I know a lot of white people who are not "articulate" at all...

[kentuck]

In fact, they can barely tell you their name. So, I guess I don't understand the big ruckus about saying Obama was "articulate"?? A lot of black people, just like white people, are not articulate. Why should this word have race tied to it? I don't understand, I guess? It's seems like a compliment, regardless of race...

[MUAD_DIB]

1. Is that what Biden said?

[Momgonepostal]

2. I think in this case "articulate" means

"doesn't sound black." :eyes: :puke:

[kentuck]

4. What did Biden say to give that impression?

I must admit, I did not hear his comments.

[Momgonepostal]

6. I've read the quote, but can't remember the exact wording

I think this because of course we have had other articulate black candidates. Jesse Jackson is articulate, Al Sharpton is articulate. The only things I can thing that is different about their speaking styles is NOT ability to articulate a point.

[Igel]

12. But were they also unencumbered by political baggage

(or "new and fresh", per Biden's explanation) and 'mainstream'?

There was a fourth (maybe a fifth) attribute, too. I don't remember them, though.

[spanone]

3. That would apply to potus.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

5. In This Case, It Absolutely Was A Harmless Compliment. But It Has Been Used By Others With Racial

overtones, such as when it is said in reference to a black person but with seeming excitement and surprise to have seen a black person capable of such. It definitely has been used that way and that is why with that history some are trying to put Biden in the same class as that, but in this case it simply was what it was: A completely harmless compliment to Obama.

[Windy]

8. It was an ignorant comment.

We've had enough ignorance in the whitehouse!

Go away Joe.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

9. No It Wasn't.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. I disagree.

Do you really believe that nonsense, or are you just running interference for Biden?

[retread]

10. In the context of sarcastic remarks on Edwards, Clinton,

On Edwards: "I don’t think John Edwards knows what the heck he is talking about."
On Hillary's Iraq plan: "nothing but disaster."
On Hillary: “Everyone in the world knows her,” he said. “Her husband has used every single legitimate tool in his behalf to lock people in, shut people down."
Then when commenting on Obama you would have us believe his purpose and tone became complimentary??

His comments on Obama should be viewed in the context of past comments from Senator Biden.
"you cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent."

I'm sure there are plenty of defenders of that recent "slip", possibly even yourself?

[AndyA]

7. You mean white people like Bush? He's one of the worst abusers of the

English language I can think of, regardless of race.

Regarding Biden's comment, I don't think he was trying to insult or demean Obama at all. Biden often opens his mouth and says things that come out all wrong, he should know better by now, but apparently he doesn't.

When I first heard the remark, before reading anything about it here, I took the use of the word "clean" to mean that he doesn't have any baggage to drag around. Which most of the other candidates do, so I took that as a positive. He could have also meant clean cut, which Barack certainly is as well, and that's a good thing as far as most are concerned.

The remark about being articulate at first came across to me as a dig against Bush, because he really is the worst offender in politics right now.

Anyway, just sayin'...

[Lurking Dem]

13. It is the same code word bullshit

that Jewish people complain is antisemitic and non Jews claim is just misunderstood.

"Articulate" was always used to mean "doesn't talk like a black man".

I do not understand how when African Americans complain that something is racist and derogatory, white people can jump up and down and tell them they think they are full of shit any more than when Jews complain something was equally offensive, non Jews tell them THEY are full of shit.