Biden To Obama: "Please Don't Ask Me For Any Reason Other Than That You Respect My Judgement"

[kpete]

October 14, 2008

Less is known about how Barack Obama chose Joe Biden for the ticket. Ryan Lizza has a fascinating item in the New Yorker about Biden, and it helps shed some light on the Democrats' process.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/10/20/081020fa_fact_lizza

During the primaries, which continued until June, Obama and Biden spoke about twice a week. "He'd call not so much to ask for advice as to bounce things off me," Biden said as we sat in the tent. "And then when he asked me if I would consider being vetted" -- possible Vice-Presidential candidates must submit to a personal and financial investigation by the campaign -- "I said I'd have to think about it." <...>

Biden agreed to let Obama's campaign team consider him, but with a caveat: "I wanted to make sure we understood each other -- that, even if I vetted and he wanted me to take the job, I wasn't committing to do that. When the time was appropriate for him, if I was the guy, I needed to spend at least two or three hours with him to understand what the role would be." Biden wanted what amounted to an oral contract between him and Obama, spelling out his specific responsibilities in an Obama White House.

On August 6th, Biden said, the Obama campaign "smuggled" him into Minneapolis, where Obama was campaigning, and the two senators stayed up late in a suite at the Graves 601 Hotel working out the details of a potential deal. <...>

Biden consulted with his closest political advisers, including Ted Kaufman, Mike Donilon, and John Marttila, all of whom have been with him since the early days of his career. "They convinced me that I could have more influence on policy as a Vice-President with Barack," Biden said. "And so the bottom line of all of this is that I said, 'Barack, look, if you're going to ask me to do this, please don't ask me for any reason other than that you respect my judgment. If you're asking me to join you to help govern, and not just help you get elected, then I'm interested. If you're asking me to help you get elected, I can do that other ways, but I don't want to be a Vice-President who is not part of the major decisions you make.' "

more at:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_10/015174.php

[rucky]

1. We're in good hands.

what a team!

[occe]

2. I agree

:applause:

[1corona4u]

3. They both hinted to as much in the 60 Minutes interview.

I think a lot of people missed that.

[RichGirl]

4. Unlike Palin who didn't blink.

A perfect Obama ad would have a clip of Biden saying what he did...and Palin saying "I didn't blink."

[nichomachus]

11. I'm very suspicious of people who don't blink

that's just not human.

Come on -- if someone out of the blue came up and asked you to be a state senator, you'd have to sit down. Someone comes up and asks you to be vice president and you're first question is going to be "Are you out of your mind?" It would be mine -- and I'm 100 times more qualified to be vice president that Wasilla Sally -- and I'm not very qualified at all.

[RichGirl]

18. No kidding...

I blink when I'm asked: paper or plastic...at the check out line!

[Recursion]

29. This guy never blinked

His whole on-screen time in Full Metal Jacket doesn't have a single blink.

[bettyellen]

26. and didn;t think...

[Clio the Leo]

5. How could anyone ever deny Joe's judgement and wisdom...

..... I'm sure the answer to Joe's question was obvious to Barack. Probably even thought to himself, "well DUH!" when Joe asked him.

You know what they say about a picture being worth a thousand words....

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2007/02/01/svOBAMA_wideweb__470x323,0.jpg

... it's all right there.

[OneGrassRoot]

6. It's the way it SHOULD be. The process has become so corrupt...

that elections have become a mere game...choosing VP candidates to get votes from a certain base, NOT because that candidate can help govern (in Palin's case, this is patently obvious)...pundits on TV referred to as "democratic strategists" and "republican strategists."

Strategists? When I heard that term used so easily and repeatedly in the last year, I knew the pretense of a democratic process was history.

They don't even hide the fact that it's a game now, one won and lost at our expense.

[CrispyQ]

7. This is the best & most exciting ticket I've ever voted on in my life!!

[ginnyinWI]

8. I love your graphic!

It is SO true!

I'm sure Obama picked Joe for governing not winning the election. Biden doesn't represent a crucial state or anything like that. True, he's an excellent attack dog. But if Obama had wanted to pander for votes, he'd have chosen Hillary or some other woman, or else Richardson for the Latino vote. He chose Biden so he could fill in the experience in foreign policy gap--which wasn't so much but still there. He wants an expert at his elbow when a crisis comes up who will tell him the truth--and Biden's got the chops to do it.

[CrispyQ]

12. Wish I could take credit, but someone else posted it.

It really sums up the candidates, though.

I also like that Obama & Biden seem to genuinely like each other. I find that very appealing.

I think Cheney has nothing but disdain for the puppet, although he doesn't display that to the puppet or the public.

[ginnyinWI]

15. it made me laugh,

and feel so good that I put it on my desktop. Something has to be pretty good to get me to remove my baby grandson's pic from my desktop (temporarily, mind you!). :)

[gateley]

9. And it's so refreshing to have someone in that position who isn't viewing it as

just the next step in his political career. He's willing to do this for the RIGHT reason. And Obama's wisdom in choosing him speaks volumes about him, too.

What a team!

[Hope And Change]

10. And that`s how it should be.Well said Biden!

:thumbsup:

[RoadRage]

13. Now.. imagine that exact same conversation happening between Palin & McCain.

Think.about.it.

:rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray:
:rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray:
:rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray:
:rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray:
:rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray:
:rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray:

[quantass]

20. lol

[Arugula Latte]

14. Doesn't Obama know you're supposed to pick a VP in a last-minute panic in reaction to

the successful convention of the opposing party? Also, the VP pick should be eminently unqualified but appeal to the wackiest fringe elements of your party. Sheesh! Get it straight, Obama!

[BklynChick]

16. I love Joe. What a fucking amazing guy he is.

[stillcool]

17. they seem very comfortable with each other...

but then they both ooze intelligence, respect, and self-confidence.

[TuxedoKat]

32. I agree.

Before Barack asked Joe there was alot of speculation in the MSM and whenever they showed video clips of Barack with Joe, Barack always looked comfortable and relaxed and happy with Joe and the same with Joe, although he seems to be comfortable with just about anyone. :)

[riverwalker]

19. we are so lucky

My gawd, with these two leading, we can do anything.

[quantass]

21. Gotta love these 2...America is looking VERY promising from here

[old mark]

22. 2 smart, decent people on the same ticket - How will

Washington handle it when they take office?

mark

[gratefultobelib]

23. You've made me cry again. I keep doing this!!

[Cha]

24. "A different kind of vetting process"!

They had to both be sure because they are their own men and they would be running the show.

What always fascinated me was that Obama had chosen Patti Solis Doyle to be the Chief of Staff to the VP before the VP was chosen..at least I think that was the lineup?

[ecstatic]

25. If it was just about getting elected, he would have went with

well, you know who. lol

[TheDonkey]

27. lol, Biden is NOT going to help Obama get him elected and I do not think that was Obama's plan

ie. securing Delaware's electoral votes is not a concern. But Biden will be a great asset in the VP role. This is a dream ticket.

[rateyes]

28. Sounds a lot different than, "I didn't hesitate," doesn't it?

[Jennicut]

30. Isn't Biden like the good doppelganger to evil Dick Cheney?

He has no ambition to run for president so he is all about giving Obama his good advice. I love the guy.

[Laelth]

31. I suppose this is Cheney's legacy ...

... but I am nervous about the Vice President being involved in governing and being a part of major policy decisions. As I read the Constitution, that's not the VP's job. Obama, of course, would be wise to tap Biden's experience, but I don't want a powerful Office of the VP acting as a second, clandestine, and unregulated executive branch, as Cheney operated the office.

-Laelth

[lyonn]

33. Obama said he wanted people around him that would give him

honest input not a "yes" person. Intelligent and experienced people that could advise him. Makes sense and I believe that is how Obama feels about Biden, he has experience and wisdom when it comes to govt. and foreign affairs. I can't see Biden insisting Obama should take his advise, strongly recommend maybe, ha.