# Where's the debate about what Biden said re Obama being tested? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 23, 2008, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194 "2008-10-23T11:29:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194/41 "2008-10-23T19:41:40Z")
> [@5-4-Fighting](#): > > Why couldn’t Biden simply have been thinking about and speaking on the fact the there’s a deep hole left for our future president to dig the country out of in general and asking for people to recognize that fact and not judge to early or harshly – just simply give Big Ears a chance. Your probably right. Still, he’s at a Democratic fund raiser. Why would he need to say this to those who are already committed enough to the Obama/Biden ticket to actually go to a fund raiser? Don’t they (the political fund raisers, dinners, rallies, and the like) primarily draw from the “already converted”? I can see him saying this to the undecided, or even those opposed to his ticket, but to warn his owns supporters that “unpopular decisions” might be in their future, is a… different style than I am used to seeing. “Elect me! Your going to love to hate me!” heh. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194/42 "2008-10-23T19:46:50Z")
Biden’s judgment with that comment is very questionable because it’s open to too many interpretations and misinterpretations. But the versions you’re giving here aren’t accurate. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194/43 "2008-10-23T20:05:50Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Well, Obama has worked with more terrorists than McCain, so no doubt he understands them better than someone who last met one while having his arms broken. > > Regards, > Shodan Oopsie! Forgot another one! [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-oped1023chapmanoct23,0,3571457.column](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-oped1023chapmanoct23,0,3571457.column) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194/44 "2008-10-23T21:50:28Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Still, he’s at a Democratic fund raiser. Why would he need to say this to those who are already committed enough to the Obama/Biden ticket to actually go to a fund raiser? The thing about Joe Biden, and God bless the man, is that, and most people don’t know this, but he has Yogi Berra as a speechwriter. He’s not always the clearest in his public statements. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194/45 "2008-10-23T21:55:17Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Biden’s judgment with that comment is very questionable because it’s open to too many interpretations and misinterpretations. But the versions you’re giving here aren’t accurate. > [@Captain Amazing](#): > > The thing about Joe Biden, and God bless the man, is that, and most people don’t know this, but he has Yogi Berra as a speechwriter. He’s not always the clearest in his public statements. Well, since it looks like he’ll be our Vice Prez for the next term, it looks like we’ll still have things to discuss on the SDMB. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194/46 "2008-10-23T22:36:12Z")
BREAKING NEWS! Obama has placed an order with Amazon for TWO copies of “My Pet Goat” so that he will be doubly prepared to deal with the impending crisis. 😉 Seriously, is this an issue? There is bound to be a crisis. North Korea, Cuba, Venezuala, all the shit that goes down in Africa, China/Taiwan, a reemerging Soviet Union, Iran, Homeland :rolleyes: Security, etc., etc. Go back and review the first year of the Kennedy administration. A lot of things happened in a very short period of time. All that being said, when the shit hits the fan, who would you rather have in your corner, Biden or Palin? Be honest. Now ask yourself, based on realistic health and actuarial data, who would you rather have deal with a crisis, Obama or Palin? Clue: Palin would give a classic Bushism, “Go shopping.” ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194/47 "2008-10-23T22:45:32Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Your probably right. > > Still, he’s at a Democratic fund raiser. Why would he need to say this to those who are already committed enough to the Obama/Biden ticket to actually go to a fund raiser? > > Don’t they (the political fund raisers, dinners, rallies, and the like) primarily draw from the “already converted”? > > I can see him saying this to the undecided, or even those opposed to his ticket, but to warn his owns supporters that “unpopular decisions” might be in their future, is a… different style than I am used to seeing. > > “Elect me! Your going to love to hate me!” heh. I’m just guessing (as is everybody here) that this new kind of sliced bread is going to get extra-scrutinized by _everybody_, including the base, for a variety of reasons – the leap of faith we’re taking, the country’s drastic domestic situation, the turmoil to be dealt with out there, the uniqueness of it all (;)), etc. Biden knows this and ineptly tried to open up the dialogue about it ahead of time – and ahead of any plans Obama might have had to do so at all. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194/48 "2008-10-23T23:03:02Z")
> [@Ramira](#): > > Neither a former domestic terrorist become professor and nor vietnames prison guards engaging in torture are not the same as the Al Qaeda, you have a strange manner of thinking. Uh, members of Al Qaeda and Bill Ayers are both terrorists. Al Qaeda, like Ayers are both subsets of "terrorists. And he didn’t say Al Qaeda, you did. And then you sought to make them synonymous. You have a strange manner of thinking. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194/49 "2008-10-23T23:17:46Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Well, Obama has worked with more terrorists than McCain, so no doubt he understands them better than someone who last met one while having his arms broken. > > Regards, > Shodan You may be trying to simply get in a shot here, but let’s examine this more closely. Obama has worked with someone (Ayres) who, as a youth, was quite militant in his political thinking before he became a university professor, speaker, and generally a tool of “The Man” I put little credence in the “terrorist” meme, but acknowledge (as does Obama), that he did some stupid, ill thought out things in his past. Obama knows people like this. He understands their mindsets. He has spoken with them, and is therefore able to “know the enemy”. He will be able to understand what makes a “terrorist” tick. And with understanding, comes victory. McCain on the other hand, has been more sheltered, along with other right wing ideologues. He does not really have any first hand knowledge about what disgruntled anarchist-types are really like. He just “knows” that we should never talk to enemies. Enemies broke his arms. Enemies are bastards. Don’t talk to them. Don’t even try to understand what makes them tick so that you can be victorious over them. Just fight them. And somehow win, without understanding. So, what do you think **Shodan**? Send you an Obama button? ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194/50 "2008-10-24T00:49:51Z")
> [@Phlosphr](#): > > Obama will orchestrate a cleaning crew and hazmat team to deal with the mess. I wondered who those hooded guys were following Obama around. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194/51 "2008-10-24T02:15:39Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Well, Obama has worked with more terrorists than McCain, so no doubt he understands them better than someone who last met one while having his arms broken. > > Regards, > Shodan G. Gordon Liddy broke John McCain’s arms? Damn! ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194/52 "2008-10-24T02:20:27Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Uh, members of Al Qaeda and Bill Ayers are both terrorists. You keep referring to Bill Ayers as a terrorist (present-tense), even though he hasn’t been involved in any “terroristic” activities in nearly 40 years. By that definition, can we refer to John McCain as an adulterer or George W Bush as a drunk? I’ll hang up and listen to your answer. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194/53 "2008-10-24T12:31:58Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > You keep referring to Bill Ayers as a terrorist (present-tense), even though he hasn’t been involved in any “terroristic” activities in nearly 40 years. By that definition, can we refer to John McCain as an adulterer or George W Bush as a drunk? I’ll hang up and listen to your answer. Haven’t you yet?😉 How about “unrepentant terrorist”? ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194/54 "2008-10-24T13:46:55Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Uh, members of Al Qaeda and Bill Ayers are both terrorists. Al Qaeda, like Ayers are both subsets of "terrorists. And he didn’t say Al Qaeda, you did. And then you sought to make them synonymous. You have a strange manner of thinking. Yes, Al Qaeda is terrorist, but not the Vietnamese who held McCain (he refers to in breaking arms). The comment has no sense if he is not trying suggest that somehow either the Ayers man or the vietnamese have some relevance to your big terrorist threat, the Al Qaeda. It is logical, but his comment is illogical. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194/55 "2008-10-24T14:51:06Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Haven’t you yet?😉 > > How about “unrepentant terrorist”? Who? You mean Liddy? ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194/56 "2008-10-24T15:03:43Z")
I think deep down, Biden couldn’t be happy running in the VP spot under a man who’s his junior in age and experience. I would put his statement in the category of “can’t help, might hurt.” It’s almost like he’s passive-agressive in his comments about Obama. ---
**Author:** ![ManiacMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b782af/32.png) [@ManiacMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ManiacMan)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194/57 "2008-10-24T15:57:17Z")
I believe that his comments are self serving. Since Obama has no experience with foreign policy (and before you puke out that he lived as a child over in Indonesia…give me a break) Joe will be the one actually dealing with any international crisis while Obama watches TV. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194/58 "2008-10-24T16:03:02Z")
> [@ManiacMan](#): > > Joe will be the one actually dealing with any international crisis while Obama watches TV. I guess this is no sillier than a lot of remarks made about Bush, but it still merits a good case of :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194/59 "2008-10-24T20:22:10Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Meh… > > IMO he was doing what all campaigns do. They talk as if their guy WILL be the President. Not IF he will be President. > > So Biden was speaking rhetorically inserting his guy as the President elect. Look at the quote again. It is spoken as though Obama as President is a foregone conclusion. That explanation might’ve worked if he hadn’t drawn the comparison to JFK, another youthful senator criticized for a lack of experience, and mentioned Obama’s age (47). Biden is specifically making the point that Obama **will** be tested because of his youth (and perceived inexperience), and I say that as a pretty strong Obama voter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-about-what-biden-said-re-obama-being-tested/469194.md?page=2)