# Obama picks Biden for VP. Your thoughts? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 23, 2008, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998 "2008-08-23T04:59:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/41 "2008-08-23T15:08:03Z")
[QUOTE=Shayna] If we’re willing to trust Barack Obama to be our President, to trust him to make, in many cases, life or death decisions on our behalf; if we’re going to trust him to negotiate with world leaders, to make wise choices for Supreme Court Justice nominations, to guide national policy in a better direction, then we darn well better be willing to trust him to have made the best possible choice for a Vice-Presidential running-mate, and to have a plan for how to work it to his and the party’s advantage. Stop being such Negative Nellies! 😛 [/QUOTE] > [@](#): > > “Forward, the Light Brigade!” > Was there a man dismay’d? > Not tho’ the soldier knew > Someone had blunder’d: > Their’s not to make reply, > Their’s not to reason why, > Their’s but to do and die: > Into the valley of Death > Rode the six hundred. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/42 "2008-08-23T15:16:05Z")
[QUOTE=Shayna] If we’re willing to trust Barack Obama to be our President, to trust him to make, in many cases, life or death decisions on our behalf; if we’re going to trust him to negotiate with world leaders, to make wise choices for Supreme Court Justice nominations, to guide national policy in a better direction, then we darn well better be willing to trust him to have made the best possible choice for a Vice-Presidential running-mate, and to have a plan for how to work it to his and the party’s advantage. Stop being such Negative Nellies! 😛 [/QUOTE] Two words: Dan Quayle ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/43 "2008-08-23T15:30:57Z")
I think Biden’s a good choice. He balances the ticket without creating conflict over who’s in charge. Biden’s got extensive experience in Washington politics and foreign affairs: two areas where Obama is relatively weak. (And a lack of experience in Washington politics is not a virtue in a President. Even if you’re running to “change” the system, you still need to know what needs to be changed and how to get it done to be effective.) Biden’s a conventional choice. He’ll reassure people who worry that Obama is too different from mainstream America. Biden’s weaknesses (lack of charisma and the plagiarism history) are not the kinds of things that are going to hurt an administration. His ego might be a potential problem but I think Biden’s smart enough to realize that this is Obama’s campaign. (Which probably would have been an issue with Clinton.) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/44 "2008-08-23T17:31:58Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] I think a lot of people, subconsciously or not, _want_ someone that they know is part of an elite, to rule over them. [/QUOTE] In my more cynical moments, I also believe that this is true. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/45 "2008-08-23T18:01:00Z")
[QUOTE=Nava] Wait, wait, wait… I thought the reason some people didn’t consider Obama “black enough” was his white, all-American mother - and you say it’s his father? Wouldn’t that be the case for “not American enough,” rather than “not black enough”? And wouldn’t that accusation bite the ass of whomever made it, so deeply it would circumcise him? And, how many current voters are immigrants or children of immigrants? [/QUOTE] People claimed that Obama wasn’t black enough because his father was first-generation African, not the descendant of African slaves in America. The claim was that he was not a part of the black population in America that fought during the civil rights movement or the descendant of slaves in America, and so while technically black, did not empathize with the situation of most black Americans. And I agree with most of the posts in this thread that Biden is a mediocre pick. Not strong, not weak, mostly unknown to the population at large, and we’ll see what comes of it. However, if he can get himself booked on to The Daily Show and say something funny, direct, and insightful, he might be a good asset. ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/46 "2008-08-23T18:18:55Z")
I think they looked at two HUGE things: 1. In a tight state if bringing her/him on board can swing you the State - if the calculation was made (& I assume it was) that Bayh and Kaine weren’t going to be the difference makers in their home states then I think you go to 1A 1A. The Pick doesn’t hurt hurt you at a critical time. Biden has yakked it up on the National stage, debated the press, opponents etc. under the Presidential race spotlight, for the past 20 years. Obama and his guys know (they hope) what Biden will do - he has been vetted numerous times by the National press and presumably is a very, very known quantity. Then they looked at the smaller things - maybe he could immunize on foreign policy, any gravitas gap, maybe “Joe” can reach some blue collar guys and convince them Obama is OK. He presumably has a fairly mature nationwide support infrastructure that may not 100% duplicate Obama’s. His son is deploying to Iraq (& I wonder now if that will happen). This isn’t an insane choice, its just not a potential Reagan-Ford in 1980 or Mondale-Ferraro or a potential Bush-Powell in 2000 - an electric galvanizing pick - but it is a reasonable & I think not a fatal one. I think if he loses it will not be because he didn’t pick Hillary or Bayh ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/47 "2008-08-23T18:20:00Z")
[QUOTE=Rayne Man] I have a horrible feeling that some of his opponents are going to change is name to Bidet to score cheap political points. [/QUOTE] In that case, why not change McCain’s name to McCain’t? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![The\_Batman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@The\_Batman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Batman)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/48 "2008-08-23T18:51:36Z")
[QUOTE=5-4-Fighting] In that case, why not change McCain’s name to McCain’t? [/QUOTE] Or McSame? I liked the pick. I would’ve preferred Richardson but Biden seems like he balances Obama out pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/49 "2008-08-23T19:17:39Z")
[QUOTE=Diceman] That’s the big problem, right there. Obama is billing himself as a the agent of change, a Washington outsider who can reform the system. So who does he pick as his running mate? A guy who is the dictionary definition of a Washington _insider,_ the kind of person that Obama says he’s going to fight against :dubious: . [/QUOTE] Right now I’m watching Obama’s speech. He said, as best as I can remember, that Biden “has been working for change in Washington for decades; but Washington hasn’t changed him.” Anyway, Obama knows Biden a lot better than you or I do, so for now I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/50 "2008-08-23T19:32:37Z")
[QUOTE=Thudlow Boink] Right now I’m watching Obama’s speech. He said, as best as I can remember, that Biden “has been working for change in Washington for decades; but Washington hasn’t changed him.” Anyway, Obama knows Biden a lot better than you or I do, so for now I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt. [/QUOTE] Biden has a narrative to Back up Obama’s statement. He’s been commuting from the same, ordinary, middle class neighborhood in Wilmington for 30 years and he’s never become rich. I think it’s hard not to be touched by the _reason_ he never left Delaware. He promised his young sons that he would come home every night after their mother and sister were killed in a car accident. The fact that he was sworn into the Senate from beside his sons’ hospital beds almost sounds made up, but it’s true. Whatever Biden is, he’s not a Washington phony. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/51 "2008-08-23T20:50:06Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] His ego might be a potential problem but I think Biden’s smart enough to realize that this is Obama’s campaign. (Which probably would have been an issue with Clinton.) [/QUOTE] The Obama chants while Biden was speaking today (talking about his own experience) might help him remember who’s on top of the ticket. Did anyone else think that was almost rude, the chanting? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/52 "2008-08-23T21:07:55Z")
They were chanting “Biden” while Obama was speaking too. I didn’t see it as rude, just enthusiastic. Biden was _talking_ about Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/53 "2008-08-23T21:16:18Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] “Forward, the Light Brigade!” Was there a man dismay’d? Not tho’ the soldier knew Someone had blunder’d: Their’s not to make reply, Their’s not to reason why, Their’s but to do and die: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. Regards, Shodan [/QUOTE] I’m really going to enjoy gloating when your guy loses. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/54 "2008-08-23T21:30:01Z")
Speaking from the right wing… It’s an odd choice. Not a BAD, certainly, not a choice that will HURT Obama in any way. But not a choice that will excite anybody, not a choice that could flip (or even help strongly in) a single state, not a choice that will energize any base that the Democrats will need in November. This choice would have made more sense a few months ago, when it LOOKED as if a Democratic landslide was a foregone conclusion, and Obama’s main worry was that people thought he was too young and untested. At THAT point, picking an old Senate hand like Biden might have reassured the few doubters in the voting public that “Yes, we’re gonna have seasoned, experienced leaders in my administrations to help me in the areas where I’m inexperienced.” But now? Now that McCain has tied (or, in s few surveys, PASSED) Obama, I think a “safe” pick like Biden was a bad idea. The Democrats will definitely win big majorities in Congress, but the PResidential race could be very tight. If Obama couldn’t bring himself to pick Hillary Clinton (understandable), he should have gone with Warner or Kaine (who might have been just the guy to flip purple Virginia firmly into Obama’s column). If Obama wins, Biden will be a valuable guy to have on the team. But he won’t do anything at all to help Obama win. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/55 "2008-08-23T21:36:41Z")
I think some people are underestimating Biden’s ability as an advocate and a debater. You have to look past paper demographics and geography sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2008, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/56 "2008-08-24T00:18:04Z")
As a Republican I think this choice is ok. He is not a flaming liberal and he is well spoken, which means that he is unlikely to step on his own dick making speeches. I’ll probably still vote Republican but I still have an open mind about it. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/57 "2008-08-24T04:00:15Z")
> [@](#): > > It’s an odd choice. Not a BAD, certainly, not a choice that will HURT Obama in any way. But not a choice that will excite anybody, not a choice that could flip (or even help strongly in) a single state, not a choice that will energize any base that the Democrats will need in November. Ironically, a more exciting choice might have hurt the Democrats. They’ve already got an exciting candidate on the ticket; a second exciting candidate in the VP spot would have been too much. They needed to balance the ticket with calm reassurance not add more excitement. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2008, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/58 "2008-08-24T04:32:10Z")
I don’t underestimate Biden at all. I know his intelligence, I know his experience, and I know his strengths as a Washington dealmaker. Assuming Obama gets elected, he’ll be very happy to have a Senate insider as savvy and knowledgeable as Biden as his right-hand man. The question is, will Biden help Obama to get elected? In my opinion, no. Not even a little. He’s an uninspiring speaker, a lackluster campaigner (he was going NOWHERE in his own presidential campaign, even before he inexplicably started channeling Neil Kinnock), and he comes from a tiny state that was all but certain to go Democratic anyway. Bottom line: he could add a LOT to an Obama administration, but he adds absolutely NOTHING to this ticket. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2008, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/59 "2008-08-24T05:49:39Z")
[QUOTE=astorian] The question is, will Biden help Obama to get elected? In my opinion, no. Not even a little. He’s an uninspiring speaker, a lackluster campaigner (he was going NOWHERE in his own presidential campaign, even before he inexplicably started channeling Neil Kinnock), and he comes from a tiny state that was all but certain to go Democratic anyway. Bottom line: he could add a LOT to an Obama administration, but he adds absolutely NOTHING to this ticket. [/QUOTE] The Obama camp is not in dire need of an inspiring speaker. _They have Obama_. That is enough. The only other democrats that did not have lackluster campaigns were Hillary and Gore. Gore said no and Hillary would be a disaster. So Obama had no choice but to pick someone with a lackluster campaign. He has appeal beyond his tiny state. He appeals to the white working class. Last I checked McCain was leading Obama by 20 points with white men. That is not something Obama should ignore. Nor should he ignore that voters don’t trust his judgment on foreign policy. Biden helps fix both those problems. His working class roots being the most important. On top of that, Joe Biden is no pussy. He can say things Obama can’t, and is the best attack dog out of the entire VP shortlist. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2008, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998/60 "2008-08-24T11:32:07Z")
Its a good pick. I’ve always thought he had a lot going for him. I can see it & I’d vote that. And if the Geritol Party wants an edgy VP, the “Cain: Cursed by God” team are free to go hog-bloviation-wild. But would that make their candidate look less Wrinkly and Old…? Maybe it will it be someone who makes him look young in comparison. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-picks-biden-for-vp-your-thoughts/460998.md?page=4)