I've kept quiet about an exchange during the debate that didn't ring true to me.

[blm]

The reason I stayed quiet is that it was between Biden and Warren, and I happen to have very positive feelings for both as evidenced throughout my lengthy history here. I just happen to be a Warren supporter for this primary race.

I have a fairly strong memory, a bit weakened as I get older, but, still usually correct.

I could not recall Biden being a factor in the creation of the CFPB.

I think Biden confused his very pro-active and effective vote-whipping for ACA with the CFPB, and that Warren was being polite in not directly correcting him.

I post this now because some have used the exchange to find fault with Warren for not thanking Biden there and then.

I am certain that Biden did not jump into that with malice or the intent to claim credit. I really believe he just conflated the two votes.

Few media outlets noticed. Some were unfairly and overthetop snarky towards Biden, though, so I won’t post them. I only want to keep the facts straight here.

This article lays it out fairly well.

Joe Biden’s Mysterious Claim That He Whipped Votes for the CFPB

https://prospect.org/politics/joe-biden-mysterious-claim-whipped-votes-cfpb/
https://theintercept.com/2019/10/16/joe-biden-elizabeth-warren-debate-cfpb/
.........
But the insistence that Biden had anything whatsoever to do with rallying support for the CFPB in the Senate left many other people closely involved scratching their heads.

“In all honesty, that was news to me last night,” said Jim Manley, who was communications director for Reid at the time. A senator closely involved in the fight, who didn’t want to speak on the record, said that he never heard from Biden. A former Senate staffer who worked on the bill told us, about Biden’s claim, “I needed a drink when I heard that.” They added that Biden and his staff were not involved in any Hill meetings on the subject or engaged in the legislative process in any fashion.

Rep. Brad Miller, D-N.C., was the CFPB statute’s lead author in the House. Asked what Biden did to win votes for the CFPB, Miller told The Intercept and the American Prospect: “Nothing.”

He elaborated on Twitter: “I had no contact with Biden and cannot recall every [sic] hearing his name mentioned by anyone,” he said.
———-

Pro-Warren folks, please don’t use this correction to bash Biden on this thread. I am 100% certain his comments were not based in deceit.

[BlueMTexpat]

1. Thanks, blm!

[kcr]

2. I agree with you that he likely confused memories

I have seen others here and there point this out. I think you're right, though, and that's why it's not mentioned much. He didn't intend to deceive.

[blm]

3. I think Warren realized it, too, and responded very politely.

[BeyondGeography]

5. She also said she takes him at his word after the debate

when asked if she agreed with Biden's characterization.

That whole exchange and the aftermath was littered with potential potholes for her. Biased as I am, her focus in the moment never wavers; she couldn't have handled it better.

[blm]

6. She showed great compassion towards Biden in that aftermath.

She could have brutalized him and been applauded for it, but, she recognized it for what it was, a mistaken memory, and chose to remain polite.

[Blue_true]

14. That is what I like most about her. She has not attacked another democratic

primary opponent, eventhough several have come at her openly. That takes belief in what she stands for and discipline.

[blm]

8. I don't like most Intercept writers, either. In the article it refers to

a few issues in Dodd-Frank that Biden did participate in. He just was not a factor in CFPB. I was engaged in that issue at the time here at DU and had no recollection of his involvement. We were all certainly aware of his whipping the votes on ACA.

This reporter, Ryan Grim, was very plugged in to Schumer’s office at the time, iirc.

[emulatorloo]

9. I can't find those references quickly so I am self deleting

that earlier post

[FoxNewsSucks]

7. I had thought maybe it was a

"I invented the internet" moment, as politicians often overstate their influence to things. Not usually maliciously, just for name recognition. Biden probably spoke favorably to someone about the bill, and considered that "helping get votes".

Apparently, it wasn't even that much.

[phleshdef]

10. Biden was basically Obama's "whip" when it came to the Senate on almost everything.

I don't know how much whipping he did for Dodd/Frank, but he was the guy they sent to talk to the Senate because he had good relationships with nearly everyone from his own time there.

[blm]

11. Which also would be a factor in why he was mistaken on CFPB.

As I said, I understand WHY he was mistaken.

It was unfair of some here to target Warren as being rude and ungrateful when she was actually being polite by not getting in his face and challenging his memory. I’m not sure other rivals would have shown that level of restraint.

[peggysue2]

12. Jared Berstein and Austan Goolsbee would disagree

Link to tweet

And,

Link to tweet

[blm]

13. Article states he weighed in on some aspects of Dodd-Frank. He didn't whip

Last edited Tue Oct 22, 2019, 05:26 PM - Edit history (1)

votes for CFPB on the Hill as he did for other votes.

Supporting an effort verbally in the WH and actually whipping the vote on the Hill are different expenditures of commitment and energy. He said he went to the floor and whipped the votes for CFPB, but, no one remembers him doing that. There is no shame in a politician conflating bills, especially when you’ve participated in hundreds of votes.

But....You are welcome to post any news accounts you have read of Biden whipping votes on the Hill for CFPB at the time. I am not too precious to say I could have this wrong, as well as those on the Hill involved in CFPB who also could not recall those whipping efforts.