# Does POTUS Biden believe that he's the smartest in the room? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 25, 2022, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330 "2022-01-25T00:21:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpacemanSpiff_II)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/41 "2022-01-25T16:59:56Z")
[Fact check: A look at Biden’s first year in false claims - CNNPolitics](https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/20/politics/fact-check-biden-false-claims-first-year-2021/index.html) > When President Joe Biden passingly said in a voting rights speech last week that he had been “arrested” in the context of the civil rights movement – even suggesting this had happened more than once – it was a classic Biden false claim: an anecdote about his past for which there is no evidence, prompted by a decision to ad-lib rather than stick to a prepared text, resulting in easily avoidable questions about his honesty. > Biden made a series of claims about his own past that were just not true. It was these easy-to-understand, hard-to-defend personal falsehoods – more than his false claims about complex policy issues or obscure statistics, which supporters could more easily dismiss as good-faith errors – that provided the best ammunition for opponents looking to portray him as deceptive. Of course, if you set the bar at Trump levels, then Biden is a great paradigm of honesty. Any resemblence between a Trump statement and the truth is accidental. But if looked at in comparison to ordinary standards of honesty and reliability - the type you would expect from your friends, relatives, coworkers etc., Biden falls short. ---
**Author:** ![SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpacemanSpiff_II)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/42 "2022-01-25T17:09:43Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > Biden frequently quoted, and credited, a Neil Kinnock speech on the campaign trail in 1987. One time, during a debate, not while speaking from prepared remarks, he quoted, but did not credit Kinnock. He issued an apology the next day. I don’t think this is correct. The Democratic debate was on August 23 (& a subsequent NEA interview on August 26). The issue was first raised in media articles on September 12. Further, it wasn’t just that he lifted the phrasing from Kinnock’s speech, but that he fabricated aspects of his (Biden’s) and his family history in order to fit the story that Kinnock said about the Kinnock family to himself. Source: [Joe Biden 1988 presidential campaign - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden_1988_presidential_campaign#Kinnock_controversy). (See also the subsequent sections for more along the lines that Sam described upthread.) ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/43 "2022-01-25T17:12:12Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > It’s a legitimate question to ask, is it not? If not, why not? It’s a legitimate question for a 3rd grader with a tenuous grasp of the terms “inflation” and “political liability”. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/44 "2022-01-25T17:15:51Z")
> [@SpacemanSpiff\_II](#): > > Source: [Joe Biden 1988 presidential campaign - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden_1988_presidential_campaign#Kinnock_controversy). > Biden had in fact cited Kinnock as the source for the formulation on previous occasions. I’ll retract my statement about an apology the next day. My mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/45 "2022-01-26T00:14:05Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > The trolling part of that is the implication that ‘inflation’ is a serious concern right now – to normalize it as an issue. > > In fact, inflation is a very minor issue right now, given the situation of the economy in these pandemic years. Some inflation is probably good, indicating an economic recovery and optimism spending of consumers. I hope you’re not a politician – you’re amazingly tone-deaf politically speaking. If Biden said something like what you said, it would rank among the top-ten worse gaffes of the last 50 years. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/46 "2022-01-26T00:52:52Z")
About the same role that Presidents play in “creating jobs”. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/47 "2022-01-26T01:04:42Z")
I’d say no. He has to have recognized that he’s a blustering fool. ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/48 "2022-01-26T01:19:42Z")
It was a daft question. Inflation has sunk past presidents in election years. It hits citizens in their pockets and shrinks their saving. The polls are saying it is one of the top priorities and depending on the poll you look at, the top priority that the administration has to get under control. It might be other aspects of what they do between now and November mitigate the backlash of higher prices and keep the Congressional control but to actually ask that question deserves a mocking response. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/49 "2022-01-26T02:06:25Z")
It depends on what room he’s in, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/50 "2022-01-26T03:27:04Z")
Maybe it’s really our former president in disguise. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/51 "2022-01-26T03:31:24Z")
Moderating: > [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Maybe it’s really our former president in disguise. You are coming dangerously close to making a personal attack on a poster. Dial it back, please. Not a warning. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/52 "2022-01-26T04:56:12Z")
> [@Boycott](#): > > Inflation has sunk past presidents in election years. It hits citizens in their pockets and shrinks their saving. The situation is somewhat problematic. According to the economist Robert Reich, what we are seeing is not classical inflation, because large corporations seem to be showing increasing relative profit margins. In other words, prices are rising because of what appears to be plain old gouging. Now, it could be that companies are trying to set up rainy-day capital for dealing with the next crisis. It is kind of hard to guess what is actually going on. Maybe they just saw a prime opportunity to stoke their bottom lines and jumped on it. Whatever the real cause, most voters only perceive the pain. The sad thing is that Joe the President has always acted like a fawning corporatist, so he is a uniquely inapt leader for dealing with this problem, assuming Mister Reich is right. The inflation appears to be a a matter of proactive choice on the part of a handful of wealthy individuals, upon whom he has minimal influence. How would you deal with that? ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/53 "2022-01-26T06:54:44Z")
Well, shoot, perhaps stop dumping trillions of dollars of money into an economy that is having productivity issues? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/54 "2022-01-26T09:19:26Z")
Just let those bridges crumble, amirite? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/55 "2022-01-26T16:12:29Z")
I’m pretty sure this is official GOP policy to screw the infrastructure, followed by “blame the Democrats” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/56 "2022-01-26T17:53:05Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Just let those bridges crumble, amirite? If they collapse, then we won’t have to spend money on them. If anyone is injured or killed in the collapses, then it’s their own fault. They knew the condition of the bridges, and they chose to drive on them anyway. Also, if the bridges collapse, then it’s up to each person’s Personal Responsibility™ to find alternate routes. Why should the Government and the Deep State force people to drive routes they select, and put money into bridges that most taxpayers in the country will never use? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/57 "2022-01-26T17:55:15Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I’m pretty sure this is official GOP policy to screw the infrastructure, followed by “blame the Democrats” It’s really a shame. So much progress was accomplished during the previous administration’s Infrastructure Week. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/58 "2022-01-26T18:04:30Z")
I think that they are in the “Yes” catagory of the question of [Was the Agricultural Revolution a mistake?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-agricultural-revolution-a-mistake/954740/) And they are doing their damndest to rectify it. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/59 "2022-01-26T21:03:49Z")
I thought it was a fortnight? As in “_We will have it for you in two weeks_”. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330/60 "2022-01-26T21:04:08Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > This is an extremely inaccurate summary. > > Biden frequently quoted, and credited, a Neil Kinnock speech on the campaign trail in 1987. One time, during a debate, not while speaking from prepared remarks, he quoted, but did not credit Kinnock. He issued an apology the next day. I was being charitable. He didn’t ‘quote’ Kinnock. He appeopriated his words for himself, including his biography. Here is a relevant part from Kinnock’s speech: **Kinnock** : > [@](#): > > "Why am I the first Kinnock in a thousand generations to be able to get to university? Why is Glenys the first woman in her family in a thousand generations to be able to get to university? > > Was it because all our predecessors were thick? Did They Lack Talent – These People Who Could Sign, And Play, And Recite And Write Poetry; Those People Who Could Make Wonderful, Beautiful Things With Their Hands? > > Was It Because They Were Weak – Those People Who Could Work Eight Hours Underground And Then Come Up And Play Football? And here’s **Biden** : > [@](#): > > "Why is it that Joe Biden is the first in his family ever to go to a university? Why is it that my wife who is sitting out there in the audience is the first in her family to ever go to college? Is it because our fathers and mothers were not bright? > > Is it because I’m the first Biden in a thousand generations to get a college and a graduate degree that I was smarter than the rest? Those Same People Who Read Poetry And Wrote Poetry And Taught Me How To Sing Verse?" > > Is It Because They Didn’t Work Hard? My Ancestors, Who Worked In The Coal Mines Of Northeast Pennsylvania And Would Come Up After 12 Hours And Play Football For Four Hours? By the way. his ancesstors never worked in coal mines. Kinnock’s did. He lied about that too. Also, his wife wasn’t the first member of her family to go to college. He father went to college on the GI Bill, and Jill Biden’s older sister went to college before she did. That’s as far as I looked to find out that was a lie as well. This clearly isn’t Biden quoting someone and then failing to attribute it. He took Kinnock’s history and tried to make it his own. And it was an incredibly stupid thing to do. He paid a big political price for it, and it helped sink his first two runs at President, especially since the later plagairaism brought to light his plagiarism scandal from college. Or as Slate put it: > [@](#): > > But Biden didn’t merely borrow words and phrasings from Kinnock, which is a time-honored practice of candidates and their speechwriters and is almost never regarded as plagiarism. He _became_ Kinnock, as David Greenberg [writes today](http://www.slate.com/id/2198543/), claiming things about himself and his family that were untrue and that he knew to be untrue. > **[The wacky plagiarisms of Joe Biden.](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2008/08/the-wacky-plagiarisms-of-joe-biden.html)** > > Joe Biden's return as a vice-presidential candidate signals forgiveness—at least from Barack Obama—for having plagiarized a leading British politician... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-potus-biden-believe-that-hes-the-smartest-in-the-room/958330.md?page=4)