Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr.: "No one wants an angry African American man in the White House"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Joe Biden's task: delivering campaign punches that Barack Obama must pull
Tannen Maury / EPA



Sen. Joe Biden does his sound check for his speech tonight at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.

The Democratic running mate takes the stage tonight to begin the job of attacking the GOP. As the first black candidate and a 'post-partisan' change agent, Obama hands are tied in that regard.

By Peter Wallsten, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
10:03 AM PDT, August 27, 2008

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-assess28-2008aug28,0,2277714.story

In part, Obama, who tonight will formally become his party's presidential nominee, is limited by his own decision to build a political persona as a "post-partisan" leader with a conciliatory tone designed to appease independents and Republicans.

Moreover, Obama is trying to convince America to elect its first black president - a task that requires rewriting the traditional playbook that is safe for a white candidate.

"He cannot hit back," said Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), a close friend and advisor to Obama. "He has to keep smiling. No one wants an angry African American man in the White House."

Jackson knows that better than most. It was his father, the civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, who built a movement with electrifying presidential runs in 1984 and 1988 -- but who campaigned by preaching tough, colorful sermons that appealed to black voters but prevented him from being a mainstream candidate.

Obama's success - his ability to win support from whites and blacks alike - has stemmed from his ability to distance himself from Jackson and other traditional civil rights leaders.

Strategists fear that going on the attack now could upend the very careful balance that has worked so far.

Now, Obama can only hope that Biden does his part.

Biden's speech is the expected focal point of tonight's Democratic gathering, which will include two other highlights: the voting in which the party's delegates formally name Obama as their presidential nominee, and a speech by former President Clinton. The convention concludes on Thursday with a prime time speech by Obama before more than 70,000 supporters at a football stadium.

[DesertFlower]

1. no one wants an angry white man in

the white house either, but that's what we'll get with McNasty.

[LynneSin]

2. Biden can get angry but he does it like a skilled surgeon with a scapel....

whereas McCain is like a drunk surgeon welding a chainsaw to do brain surgery

[DesertFlower]

4. exactly. nt

[Triana]

10. Exactly. With McSame - we trade stupid for stupid AND angry - and...

... no one wants a STUPID and/or angry white man in the white house either - but we've been stuck with drinky dumbass for 8 years. So now Repigs want to trade him in for an ANGRY dumbass. Hardly an improvement.

[DesertFlower]

11. McCain is even more stupid than

bush. he admits that he barely got through school with C's.

[kwenu]

3. Better than a crotchety senile bastard.

[Avalux]

5. HA! Biden slices and dices with a charming smile - I'm excited for his speech.

If anyone can get McCain's panties in a wad and make him throw a temper tantrum, it'll be Biden. :D

[TheDebbieDee]

6. While I believe the headline is true..........

That's no reason why Obama's surrogates have to be doormats during interviews.

I'm for all Obama/Democratic surrogates attending the Cliff Schecter School of Interviewing.

[Virginia Dare]

7. I do, and I'm an angry white lady...

but I'm okay with Biden being the attack dog if that's what it takes.

[monmouth]

8. Joe's the kind of guy that will call you an SOB and make you

feel good about yourself later....It's an art, takes years of experience...

[Phredicles]

9. Speak for yourself, congressman;

If he's angry about the same crap I'm angry about, I'm all ready for it.