]

47. Ya think he's taking his cues from the head of the ticket?

Geez, let's give them some credit. Obama has played this campaign brilliantly. He's demonstrated a phenomenal ability to smash the competition in his own way -- bloodless but equally devastating.

We may not understand his strategy but it's a proven winner.

[Cosmocat]

49. No, we do not ...

Not with Palin - BO and Biden need to get as far away from the trainwreck they they can.

[yardwork]

2. I think it's a smart strategy for Biden and Obama to continue being gracious.

Palin and McCain are their own worst enemies. Every time they open their mouths more people decide to vote for Obama.

The contrast between Obama's positive message of hope and the Republicans' mean-spirited sniping is becoming more and more apparent. Biden is right. Being positive is the campaign's brand, and it's very valuable.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Democrats need to pick up the fight. We need other Democrats to be vocal about the lies.

[Bake]

21. "Gracious" got our asses kicked every time before

But sure, it oughta work this time....

:sarcasm:

Bake

[yardwork]

24. No, I'm not talking about repeating the Kerry approach! That was stupid!

The campaign and the Democrats must fight back. I'm saying that it's good for Biden and Obama to personally appear to be above the fray. But we need to get other Democrats out there fighting back hard. And continue all our work on blogs.

[gabeana]

3. He is setting up the expectations game

Joe if a fighter nothing to worry about here

[Bake]

54. I'ts like "Give 'Em Hell Harry" Truman said,

Biden can just tell the TRUTH and they'll THINK it's hell!

Bake

[cliffordu]

4. Keep watching. It's all about the issues and he's going to Michael Jordan

her hockey mom ass all over the stage.

[spanone]

5. i believe americans are tired of the republican hate bullshit

[1corona4u]

19. That's exactly it. And the mistake people are making on this board is

comparing this to Kerry. This is a different situation all together.

[Warren Stupidity]

50. Or Dukakis or Mondale or Carter

So I guess we should compare it to Clinton. I don't recall Clinton taking a hands off, above the fray approach, but I could be wrong.

Republicans have won, in my lifetime, nine of the last 14 presidential elections. If we start with Nixon's 'Silent Majority' campaign of '72 as the starting point for dirty divisive campaigning, they have won six out of the last nine contests, 2/3 of those contests, deploying their negative divisive tactics.

Each cycle we have Democrats such as you telling us that these tactics don't work, that things have changed, that people have changed. You guys are wrong every time. Negative campaigning works. It might be the case that, because of the economic situation, Obama wins without going negative, but I don't care to risk that, nor should you, and nor should the Obama campaign. They need to attack and attack hard and relentlessly where McCain is vulnerable.

[bdamomma]

60. Yes, this campaign is totally different from 2004

I have faith in both Obama and Biden.

[Sensitivity]

6. Negative Info is best delivered by 3rd parties to be EFFECTIVE.

[demokatgurrl]

31. Exactly!!! there are many in the party

who COULD take it to them- starting with Howard Dean.

[Canuckistanian]

32. I think GHW Bush perfected this technique

And his spawn refined it further, taking it to new lows.

Might as well use it.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

8. Obama and Biden are letting Grampy and Yep Yep empty their collective bowels...

...once the RNC is over and it's back to a real debate on the issues, Biden won't HAVE to be an attack dog.

There's a degree of nuance in his remarks that some might miss. He's not saying "I intend to get on all fours for the POW and his Hockey Mom BFF."

He's saying:

"I have no intention of playing their fucking GAME."

And...in all honesty...isn't that exactly what we want to hear from the next Vice President of the United States?

:patriot:

[Dervill Crow]

20. Well said. nt

[weezie1317]

9. I think he's saying he won't go in the gutter with Palin. He'll attack like he did at the DNC.

[terrya]

11. Exactly

[stray cat]

15. I want Joe Biden to be Joe Biden - he will do fine

slobbering pit bulls don't look very presidential with or without lipstick

[Muttocracy]

16. Biden isn't an abused pit bull. He's more of a German Shepherd.

And if you don't believe he knows what he's doing, you need to watch more video clips of Biden in this year's campaign, on talk shows, and in the Senate.

[Bucky]

17. Of course he's gonna *say* this. Saying "I will be an attack dog" is the equivalent of...

posting a "dripping sarcasm" icon in the middle of your post so that your sarcasm won't offend anybody. If you're worried about offending delicate souls, you have no business being sarcastic in the first place.

If Biden can't shred her up in a debate without showing the patented Biden charm, he has no business calling himself Biden. Don't be afraid to watch that event, folks. It'll be the popcorn moment of the season.

[WinkyDink]

22. "I just tell the truth and they THINK it's Hell!" ~~~~Harry S Truman

[Nikki Stone1]

25. OK, flame me if you must, but if we had Hillary as VP, Palin would be toast

Palin would so pale in comparison and Hillary could go for the jugular without the GOP yelling (cynically) "sexism".


:hide:

[RamboLiberal]

26. I sure wasn't a Hillary supporter during the primaries

But I agree with you. McSame probably wouldn't have named Palin then.

I'm really hoping Hillary goes on the attack even though she is not the VP nom. Palin has no business being the first female to be VP or President.

[Nikki Stone1]

27. But the debates are the scary part. That is where Hillary would shine.

And Palin would crumble.

(Yeah, I'm upset today. :()

[gateley]

28. Understandable, but Biden will shine during the debate, too.

In this instance, we're fortunate it's not Kaine or Bayh.

[racaulk]

43. If Hillary were our VP candidate, McCain wouldn't have picked Palin.

I have always thought that the main reason he picked her was, in part, to try to pick up some of Hillary's supporters just because she is a woman. That was a reactionary pick on McCain's part in response to Obama not picking Hillary. If Obama had selected Hillary as his running mate, then McCain wouldn't have tried to capitalize on that perceived advantage.

But if Hillary and Palin were both VP candidates, you're right. Hillary would absolutely destroy her in a debate. And I would have paid money for front row tickets to see it! :)

[my3boyz]

29. Obama probably won't allow him too. I'm so pissed becausethey are going to let that skank walk all

over them.

[Willo]

30. I like how Obama and Biden have handled this so far

-giving it just the amount of attention and acknowledgement it warrants
-not being caught in an obviously laid trap
-not being distracted off message
-not showing their hole card

May I bring you back to the dem convention speeches for what really works wonders.

[noel711]

33. He's lowering expectations...

painting himself as 'nice guy.'

But he's a city kid, street cred...
when he's pushed, look out!

[Jennicut]

34. I am tired of hearig about "Oh, woe is me, its Kerry all over again".

Shut up and get over it already. We are not the Rethugs, we are smarter and better people. Did you not see Obama yesterday? "I've heard worse on the basketball court". Its a brush off and makes the Rethugs merely insignificant. If one gets up all in their face and start attacking right away that only drags you down too. Hit them on their policies over and over again. As far as Biden goes, you must not know him that well. He attacks policies, not personally. Never has and never will. However, he is the ultimate at dismissing other politicians, like telling Rove he is a great American. That is sarcasm that works, not like Sarah Palin where it ultimately makes you look worse. No problems here, move along.

[Mad_Dem_X]

35. Just go after her with the facts, Joe

And have her try to defend her ridiculous positions.

[olkaz]

36. Misdirection, folks. Relax.

Jesus christ, we're drowning in chicken littles.

[lolamio]

37. He's just biding his time. I am not worried in the least.

He'll destroy her in the debates and he'll do it with a smile! She'll never know what hit her.

[stlsaxman]

38. All Joe has to do is smile and speak THE TRUTH... she will crumble.

oh ye of little faith.

[NatBurner]

39. Obama is moving his pieces like a chess master

while grumpy is happy he got a checker into king's row.

he's been brilliant so far; we need to just trust him, and keep fighting the good fight down here in the trenches.

[stlsaxman]

45. lol good one!

"while Grumpy is happy he got a checker into kings row"

:spray:

[bullwinkle428]

40. "I'm not going to be an attack dog" = "Karl Rove is a great American"!

[SmokingJacket]

41. You know, he's just distinguishing himself from that self-described dog.

I think he WILL hit, and hit hard. He just won't be a screeching maniac about it.

[JohnnyBoots]

42. I have a feeling that they gave the contract to hit Palin to Hillary. That way it keeps their hands

clean and their message and brand above the fray. Secondly, there is a very good chance I think that Palin will self destruct.

[zulchzulu]

44. Biden is a strident chess player, not some dog...

Look for his Meet The Press interview this Sunday to see what I mean. Palin is bound to be gaffe-prone if she ever does and interview. Biden can just slowly boil her in water like a frog. Nice and slow...

[JaneQPublic]

51. Precicely. The most deadly "attack" is competence...

...combined with total mastery of the facts.

Add to that Joe's gravitas and his ability to cite chapter and verse on what the Repukes did wrong ver 8 years, as well as what needs to be done to fix this mess.

[InNeedOfUserName]

46. Either you go out and kick-butt, or you'll get your Butt-KICKED!!!

"I'm not going to fool with my brand."???? WTF????

[Hard_Work]

52. Not the kick butt time at all

Obama/Biden are playing this just right. You ever been in a fight and hit someone as hard as you can? And they act like they didn't even feel it? It's scary when your opponent shrugs off your best shot like a drop of water. Makes you think maybe you are a little out of your league. Makes you think you're kinda irrelevant.

What they are doing is instilling doubt in the minds of the repubs. Making them doubt themselves coming off their convention is brilliant.

Please, people. This is a chess match.

[Warren Stupidity]

55. Really bad analogy.

What you don't do in a real fight is stand there not fighting back waiting to get hit again to show them once more how tough you are. Eventually the person attacking you will figure out how to take you down.

John Kerry? Remember him? Recall how he deigned not to respond to the attacks against him? A race that should have been a blow out become close enough to steal. Is that what we want to see again for the third time in a row?

They have to start putting McCain on the defensive. McCain has shown his hand and where he wants to go with this campaign. Obama needs to strike back and strike hard and not run an above the fray issue oriented Democratic yawner like his two losing predecessors.

[Hard_Work]

53. Oops, double post.

NT

[Cosmocat]

48. No, she does NOT need to be "slammed"

BO and Biden need to get AS FAR AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN from the trainwreck.

[Clear Blue Sky]

56. What's wrong with being an attack dog

when it means standing up for your positions and ideas?

Nice guys finish last Joe...

[Thrill]

57. John Edwards all over again. They throw vicious insults at our candidate

and he's talking about his brand and complimenting her.

Unreal. Democrats never learn. Thats why they continue to lose Presidential Races they should win.

[951-Riverside]

58. Kerry said the same thing in 04

...and that worked out well :)

[bdamomma]

59. who is the grown up here?

Biden or Palin?

[Phred42]

62. WHEN ?