As Running Mate, Biden Offers Foreign Policy Heft but an Insider Image

[babylonsister]

As Running Mate, Biden Offers Foreign Policy Heft but an Insider Image
Eric Thayer for The New York Times

Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware campaigning for president in October in Des Moines. He finished fifth in the Iowa Democratic caucuses and left the race.

By JOHN M. BRODER
Published: August 17, 2008


WASHINGTON — While other potential vice-presidential nominees were appearing on the Sunday talk shows, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. spent the weekend in Tbilisi, Georgia, meeting with the country’s embattled president, Mikheil Saakashvili. The trip was made at the request of the Georgian leader, who is trying to rally international support after Russia invaded his country this month.

Mr. Biden’s visit to Georgia (he was expected to return to Washington on Monday) highlighted his standing as an expert on foreign policy — he is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee — who is known and respected in capitals around the world. But it also emphasized his status as a Washington insider at a time when Americans say they are hungering for change.

The two sides of Mr. Biden’s extensive résumé are likely to be receiving a closer look as Senator Barack Obama prepares to announce his running mate, probably sometime this week.

Only Mr. Obama and a handful of close and very discreet aides know where the vice-presidential selection process stands with the Democratic National Convention in Denver just a week away. But several people close to the campaign say Mr. Biden, of Delaware, is among those who are under consideration.

Political etiquette requires potential vice-presidential picks to deny any interest in the post and assert how much they love their present job, all the while coyly batting their eyelashes at the nominee to signal their availability.

But Mr. Biden, anything but coy, has left little doubt that he wants the job.

Asked in May whether he would accept the vice-presidential slot, he said, “You’d have to consider it. I mean, how could you just blow it off?”

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/18/us/politics/18biden.html?ref=politics

[bdamomma]

1. Thank you Senator Biden for being right on top of things

are you also making a trip to Pakistan???? another danger area.

[napi21]

2. I SYILL think Biden would be the best choice! Yes, he is a

Washington insider, but he puts the "inexperience" issue off the table, and the lack of "foreign policy ability" as well!

We NEED a BULLDOG! THAT is one of Joe's talents! The only issue I've heard that the Pubs could slam him on is the purgery charge, and he has the perfect comeback. "OH! You want to talk about stuff from 20 years ago? OK! Lets talk about THE KEATING FIVE!"

[styersc]

6. Purgery (sic)-what do you mean perjury?

[napi21]

7. Back in the 80's when Biden ran for the presidency, part of his stump speech

was a quote from a book a friend of his wrote. In EVERY speech, he always gave credit to the author, except for ONE SPEECH! Some reporter caught it, and made enough of a stink that it brought down Biden's candidacy that year. Afterwards, even the media said it was a false charge, but by then it was too late! If you do a search on Biden perjury, I'm sure you'll find the name of the author and many stories on the issue.

Sorry, there was so much BS about it on DU back in the early primary days of THIS campaign, I thought everybody knew what I was talking about.

[styersc]

9. Yes, Biden had PLAGARIZED a speech from a British politician.

Plagarized, not perjured. perjury is lying under oath- different thing.

[OHdem10]

3. Joe Biden has the personality and image to help with Blue

Collar Voters. He comes across as down to earth and not an
elite. he offers heft to the ticket.

[Muttocracy]

4. like how they left out Obama's comments at the Iowa debate

:eyes:

[gateley]

5. I disagree on him "wanting the job".

He said he didn't want it, but would take it if asked. You know Biden, if he'd wanted it, he'd have said so.

It's like if your boss offered you a position you really didn't want, but you took it because your boss asked for your help, and s/he felt it would benefit the company. It's a sense of loyalty, responsibility and obligation.

[Terranist]

8. Eh, he's not very popular outside the pundit class

He got enormous name and face coverage during the primaries, way more than anyone outside the magical 3 top contenders, and performed terribly.

I think a lot of people really do see him as some kind of old guard insider, especially people who disagreed with the way he shilled for the banking industry.

His gaffes also are very damaging at times. Not a good choice at all, imo.

Also I feel kind of insulting people saying he's on top of foreign policy issues. No he isn't. He backed every Bush adventure until it became too politically acidic for him to do so.

[Debi]

10. Welcome to DU Terranist

:hi: Glad to have you here!

Are you from Delaware?