"I'm not the guy"

[mamalone]

OK, here's something I'm wondering about... If Biden is the VP choice then why did he say "I'm not the guy." Now I know, obviously he isn't bound by a flippant statement like that, but still it seems odd to me. It doesn't seem logical that he would outright lie... There were so many other ways he could have answered those reporters. Know what I mean?

Thoughts?

[valerief]

1. Maybe Biden is really a woman! nt

[gateley]

2. I have two thoughts:

1. Either he hadn't heard from Obama and assumed he was not "the guy"
2. He's not "the guy"

[mamalone]

8. I hadn't even thought of #1

and hope it's not #2 although honestly I would prefer that to the prospect of him lying outright. Call me silly, but the idea of that kinda bothered me.

[gateley]

36. I don't think he'd lie - and that's what gets him into

trouble a lot.

If he knew he was the guy and didn't want to say it, he could have just waved and driven away -- not say anything.

If he was cornered, I think he would have said "ask Obama" or I'm sorry but I can't discuss any conversations with Obama or something like that -- I honestly don't think it's in his nature to flat out lie.

[mamalone]

40. Exactly Gateley!

That is precisely my take on Biden and the way he'd handle things:)

[jakem]

51. what if he meant "im not the guy to tell you"

[mamalone]

52. Yes! somebody else also mentioned that possibility

I was just searching for a plausible explanation... and it seems there are many:) This is why I love DU- lots of creative minds here!

[NotThisTime]

56. That's what I thought....

[doublethink]

3. He's not The Dude either ....

[TTUBatfan2008]

4. Because maybe he wasn't the guy AT THE TIME...

he probably knew he was under consideration but not much more than that. Wasn't his comment on Monday? Not sure when Obama made up his mind but it is possible Biden was telling the truth.

[mamalone]

14. That possibility never even crossed my mind..

But it was just the kind of thing I was looking for... a reasonable explanation:)

[TTUBatfan2008]

20. Well, they are politicians after all...

LOL, for all we know he did know he was the guy with a wink and a nudge from Obama but not the formal "you're the guy" call so to speak, which did not occur until today at some point. I'm sure he had a good feeling about it, but *technically* he was not lying because he hadn't received "the call" yet. LOL.

[mamalone]

22. I hope that's not true...

I know it's a very very small thing, but even a tiny lie like this is unsettling to me. I may be silly, but I don't think Biden would lie.

[TTUBatfan2008]

24. It's not a lie if Obama did not tell him he was the guy though...

and we know he did not tell him until today, assuming it even is Biden.

[mamalone]

26. You sound like my husband....

from whom I have been separated for over 8 years.

That man could rationalize anything, lol!

[TTUBatfan2008]

28. LOL...

Well just thinking of some of the possibilities. There's plenty of things I can't rationalize though, but if I talk about them here I'll get sent out on a rail (I'm pretty moderate overall, pretty conservative on things like the oil and gas industry and global warming, but extremely liberal on war, death penalty, and dirty politics...meaning Rove's brand of politics which is disgusting). At any rate, I do try to understand and respect Obama's positions even if I do not agree with them, and in the case of this little ordeal, I'm just trying to rationalize it because I think that smirk on Biden's face is a pretty good indication that he was confident that he was the guy. Going to play golf that same day, etc.

[mamalone]

31. You sound a bit like me..

I'm a raging liberal on some things and downright conservative on some others ( as much as I hate to admit that). And I am in total and complete agreement with your assessment of Rove- whom I despise with the fire of a thousand suns. Truly the man is revolting.

[TTUBatfan2008]

34. Yes, he is incredibly dangerous...

and it's kind of disheartening that we are now seeing in these polls that Barack CANNOT win by running a fairly positive campaign. He's going to have to get down in the mud with the pigs (McNopoly campaign) who have been sliming him for a sold month now with character assassination attempts.

[mamalone]

37. I hope you're wrong there...

I hope he will be able to take the high road... somehow. If slime is the only way to run a campaign now, then Rove has truly won a great victory.

[TTUBatfan2008]

55. I'm willing to admit that he has won a great victory...

over the soul of the public. The public does not trust politicians and therefore negative campaigning plays right into that distrust. The "seven" ad is a great example of the TRUTH about John McNopoly, but it is negative campaigning.

[gateley]

43. But see, I didn't view it as a smirk at all. So we each interpret things differently.

And make our judgments on that interpretation. We're often wrong.

I remember a friend of mine said to me once "and you were looking at me with daggers in your eyes" - I was WHAT? It was NO WHERE NEAR the truth of my intentions.

So we just don't know.

[TTUBatfan2008]

58. That is true...

Joe is in general a nice guy with the media so maybe he was just being his usual nice self.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

25. Oye. My guess, he wasn't quite ready to deal with them, big deal.

If you've noticed the media bought it is still clueless.

edit: I misunderstood you. I guess theres a chance that Bidens not it. I think it's kind of small though.

[mamalone]

27. yeah..

but lying is a big deal to me.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

59. maybe he hadn't been informed for sure?

[Thrill]

5. His staff backtracked on that an hour after he said it

[mamalone]

12. Oh, really.. I hadn't heard that..

[gateley]

44. They confirmed that he hadn't heard any word - which Biden confirmed

later. Again, I'm thinking he thought he wasn't the guy (and I was also kind of wondering if he'd worked out an SOS deal with Obama).

[mamalone]

48. Honestly...

He's been my pick for SOS all along... well after he dropped out of the running for the nomination, that is:(

[gateley]

45. They confirmed that he hadn't heard any word - which Biden confirmed

later. Again, I'm thinking he thought he wasn't the guy (and I was also kind of wondering if he'd worked out an SOS deal with Obama).

[DJ13]

6. He returned later to those reporters & backtracked on that statement

[Muttocracy]

7. Some people thought he was joking (I'm not Joe Biden, I'm someone else)

the audio on all those video clips was kind of hard to hear, and different networks transcribed it differently.

But I find it confusing too.

[mamalone]

15. That's a possibility ...

and one I prefer to the thought of him lying about something so unnecessary, or lying about anything honestly!

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

9. That same day he was asked if he'd gotten a call, said no. Next day said "no comment"

When he said "I'm not the guy" he probably hadn't been told yet.

[mamalone]

16. Ahhh... gotcha...

[WheelWalker]

19. Can you imagine. He probably went from "not the guy" to "the guy" in the same day.

What a mind fuck.

[mamalone]

23. I'm sure this whole thing has been quite the roller coaster.

[Not the Only One]

10. well

Just add "as of now" and it probably was true. Obama may not have told Biden at the time that he was the choice.

[goodgd_yall]

11. He THOUGHT he wasn't the guy

Before Obama informed him he WAS the guy.

[goodgd_yall]

13. Seriously

that is what has made me doubt it's Biden, but we'll find out soon enough.

[ClarkBayh 2008]

17. Either way ... this hasn't been handled well...

professionally or in a statesmanlike manner...
This just feeds into the whole celeb thing..
Biden did say he wasn't the guy... so this better not be another flip flop thing...
This doesn't seem like a headfake.... building up a choice like Biden with all this drama... is a mistake.

[mamalone]

21. Oh, I don't think it's all so terrible...

I was sure there was some reasonable explanation... I just couldn't think of one meself. Thankfully lots of other DU'ers are smarter than me:)

[mamalone]

18. I'm glad I'm not the only one who takes these types of things so seriously...

I was kinda afraid I'd get a bunch of replies saying I was being waaaay too literal and sensitive.

Thanks:)

[Ediacara]

29. Maybe he wanted people to stop camping on his lawn

[mamalone]

35. So...

do you think he would tell a blatant lie just to accomplish that? Maybe a small silly lie, but a lie nonetheless. It just doesn't make sense to me.

[gateley]

47. No he wouldn't. He would tell them to get off his lawn -- which is exactly

what he did the next day.

He doesn't lie.

[mamalone]

49. I am really appreciating you gateley:)

You have the exact same take on Joe as I do.

[RedShoes]

30. "I'm not the guy".......who can tell you I AM the guy. nt

[Muttocracy]

33. that's another possibility - I'm not the guy you need to talk to. nt

[mamalone]

39. Ahhh....

I didn't understand what the poster meant! Thanks for the explanation:)

[RedShoes]

53. sorry to be ambiguous. nt

[mamalone]

54. tis ok...

Honestly, I can be a bit thick at times, lol.

[jillan]

32. Because back on Tuesday he didn't know he was the guy.

[mamalone]

42. :)

[blitzen]

38. Because when you're truly the Guy, you never need say you're the Guy

[Top Cat]

41. Maybe he didn't know yet when he made the statement... Give the guy a break

[mamalone]

46. Ummm.....

I don't think I'm being too hard on him. On the contrary, I adore Biden... and he was my choice for the nomination. And it's precisely because of the things that I value in him- his integrity and straightforwardness that made me question as I did.

[greguganus]

50. Maybe he's just a liar. n/t

[apocalypsehow]

57. Why would you say that? Maybe he had no idea that he'd been picked at that time, and was of the

opinion that he wouldn't be.

:shrug:

[Eurobabe]

60. Wow, you people say Biden is a gaffe machine, what if he leaked it?

I think this whole thing TOTALLY ups his cred, and ability to keep his mouth zipped.

'Nuf said.

[mamalone]

61. I meant no disparagement on Biden..

Quite the contrary in fact. I just can't see the guy lying- it's not his style. And lots of folks have come up with very plausible explanations for his statement:)

[Eurobabe]

63. I don't mean you personally mamalone

I meant others posting on this thread, and DU in general trashing Biden.

[mamalone]

65. :)

I can be faulted for many things... but trashing Mr. Joe certainly isn't one of them, lol!

No offense taken!:)

[Lucky 13]

62. Maybe he didn't find out until after he said that?

:shrug:

I don't know. That's the best i could come up with.

[mamalone]

64. Makes sense to me!

I couldn't think that up on my own, but I agree that's entirely possible:)

[mamalone]

66. OK guys... I'm going to bed...

and hey, I can sleep easy now that my mind's been settled on this issue:)


Thanks for all your thoughts:hug: