2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumIs VP JOE BIDEN Feeling the Bern, on the 'Bernie Bandwagon' ?
Is Joe Biden an undeclared Bernie Sanders supporter? We ask that question because in a CNN interview broadcast Monday the vice president sure sounded like a secret member of the Feel the Bern club.
Talking with CNNs Gloria Borger, Vice President Biden said that Senator Sanders is doing a heck of a job on the campaign trail. And he strongly backed the Vermont senator on the latters main issue, income inequality.
Bernie is speaking to a yearning that is deep and real, and he has credibility on it, said Biden.
In contrast, Hillary Clinton is a newcomer to this issue, according to the VP. The implication: Shes a less authentic voice on the dangers of the concentration of wealth, a core concern of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party.
Its relatively new for Hillary to talk about that ... no one questions Bernies authenticity on those issues, said Biden.
Biden has since clarified these statements, saying he intended no disrespect toward the former secretary of State. Mrs. Clinton has spent years focusing on foreign policy, Biden said Tuesday on NBCs "Today", while inequality has been Sanderss mantra since he leapt into the campaign.
But Biden perhaps protesteth too much. Its no secret that hes a liberal leaner, more inclined toward that faction that Howard Dean famously called the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party. Those are the folks most excited about the white-haired, finger-pointing, New York-accented presidential contender from Vermont. Theyre the ones who chant his signature lines, such as break up the banks, at rallies.
Nor is Biden the president of the United States. Barack Obama believes its unbecoming for the nations chief executive to endorse a Democratic candidate prior to the general election. But the VP may feel its OK for the second-in-command to at least hint at where his heart lies. Plus, its clear Biden remains torn about not running for president himself. Earlier this month he said he regrets his decision to stay out every day, even though it remains the right decision for his family in the wake of the death of his son and presumed political heir, Beau. Of course, as weve noted in the past, Biden actually did run, after a fashion. He consulted advisers, dropped leaks to the press, and generally acted like someone engaged in the so-called invisible primary stage of presidential politics.
The problem was he lost, to Hillary Clinton. Shed locked up all the establishment support long before Biden began his explorations. It seemed clear to him that he had no path to victory. That played a large role in his final decision.
So it would not be too surprising if Bidens feelings towards Clinton were a complicated mix of support, admiration, and resentment. > >In contrast, Sanders is playing the role of an emotional, populist crusader. In that sense hes probably much closer to doing what Biden envisioned doing himself.
http://news.yahoo.com/joe-biden-bernie-bandwagon-173821019.html
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> Jan. 11, CNN: Exclusive interview by Gloria Borger with VP Joe Biden about the narrowing Clinton-Sanders race. The Vice President mentions Sen. Sanders democratic socialist characterization, and explains that Bernie is speaking to a yearning that is deep and real, and he has credibility on it. Biden emphasizes the absolutely enormous concentration of WEALTH in a small group of people now with the MIDDLE CLASS being left out.
There used to be a BASIC BARGAIN Biden said, that if you contributed to the profitability of an enterprise you got to share in the profits. That's been broken, productivity is up and WAGES ARE STAGNANT he said. It's relatively new for Hillary to talk about that, her focus has been on other things up to now, and no one questions Bernie's authenticity on those issues, Biden stated. At the end of the piece Clinton's probability as the favorite was briefly discussed.
underthematrix
(5,811 posts)poorest senator. They got along very well in the senate. I don't think VP or PBO will endorse during primary season.
appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)Glad to know they got along in the Senate, I didn't realize that, it makes sense. Today I read that Obama is not unusual in holding off endorsing; Clinton came out for Gore early mainly b/c he was unchallenged. So far the President has offered praise for both Clinton and Sanders while remaining neutral. We shall see how it goes in the coming weeks.