Biden says couldn't turn down VP offer from Obama

[Thrill]

He really hasn't been hiding how much he wants it.


WASHINGTON (AFP) - Foreign policy heavyweight Joseph Biden said Sunday he would serve as Barack Obama's vice presidential nominee if asked, but insisted he was not angling for the job.
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Senator Biden, a front-runner in the media VP stakes whose own bid for the Democratic nomination this year was short-lived, said on NBC television: "I am not interested in the vice presidency."

Biden, who is chairman of the Senate's powerful foreign relations committee and would bring national-security heft to an Obama ticket, said he had told the party's new standard-bearer that he was not interested.

But he added: "If the candidate asks me to be vice president, the answer is I got to say yes. But he's not going to ask me.

"Unlike most other people, I'm being straight with you. If asked, I will do it. I've made it clear I do not want to be asked," said the Delaware senator, 65, whose birth state of Pennsylvania is a big prize in November's election.

Biden said he would have to say yes because "am I going to say to the first African-American candidate about to make history in the world that, 'No, I will not help you out like you want me to'? Of course I'll say yes."

For Republican candidate John McCain, the name most touted in the media is Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, 47, who comes from a blue-collar family and says the party needs to reach out to working-class voters.

He told CNN that nobody in McCain's VP search team had been in contact with him.

"Well, I'm focused on my day job... this is not something that I have designs on. I'm very happy with being governor of the state of Minnesota," said Pawlenty, who hosted a visit to the state on Thursday by McCain.

Other names in the Democratic VP stakes include former Senate majority leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, 60, who has become a close adviser to Obama.

"I'm not seeking the vice presidency. I've not talked to Barack about it. I don't expect to be asked. And I have no interest," he said on Fox News Sunday, while adding "obviously, you'd think about it."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080623/pl_afp/usvotevp_080623133452;_ylt=An_3XjF9NGuz_p73O1gCyYcb.3QA

[Eurobabe]

1. Sounds good to me

but pretty soon we'll see the concern trolls on this thread. :hi:

[zanne]

2. Unfortunately, whoever is chosen will have his/her history nit-picked.

I don't recall any skeletons in Binden's closet and I like him, but we do have to be concerned about those things now.

[bluedeminredstate]

3. Plaigarism.

He got dinged back in the 80's when he ran for President. They said he plaigarized some of his speeches. I don't know if it still matters, but I bet it would be mentioned a lot.

[Debi]

5. Yes, an act the man did not commit over 20 years ago should be THE reason

he is not Vice Presidential material. (They say.....geeeez) x(

Next......

[zanne]

7. We have to think like Republican attack dogs right now.

You do realize that we're not the ones who will be criticizing Obama's VP pick, right?

[Debi]

10. Oh, please

Biden has made it clear he doesn't want the job. Obama has not made any motion toward selecting Biden for the job. But let's all post a few threads shitting all over Bidens 36-year Senatorial career shall we? Plagarism (bullshit) charge, Foot in Mouth Disease, Anita Hill, IWR, Bankruptcy Bill. There, did I cover em all? Oh, no - the BIG ONE - Hair Plugs!!! No Way!! Biden's not qaulified - he has FAKE HAIR!!!! :banghead:

[zanne]

11. I think you've confused me with the enemy... nt

[Debi]

14. As you have done w/Senator Biden n/t

[zanne]

20. I think you need to calm down...

You're seeing everything as an attack. It isn't. (And it's a long way till November; keep your powder dry).

[Debi]

22. I thank you for your kind concern

about my powder.

Was I supposed to see your comments about Biden as compliments? Where were your comments about his support for campaign finance? His support for funding for more local cops on the streets? His advocacy for protection of women in violent situations or for single parents raising children on their own? Or his unending fight for equality?

Was all that coming in your next post?

[zanne]

28. You're in a fighting mood...

So you don't really want to discuss anything. I think I understand, but you're not doing yourself or your health any good by getting this riled up over nothing. I LIKE JOE BIDEN. If my opinion counted, I'd want him as VP pick, too, but we "vet" VP picks, right? That's what I'm trying to explain to you. ANY VP CANDIDATE would have to be vetted. I don't know how to say it any other way.

[bluedeminredstate]

29. Don't bother.

Obviously you're a troll.

:sarcasm:

[jakem]

27. wow. you may need some of this after that reaming...

that all seemed a bit rough.

[Frustratedlady]

25. If that's his LIST, then I'd say he's pretty clean compared to the mass/mess in Washington.

I'm still holding onto Biden. I dare them to jump him about hair plugs. How petty can one get?

Actually, I dare them to jump him.

[Debi]

26. Why should republicans jump on Biden

when 'concerned' DUers are doing it for them?

[zanne]

6. Damn nt

[Debi]

8. Wait, there will be more

Biden is one of the smartest and most honest folks we have serving in the U.S. Congress - God forbid he help run this country :eyes:

[Debi]

4. Wow, lookee there - they arrived right on schedule!

Biden has been very clear in public and private how much he DOES NOT want to be VP. But the Biden haters just can't stop themselves.

(pssssst. did you know he voted for the Bankruptcy bill??????? x()

Biden kicked Graham's ass all over the MTP studios - people should be celebrating that instead of skewering Biden with their false 'concern'

:eyes:

[zanne]

9. The Primaries are over.

We can't give our opinions without being suspected now? I was, and am an ardent Obama supporter, but I never criticized Biden. I think he's a good man, but we do have to be careful because the VP pick could ruin a good thing. It's happened before.

[Debi]

13. Take some time and review Biden's successes - it will take a while

If a 20-year-old fake plagiarism charge is all the GOP can come up with against Biden that's pretty damn good.

He took down Graham pretty handily on MTP Sunday and will do the same to anyone McCain can come up with as his VP choice - hell, he'd take down McCain.

The primaries are over, and Obama has given no inclination that Biden is his choice for VP. So why attack Biden with all the crap the haters attacked him with during the primary? Really, why?

[bluedeminredstate]

21. Wow.

Just wow. Watch Faux ever? Try it sometime. They do this all the time. No use in acting like they won't or that it wasn't mentioned twenty years ago. It'll be mentioned if he is the VP pick. Bet on it. Next...

[Debi]

24. Oh, well, if it's no Fox News then we MUST repeat it verbatim here in DU!

:crazy:

Isn't in here that we're supposed to DEFEND the Democrats from attacks by the republicans?

Biden is one hell of an attack dog - and Obama needs that kind of support right now. Our beating the crap out of Biden because *gasp* the republicans might do it later on down the road - is foolish.

He kicked Lindsay Graham's ass. So we make a list of all the reasons we don't want him fighting for our nominee? Maybe next time Obama can ask Joe Lieberman to appear for him. x( Maybe that would make the Biden haters here happy.

[Eurobabe]

18. I think Biden is the least of your worries

Try Sam Nunn. Peace, out.

[Eurobabe]

16. Did I tell you or what??

Some people just can't help but trash a good man who has given this country 35+ years of his life. :eyes:

Did anyone bring up the hair plugs yet?

Edit: Score 1 debi, preemptive HAIR PLUG STRIKE!! :rofl:

[Debi]

19. It's #1 on the list for every presidential nominee!

No hair plugs in the VP :thumbsup: (Strange that pacemakers are okay....:eyes:)

[Inuca]

12. What part of

"I've made it clear I do not want to be asked" leads you to conclude that "He really hasn't been hiding how much he wants it."???

I think that Biden has been as straightforward as possible: he does not want it, he made it known that he is not interested, but if nevertheless he will be asked he will say yes because to do otherwise would be absurd.

[Adelante]

15. That's what patriots do

If your president calls, you answer :patriot:

[Eurobabe]

17. Hmm, now that sounds familiar

:patriot: :hi:

[Adelante]

23. .

:hi:

[gateley]

30. Here's the video - straight from Biden's mouth -- of the article on Yahoo.

As he's said, he doesn't WANT it, but of course would say yes if asked. I believe him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4bE7gTv8qI

As for vetting, if it came to that, Biden has very few hot topics, and those that keep coming up are overblown. In addition to some of the ground breaking and progressive legislation he's introduced (as Debi mentioned), there are also some pretty amazing things many people don't know about him. For example, he made a conscious decision not to invest in the stock market when he entered public service lest his votes be influenced by his stock holdings. He's also never met with a lobbyist.

So IF Obama asks him (which I don't think he will) and IF he's subject to the Reps vetting, he'll do just fine. Compared to so many other politicians, he's an altar boy. :7

[Debi]

31. Gateley, I'm pretty sure he WAS an alter boy!

:rofl:

[gateley]

37. Ha! You're right!

:rofl:

We can add "speaks Latin" to his resume!

[anonymous171]

32. Biden would be a good choice, imo. nt

[Fleshdancer]

33. You would have to be an idiot to say no

This campaign is historic and Obama's presidency will be historic. Anyone who says they wouldn't join this ticket is lying.

[Stop Cornyn]

34. Am I the only one who thought that he was weak as dishwater on MTP? I thought he was awful.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

35. Three words: Loose. Can. Non.

Love the guy to pieces, but he's got a riverboat gambler bloviator side to him that would have Obama putting out fires from here to November. He's a
youtube poster boy drooling in the wings.

[David Zephyr]

36. Biden should be in Obama's top five choices.

Politics aside. He'd make a very good VP.

[jillan]

38. I really got the feeling that Biden doesn't want it.

He told Williams that he told the Obama camp he doesn't want it but would do whatever it takes to help get Obama elected.

I think he wants to be Sec of State, which would better utilize his talents.

[WhiteTara]

39. I hope Obama doesn't ask

Joe helped with thatbankruptcy bill that is so ruinous. It makes me think he is a shill.