Q: Do you think choosing Biden was a message to his Base (that's us)?

[Taverner]

Think about it, he's been moving right (they euphemistically call it moving to the center) for some time

He is at risk for losing his base, the very base that gave him the nom

So he chooses Biden, a REAL liberal, an OUTSPOKEN liberal - a risk - a real risk, but a message at the same time

He's telling us he hasn't forgot us, and to hang on - its gonna be a long ride

What do you think?

[anonymous171]

1. They're already calling Biden a closet conservative, DLCer, etc.

[Taverner]

9. That's insane - He's a Kerry-esque Liberal if there ever was

[Czolgosz]

2. Choosing Biden was an admission that McCain's argument that Obama is too inexperienced spooked Obama

[DevonRex]

5. Or it could just be that Biden was the most qualified of the choices

for veep.

Don't you have a rock to crawl back under?

[Czolgosz]

10. If "I will value judgment over experience" was an empty slogan, you may be right

[Taverner]

15. Despite some of Biden's worst mistakes (plaigarism, IWR vote)

He has also made a number of good ones. The good outweighs the bad choices - more so than even MY VP pick (Clinton) or John Edwards (even if he had gotten a bottle of astroglide and headed back to the hotel that night)

[anonymous171]

7. Everyone one of his veep picks was like that.

Wouldn't of mattered who he picked.

[maddiejoan]

3. I think he went for the 2nd best pick available.

[ilovemesomechickens]

4. not liberal enough for me

but then again, who really is these days.

[polichick]

6. I love the choice - think it had to do with a number of things...

...the fact that Obama didn't get a bump out of his foreign trip; that he needs white male voters; that he trusts Joe and works well with him; that Joe is ready to be president and will challenge Barack; that Joe has been on the right side of the kinds of issues we liberals care about; that he'll take it to McCain; that Joe has a lot of respect and can influence voters in several states, including PA...etc.

It's a great ticket!

[Beregond2]

8. I think Obama's appeal has been far more that he is an

independent thinker, and "outsider," than that he is a liberal. So it is hard to see how choosing the ultimate insider is going to be reassuring to his "base." I think the message is aimed more at those who were always worried about his lack of experience, like my brother, who has said several times: "Look what electing an outsider did for us last time" meaning Carter.

[wyldwolf]

11. I reject the entire premise of your post

The left "progressives" of the party are not the base, Obama hasn't moved "right" (and anyone who has read The Audacity of Hope) knows it, and I do find it odd that you'd paint Biden as one of you when the last 7 years on this site he has been a "DLC toady corporatist sell-out blah blah blah."

Obama picked an experienced centrist to compliment him.

[Taverner]

18. Would you have preferred Chet Edwards? Tim Kaine? Joe Lieberman?

[wyldwolf]

19. no, but that just means I like Biden more that Chet, Kaine, and Lieberman

Chet is an unknown, Kaine is woefully inexperienced, and Lieberman is not a Democrat.

[Taverner]

20. Although Holy Joe wasn't shortlisted, the others were

Personally I wanted to add insurance to the bet and have Clinton as VP, but out of all his choices, he chose the most liberal.

For me that's a good thing

[wyldwolf]

22. you would have many on DU differ with you on who is most liberal...

...maybe Biden is a little further left, but he certainly isn't a netroots-style "progressive." Anyone trying to revise history and claim "progressives" have been with Biden the whole time has years of blog posts working against them.

Here are just a few dandy dumbass quotes about Biden from DU in the past:

My Problem With The Biden\Edwards\DLC Poopy-Pants Wing !!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3793741&mesg_id=3793741

We need to take back our Democratic Party-- the DLC Dems must GO! Just like the Dixie Crats in the '60's that didn't want Civil Rights they were kicked out. The DLC dems (Lieberman, Clinton, Biden, et al.) are Eisenhauser Repukes.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2666724&mesg_id=2666724

Alright, alright, I am talking about Biden. Joe isn't a member of the DLC, but he is a friggin' neocon.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2627095&mesg_id=2627095

Biden same weak ass snark you see from an inside the beltway clone, he seesm to be a meat puppet of Al Froms of late

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1836491&mesg_id=1836491

Just a little factoid. The DLC loves Biden & he loves them.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1836491&mesg_id=1837188

[MercutioATC]

29. No, I'd have preferred we keep true to the "change" thing and pick Schweitzer.

...but Biden will get us the win in November, too.


I just don't agree with the change in message that Biden as VP sends.

[butterfly77]

12. If anyone is and has been watching ...

how politics are played which Obama was saying a lot during the campaign,he didn't have to spell it out or send signals. Usually we see him repeating things over and over again and that is for the people who don't ever pay attention to politics and can't tell what games are being played especially when it comes to REPUBLICONS...

[CTyankee]

13. Well, no, I don't. I think he chose Biden because he needs his

gravitas on international issues. I said this when the whole Georgia-Russia hostilities erupted.

And yes, he needs Biden as an attack dog. Biden has a very sharp wit. I feel sorry for whoever is McConehead's VP pick going up against Joe in the debate. It will be a sorry sight.

Biden may have his problems and his drawbacks but he'll be strong as hell. You can bet on it.

[salonghorn70]

14. I Don't Think So

Since I didn't support Obama in the primaries, I guess I can't really speak for "his base." But I hardly think he is at risk of losing it. Also, I really wouldn't characterize Biden as a "Real liberal, an OUTSPOKEN liberal." I think that he chose Biden because he is prepared to be President and offers an independent voice. He also offers a vast amount of experience that will be invaluable to a President Obama.

[slackmaster]

16. I see it as a message to moderates and conservatives

The message is "We don't need you."

[Taverner]

17. Exactly. eom

[wyldwolf]

24. But Biden is a moderate

:shrug:

Here's a small list of smears and insults by "progressives" against Biden on DU:

My Problem With The Biden\Edwards\DLC Poopy-Pants Wing !!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3793741&mesg_id=3793741

We need to take back our Democratic Party-- the DLC Dems must GO! Just like the Dixie Crats in the '60's that didn't want Civil Rights they were kicked out. The DLC dems (Lieberman, Clinton, Biden, et al.) are Eisenhauser Repukes.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2666724&mesg_id=2666724

Alright, alright, I am talking about Biden. Joe isn't a member of the DLC, but he is a friggin' neocon.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2627095&mesg_id=2627095

Biden same weak ass snark you see from an inside the beltway clone, he seesm to be a meat puppet of Al Froms of late

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1836491&mesg_id=1836491

Just a little factoid. The DLC loves Biden & he loves them.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1836491&mesg_id=1837188

[slackmaster]

33. Labels like moderate, liberal, and conservative are all subjective

It all depends on your point of view.

[salonghorn70]

31. I'm A Moderate

So does your post mean that I should withdraw my Obama support because I'm not needed?

[slackmaster]

32. My irony meter is so pegged it's almost unbelievable - I'll spell it out for you

I am a moderate as well. I plan to vote for Obama. The choice of Biden as VP does not change MY decision.

I think Biden is a very risky choice for Obama. Excluding voters by putting one's self firmly in one ideological camp has never worked well in a national election.

The great irony I see is that ultra-liberals are concerned that Biden isn't liberal enough. Way over on the other side of the left/right continuum, they're freaking out over the possibility that McCain might choose Mitt Romney, because he's not conservative enough for them.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[onicodnem]

23. More on what I mean

They call Joe Biden "the senator from MBNA," because he's from the state of Delaware, which is one of the two states that has given very low tax rates to all these credit card companies, and unlimited opportunities for them to operate out of the state on a national basis. South Dakota is the other state. Many politicians benefit from this arrangement, even if their constituents and America doesn't.

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/interviews/052

[dionysus]

35. well, bye...

[IndianaJones]

25. the base is the center. nt.

[mmonk]

26. I think he's signaling his strength in judgement

concerning who is on the team.

[Bonobo]

27. Your post starts with a false premise. That he has moved to the right. He has not.

eom.

[Breeze54]

28. Biden voted for the IWR and the Bankruptcy Bill....

That sort of puts him in the DLC camp, doesn't it? Not exactly a liberal Dem.
But he knows McDim and can kick his ass all over the place! I do like Biden's
personality and I think he fits the bill but I'm not happy with his votes on
the above but he has apologized for it.

IWR Vote - Oct. 11th, 2002
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&vote=00237&session=2

Joe Biden Rips GOP On Iraq War Resolution

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1op8vwF5UA

March 14, 2007

During debate on the binding Iraq-withdrawal bill that would require George W. Bush
to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq within one year, Joe Biden rips Republicans
for standing by Bush's horrible course.

[MercutioATC]

30. Of course he voted for the bankruptcy bill...most CC companies are based in DE.

...and that's kinda what I'm talking about when I say he taints the "change" message.

[Breeze54]

36. I know where they are.... but if you

believed there'd be 'huge' change... I got a bridge. to sell you. ;)
Any change will take time... congress moves slowly. But there will
be change from the RW gestapo fiasco that's been going on for the
last 8 years! I can deal with that! ;)

[barack the house]

34. I think so judge a man by his history and Obama's is sound he's getting this done. folks.

[Top Cat]

37. I am behind the ticket all the way