You've probably heard that Joe Biden has announced his candidacy for President of the United States. His new website is here. For the first time in my life, I have given money to a political candidate. Admitedly, it was a very small amount but I am trying really hard to win a bet with Chris Sears and I figure whatever I spend now, I save in a bar bill later. :O)
It's no suprise to anyone who has visited here before that Biden is my guy, however, I do not work for the Biden campaign. I have some friends that do but I do not.
In the spirit of TwoBabes which, if I remember correctly, is open and honest debate and, I believe, an attempt to find common ground has been a theme that has eeked into our sphere on occasion, I will not be holding back on telling you when I think Biden is an ass. I might devote a whole page to it if I can figure out how to load pictures and sound clips and videos using a Mac. (It's been nine months and I still don't know how.)
If the Bush presidency and being the mother of special needs children has taught me anything, it has taught me that beign verbally retarded does not exclude you from most things. Also, if the Clinton campaign taught me anything is that even if it is bad press getting your guy on the front page it is still press not going to the other guy. So, taking all of that into consideration, I am putting today in the win column for the Biden campaign. :O)
This is the first of many posts that fall under the NEW category of Foot in Mouth Disease.
Today, Joe Biden is being quoted as having said the following:
“I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” he said. “I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”
He said it about Barrack Obama. (full article here)
What does the world do? It scurries down the racist hole. The conservative blogs and left wing blogs are all calling Biden a racist. Again, another reason I put this in the win category for Biden--when both fringe elements are upset, you know you've got it right.
Michelle Malkin wants to know:
Who will press Joe Biden to name the names of the inarticulate and dim and dirty and unattractive African-Americans he was thinking about when he, um, complimented Barack Obama?
Let me field that one: Al Sharpton. Al Sharpton looks like a pimp. He looks dirty. I wouldn't shake his hand for fear of what I would catch. Having said that, I wouldn't shake Dennis Hastert's hand because he looks slovenly and everytime I look at him I think he probably doesn't wash his hands after he uses the bathroom. So, at least for me, it's not a race thing.
Now, I am not unfamiliar with the logic behind the racism charge. My grandmother is remembered by my family for many things, one of them being a few "choice" phrases. The one appropriate for this conversation is, "colored but clean." So, I get it. But don't you think we are past all this? I mean really. Get over it.
As for the rest of the quote, Obama put out a statement saying that Jackson, Chisholm, and Sharpton all ran for President and raised important issues. That may be, but it doesn't make them mainstream and it doesn't make them attractive.
Anyone want to talk about the attractive qualities of Shirley Chisholm or Jesse Jackson? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Let's be honest, Obama is a storybook. He is mainstream--or at least sounded it up until yesterday when he introduced his plan for pulling out the troops. He is articulate--the speech he gave at the convention was one that will be remembered forever. He is attractive--the picture of his love handles and all the press that followed proved that.
So, did Biden put his foot in his mouth? Maybe. If it were me and someone accused me of the racism crap based on this quote I'd let them have it; I'd tell them to bite me. Presidential candidates don't say that though and honestly, it's just too bad. So, I hear he has apologized for offending anyone who might be offended and tried to move on.
A couple of notes on this whole thing:
1) until we can talk about race without people hurling accusations of racism and people being afraid that they'll be thought of as racist, we aren't going to get very far.
2) the people who automatically jump to the conclusion that something is racist should probably look within themselves first and asky why those are the first thoughts they had before accusing others
3) presidential candidates should learn to say bite me.
4) my grandmother and her "colored but clean" comment voted for Jesse Jackson in 1988.
Chris
P.S. And for the record, I think Jesse Jackson is inarticulate...can barely understand a word he says. He mumbles.
This picture is for Lee.
Chris, Won't say too much more, as I have made a few comments about this alongside the other posts tonight. (wasn't sure if you'd bring it up so had to throw a few things in).
What got me was his explanation. If I were his advisor, I would have told him to go with the clean = no baggage idea. New, young, no baggage - no exwives, affairs, no messes up - not enough years to have mess ups!
So, he doesn't even "fix it" good! I want him to stick around though!!Yes!
Posted by: Chris S. | Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 08:32 PM
PS - Here is how I "upgrade" a Cosmopolitan - The Vodka is Grey Goose (or Absolute cintron) and the rather than Triple Sec, - Grand Manier. Go down easy, in 15 minutes or so.
Posted by: Chris S. | Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 08:39 PM
Wow! Are you sure you will be able to afford them after you finish buying my drinks? :O)
Posted by: Chris | Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 08:41 PM
Yeah, I know! After Hillary being so foolish this week-end. I think she is gonna mess up more than we think! She just doesn't know what to do about her husband, does she? Laugh? (she tried that one)(or cry!)
Also, they are playing her "It's not my fault Bush tricked me" quotes against what they have taped of her saying in 2002 and 2003. If she is a liar like her hubby - I don't know.
Posted by: Chris S. | Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 08:53 PM
The bet aside, (we are gonna have great fun either way!) I was gearing up for the Hildabeast against "my man Mitt". (since my Guiliani/Hunt ticket may not make it). (I think Hunt may have some baggage!!Don'tknow what, but I can just imagine!)
Posted by: Chris S. | Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 09:05 PM
Come on, Chris, Shirley Chisholm was HOT!! Way hotter, than say, uh, Bella Abzug...
In all seriousness, Ms. Chisholm fit three of the four categories: bright, articulate and clean. The "articulate" attribute always strikes me as the strangest requirement for presidential candidates. While Carter, Johnson, and most especially Teddy Kennedy got away with thier poor elocution, GW Bush and others are blasted for it.
That said, Chris, sorry, Biden is toast. The conservatives may be laughing at the irony, but it's the liberals that will crucify him for the statement.
Posted by: JFH | Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 09:18 PM
JFH, Will they? Who is their candidiate then?
Posted by: Chris S. | Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 09:38 PM
"Will they? Who is their candidiate then?"
Biden is too conservative to the Kos wing of the party... They're gonna support Edwards or Obama... and Hillary will be the beneficiary of the split, until either male drops out of the race.
Posted by: JFH | Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 09:56 PM
I thnk you got it figured JFH!
Posted by: Chris S. | Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 10:21 PM
I do not think Biden has a chance to win the Democratic Nomination for President, but I think he would add weight to a Hillary, Obama or Edwards ticket.
Chris would you support a Hillary and Biden ticket?
Posted by: HC | Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 11:10 PM
Chris says"...Let me field that one: Al Sharpton. Al Sharpton looks like a pimp. He looks dirty. I wouldn't shake his hand for fear of what I would catch. Having said that, I wouldn't shake Dennis Hastert's hand because he looks slovenly and every time I look at him I think he probably doesn't wash his hands after he uses the bathroom. So, at least for me, it's not a race thing.
Chris I was hangin' in there with your post till i read the above slam!
I need you to define what a 'pimp' looks like.....????
Black, processed hair, obese, hoarse NYC 125th Street Harlem accent??
He doesn't wear 'Bling-Bling!
He dresses in tailored suits.
(black men are known for dressing with style..I'm old school and I dress with style too. No Body has called me a 'Pimp'.
But you just insulted several million black men with the comments about Sharpton looking like a 'Pimp'/
I live in Las Vegas...which is full of pimps...None of them look like Sharpton.
many look like those Duke college students where were accused of raping the black out call dancer/hooker, (according to HOX Network).
Seems like black men and women usually are accused of some illicit sexual activities in this racist culture...aren't we?
Sharpton doesn't have gold fish in platformed heels of his shoes, does he?
He doesn't wear a cape, does he?
He doesn't drive a Cadillac with a diamond in the back, sunroof top, gangstah lean, fuzzy dice cubes, does he?
He doesn't walk around grabbing his crotch does he?
I think you owe a lot of black people an apology.....
BTW, That slob Hastert looks like every fat southern crackah that used to rule the south before they made movies like 'To Kill A Mockingbird', or 'Streetcar named Desire'...even though he's from up Nawth....
Kinda reminds me of characters that the late, great actor Sidney Greenstreet used to play...
Posted by: Lee | Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 11:25 PM
For the record..Jesse jackson is not inarticulkate...he has a speech impediment..called 'being tongue-tied...I can understand him.
You have really just spoken volumes about where you are in your sub-conscious dear lady....volumes.
Posted by: Lee | Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 11:31 PM
...And JFH is right about Biden...I think he put the entire shoe store in his mouth....
...But he spoke what millions of whites privately feel about black people...
Many still consider us as foreign to whites as Klingons are to Earthlings...
Posted by: Lee | Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 11:34 PM
Lee I do not understand Chris sometimes.
Jackson I can understand perfectly.
Al is a in your face black man and maybe that is scary to some of us whites.
Obama's plan is more main stream than Bush's token 21,000 increase.
And do not believe Biden is a racist, but he is inarticulate when talking about race.
Posted by: HC | Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 11:52 PM
Jesse Jackson has a speech impetement? Well, it's gotten worse over the years then because he used to be articulate--seems to me he mumbles--and I have a son who is technically "tongue tied"--it doesn't sound like that and if saying that is "telling about my subconcious" then so be it...as for Mr. Sharpton, I shall endeavor, when I wake in the morning, to go and find in the vast internet the pictures of him dressed like a pimp. One of them is psoted now. And, now that I think about it, you are right Al Sharpton has changed his appearance somewhat--but I don't like the look of him--and I don't like what he stands for and I don't like the things he's done. Now, you can say that is because he's black and I can deny it and no one will ever truly know--but there are people of all colors I don't like the look of...so it isn't a racial thing.
I don't like the look of Hastert and I don't like the look of Cheney and for a long time I didn't like the look of Joe Kennedy...but I don't relly see him in the public eye anymore.
And I don't know why you insist on bringing up the Duke case--those men might be the devil incarnte, but there is no evidence that they raped her except for the ever changing accusation of a very unreliable and totally not credible woman.
The only reason it got any press was because isomeone tried to make it about white privelaged men raping a poor black woman. But every time a case is latched onto because of race and race alone it turns out to come back and bite us all in the ass. Mr. Sharpton knows a little something about that too, now doesn't he?
And are millions of black men offended that easily by what little old me thinks of Al Sharpton? Line them all up, Lee. I'd be happy to meet them all and judge them individually--their chosen attire and all.
Posted by: Chris | Thursday, February 01, 2007 at 12:10 AM
HC, lots of people are inarticulate when it comes to talking about race and that is because of how race is "allowed" to be talked about. We did that, by the way. Us liberals, when we started making it a moral crime to use non-pc language. We decided that if we covered what people thought with non-offensive language, forced them or shamed them into not saying what they really thought, as well as attempting to legislate thought, we would eventually change the way they felt. It didn't happen. What we did was make it impossible to really talk about how we think and feel about race. And that's all of us--blacks, whites and everything else in between...
How we fix that, I don't know but we are never going to get past where we are until we talk about it truthfully.
And for the record, I m not afraid of Al Sharpton or other people who are in my face. What about Sharpton and the in your face people is scary?
Posted by: Chris | Thursday, February 01, 2007 at 12:17 AM
Chris
Sometimes when your hero makes a mistake it best just say it was a mistake.
I agree that Biden is not a racist, but your defense of him does not help his case. I believe a wise friend of mine would tell you. Those who would call Biden a racist are out of line but I think, being honest, you are too.
Posted by: HC | Thursday, February 01, 2007 at 12:24 AM
From:http://www.dailykos.com/
Giving Biden the benefit of the doubt?
by kos
Wed Jan 31, 2007 at 10:44:36 AM PST
It's sort of ironic that Biden stepped in it big time the same day he announces his exploratory committee for president. Let's recap:
“I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” he said. “I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”
So some are saying that an editing decision could've made the quote sound worse.
OK, I'm not a big Biden fan, so I wouldn't be disappointed to see him drop out. But I have to say this: what if the Observer punctuated casually? That is, what if there is supposed to be a comma before 'who,' making it a non-restrictive relative clause:
“I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American, who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” he said. “I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”
Thus he would mean Obama is both
a). the first mainstream African-American candidate for president
and
b). articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.
It's within the realm of possibilities. But then is he saying that Carol Moseley Braun wasn't "mainstream" even though she represented the fifth largest state (in population) in the U.S. Senate? Is he saying that Jesse Jackson wasn't "mainstream" even though he won 11 primaries in 1988 and 6.9 million votes? The population of Delaware is 783,600. Heck, he won Michigan with 55% of the vote.
So either 1) he's a patronizing asshole, or 2) he's a historical revisionist asshole. Either way, he's an asshole. And either way, the racial element is inescapable.
Update: I got an email from Biden's director of online communication claiming I'm giving a "one-sided impression" of Biden. Aside from the fact that this poor guy (Eric Carbone) thinks blogs are supposed to be "fair and balanced", it's true, I've completely forgotten to write about the other side of the story -- how Biden is a bought and paid for subsidiary of MBNA. When Bank of America acquired MBNA, Biden was likely part of the package deal.
----------------------
Posted by: HC | Thursday, February 01, 2007 at 01:30 AM
HC--I really don't think I'm defending him. I mean the post is under foot and mouth disease, I think I started it saying he was an ass, bur I think that this is ridiculous...and we throw race around here enough that I'm not sure why I should hold back.
No one is going to vote for or against Biden because of what I say and again, I do not work for the biden camaign.
And I do not get why people are bothered my this MBNA thing--no one here thinks it should be hard to declare bankruptcy? I think it should be hard...
Posted by: Chris | Thursday, February 01, 2007 at 06:14 AM
Lee--who did I offendwith my Hastert comment?
Posted by: Chris | Thursday, February 01, 2007 at 06:16 AM
Wow, Chris...Several mouthsful...A lot on the plate...
Look, A lot of what you followed up with is well thought out and fairminded...I may have over reacted somewhat to your first post, I'll admit to that somewhat.
(Besides you can tell from the horeendous typos how excited I was...:0))
....
You seem to, at least, have grasped the fact that 'race' in America is very complicated and intertwined into vitually every fabric of our lives, either tacitly or overtly...And it embarresses us to discuss it..That's why people of good will keep putting their feet into their mouths...We all do it..I believe that Joe Biden was essentially trying to make a possitive statement about Obama, but because his social/racial IQ is so low, do in part to that invisible wall of separation/apartheid, if you will, that exists between the races, even though we live side-by-side and even, cross paths daily in our comings and goings, but we look askance at each other, (figuratively and literally), that he doesn't have the ability to feel the nuanced impact of his statements...But then again, as you mentioned..a misplaced comma can totally change the meaning...So who knows?
I think you, HC, and me, even Biden, are all well-intentioned...But we err...and as I said in an earlier post...To err is...er...you know...
----
About Hastert, I'm sure you have pissed off his supporters mightily, as well....
That makes you an equal-opportunity sh*t-slinger, Fair & balanced....Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Lee | Thursday, February 01, 2007 at 07:01 AM
I stopped by LaShawn Barber'sCorner, ( because that is what we Negroes do),...:0)
And she be conversatin' 'bout Biden's 'Clean Negroe's comment'.
..Would it be Un-PC to refer to Obama as bein', 'Spic & Span'...Or would that open up a whole new mess of cans of worms?
'Cleanliness is next to...er...Godliness', my mother use to say...in an attempt to get me to take a bath years ago...
We had the 'Fresh Prince of Bellair, a few years ago...
...And a 're-freshed Prince' has his 'Club 3121' rockin' at 'The Rio' Hotel & Casino in Vegas, Baby!
(And rumor has it, now that he has cleaned up his act, he'll headline the halftime at Super Bowl XLI next Sunday....
In an effort to keep it clean, Janet Jackson, won't be there to expose herself, nor her brother, Michael, to grab himself, either...
I just love clean don't y'all
http://www.lashawnbarber.com/
Posted by: Lee | Thursday, February 01, 2007 at 07:45 AM
I was over there reading this morning too. Interesting is all I can say. Let me ask you this, Lee. Does Obama and his positioning now see more elctable than the other African Americans who have run for President. Does there seem to be something different about his candidacy for President?
Posted by: Chris | Thursday, February 01, 2007 at 07:50 AM
Lee, when it comes to some of us white folk explaining our thoughts about race, many of us come across like Biden. We all know wonderful black people - see, even that sound contrived and simpleheaded. Many of us also know racism abounds; and most of us are enablers of sorts by not reaching out and help squelch it. (And a whole other argument whether it can be squelched - just regulated)
We deserve all your responses. I try to think of myself as a fair, levelheaded (sometimes mouthy) person. I was actually raised reasonbly well in this regard, and hopefully my children feel the same.
If I chose to pursue a public office, and present myself as a representative of diversity - I know I would do much better than Biden. So that tells me he is pretty much an idiot.
And Hastert should be judged with his failure as Speaker, and not necessarily by his body type. But us humans, on this earth, live with perception as reality.
Maybe Biden tossing a shitball on the stage will encourage more dialogue along these lines.
Posted by: RD | Thursday, February 01, 2007 at 08:49 AM
Chris
And I do not get why people are bothered my this MBNA thing--no one here thinks it should be hard to declare bankruptcy?
One reason there is no exception for Medical Bills and no Universal Health Care.
Yes everyone agrees that anyone that runs up bills just for the fun of it should not get to walk away from their bills, but reasonable exceptions are missing in the law.
Posted by: HC | Thursday, February 01, 2007 at 08:54 AM