As everybody and their mother now knows, Obama’s Vice Presidential running mate will be Senator Joesph Biden of Delaware. Very clever of Obama to wait the whole week, gathering the cell phone numbers of thousands of potential supporters wanting to be the “first to know” via text message (well eat it guys because this post is up even before you got your lousy text message…at ~3:30 a.m. EST). His campaign now has the ability to send get-out-the-vote texts to thousands of young and new voters, many of them who don’t even keep land lines and are traditionally hard to reach on election day. Anyways, we here at Sepia Mutiny have of course written about Joe Biden’s predilection for verbal gaffes before (see Donutgate here and here), which is probably his greatest weakness. However, it is no doubt his considerable strengths that led Obama to choose him as the running mate. Here Obama, in his own words, describes what he was looking for:
“Obviously, the most important question is, is this person prepared to be president? Second-most-important question, from my perspective, is: Can this person help me govern? Are they going to be an effective partner in creating the kind of economic opportunity here at home and guiding us through some dangerous waters internationally? And the third criteria for me, I think, was independence. I want somebody who is going to be able to challenge my thinking and not simply be a yes-person when it comes to policymaking…” [Link]
 |
|
Biden walking with Kerry and Nawaz Sharif near Lahore earlier this year |
<
p>Arguably, the most dangerous waters to be waded through internationally in the next few years will be the tribal areas of Pakistan and it’s border with Afghanistan. There is probably no one in the Senate who knows more about these issue than Biden. In fact, remember this article I blogged about last November:
President Pervez Musharraf and opposition leader Benazir Bhutto each placed telephone calls from Pakistan to Democratic Sen. Joseph Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to discuss the country’s crisis before either talked to President George W. Bush.
On Saturday, Bhutto stressed to Biden the need for parliamentary elections in January with Gen. Musharraf remaining as president but leaving the army. Musharraf called Biden Tuesday and asked that their conversation be kept confidential. Biden got the impression Musharraf could accept January elections although he had triggered the crisis by suspending the constitution. [Link]
Obama could definitely use Biden’s counsel on Pakistan given his own awkward statements earlier in the political season. Even the pundit class (on Face the Nation in the clip below) gives Biden his due when it comes to his foreign policy chops:
<
p>
<
p>
<
p>
<
p>
Don’t misunderstand me, there is lots to like about Biden as a potential VP as David Brooks pointed out on Friday in the NYTimes, but it is his deep knowledge of Pakistan and the problems the United States faces going forward in that region that drove this pick in my opinion. In fact, just three days ago Biden had this to say:
“I congratulate the people of Pakistan on the peaceful resolution of their political crisis, and I applaud the decision of President Musharraf to give up his office for the good of his nation.
“The two major parties in the governing coalition – the PPP and the PML-N – worked together to bring about a change in government through constitutional and nonviolent means. This transition represents the first time in Pakistani history in which a president installed by the military has been removed by constitutional political action.
“I urge Pakistan’s leaders to focus now on the pressing challenges of the future and resist the temptation to settle scores of the past. President Musharraf made the right choice in stepping down. I hope his resignation marks the end of the political turmoil that has immobilized the Pakistani government in recent months…” [Link]
<
p>Also, in July Obama joined Biden and Republican Dick Lugar in announcing a bill to increase aid to Pakistan:
Barack Obama will announce today that he is co-sponsoring legislation with Sens. Joe Biden (D-Del.) and Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) that would triple non-military U.S. aid to Pakistan.
Obama will highlight his support for the bill, which will be unveiled this morning, in a speech today on national security.
“We must expect more of the Pakistani government, but we must offer more than a blank check to a General who has lost the confidence of his people,” Obama states in excerpts pre-released by the campaign. “It’s time to strengthen stability by standing up for the aspirations of the Pakistani people. That’s why I’m cosponsoring a bill with Joe Biden and Richard Lugar to triple non-military aid to the Pakistani people.”
Biden and Lugar will unveil their bill at a news conference this morning. It would authorize $7.5 billion to Pakistan over five years to be used for development purposes such as building schools, roads, and medical clinics. It also calls for “greater accountability on security assistance,” according to Biden’s office, pushing Pakistan to step up its counterterrorism efforts against al Qaeda and the Taliban. [Link]
If he wins the election Obama will have lots of advisors, including governors, to help him try and revive the U.S. economy, the most important issue to voters. Over the last eight years however, our nation has learned that you need critical thinking, independent minds inside the White House when it comes to our foreign policy. Have no doubt that the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan will drive a significant chunk of our foreign policy, and thus Obama decided that Biden was his man.
98 · louiecypher said
Glad to hear, despite the snark. My family’s pretty screwed. They were in the 60s/70s, and they probably will be again–and the worst part for me is that the people revolting won’t be unjustified, which makes me and every other observer of India who is paying close attention really sad. And it also raises the prospect of fascism or a military coup to quell ‘social disorder’ or whatever they decide to call it this time.
the revolution’s already started – the Indian government doesn’t control 15-20% of the territory of the Indian state, and that was before the inflation on fuel/food and the wider context of the global economic slowdown.
Very aptly put. Quite a comic relief – much needed – going through the comments.
75 · razib _the_atheist said
Really? I have the opposite imperssion – which is that the bipartisan post wwii consensus has broken down and the ideological split between neocons and realists is the more relevant one. I think most liberal internationalists as a result of the Iraq misadventure are now firmly in the realist camp (hence the emphasis on soft power). I agree that most people don’t care in any deep sense.
While Biden may round out the ticket with foreign policy experience, in terms of the election, I don’t think it adds much value by bringing in any more votes for Obama. Foreign policy can be balanced out by a good cabinet with the proper choices for Sec. of State and Sec Def.
Either way, Obama and McCain are in a statistical dead heat based upon the latest polls. The much anticipated VP selection probably won’t change much for the candidate here.
Exactly right. The Iran, Taliban and al-Qaeda threats pale in comparison to Russia. Obama’s pick of Biden was an intelligent decision on many counts, including this crucial foreign policy experience one in which McCain could claim the upper hand. I heard Bill Richardson today on TV saying that on a recent visit to New Mexico Obama kept asking him: “Are we doing the right thing in Georgia?” Clearly Barack has got Georgia on his mind which means he is on the ball, and is feeling out the qualifications of Bill Richardson for the post of Secretary of State.
I think the Caucasus Crisis highlights another reason why Hillary Clinton would have been a bad choice for Vice President. The Clinton administration shares the blame with the Bushes for treating Russia as an enemy even after the end of the Cold War, which could turn out to be a much bigger foreign policy mistake than the invasion of Iraq.
105 · Valmiki said
You know McCain will use this to his advantage in Forsyth County GA, lots of home schoolers there who will be madder than hell about being attacked by the Ruskies and nary a word from the liberal media.
Right. And if McCain picks Romney for running mate, the Republicans will be doubly vulnerable to the elitist charge. And vulnerable to sound bites of them criticizing each other during the primaries, a tactic they embraced eagerly against Obama as soon as he announced his choice for VP.
McCain can also be attacked for abandoning his first wife, who waited for him while he was a POW in North Vietnam, for a younger, prettier, wealthier trophy wife whose inheritance paid for all those houses and condos they own. By contrast both Obama and Biden have impeccable, highly admirable family values and loyalties.
There are way too many posters here who try to be cute and clever. I am sure the adolescents here are impressed with your “wit”.
Or perhaps you are being serious and actually have no clue that there is a nation called Georgia in the Caucasus, an american ally, which just got crushed in a short war with Russia?
As for McCains acclaimed status as a “war hero”, here is what an actual war hero David Hackworth had to say about that:
http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/cin_hacker_2.htm
“John McCain is being hailed by the press as a “genuine war hero.” But is he a war hero in the conventional sense like Audie Murphy and John Glenn? Or is his “war hero” status the creation of a very slick publicity campaign that plays on flag, duty, honor and country?”
“in McCain’s own words just four days after being captured, he admits he violated the U.S. Code of Conduct by telling his captors “O.K, I’ll give you military information if you will take me to the hospital.”A Vietnam vet detractor says, “He received the nation’s third highest award, the Silver Star, for treason. He provided aid and comfort to the enemy!”
” McCain’s conduct while a POW negates these glowing comments. The facts are that he signed a confession and declared himself a “black criminal who performed deeds of an air pirate.” This statement and other interviews he gave to the Communist press press were used as propaganda to fan the flames of the antiwar movement.”
“The U.S. Navy says two eyewitnesses are required for any award of heroism. But for the valor awards McCain received, there are no eyewitnesses, less himself and his captors. And they’re not talking”
“McCain refused an early release. An act of valor? Three former POWs told me he was ordered to turn it down by his U.S. POW commander and he “just followed orders.”McCain certainly doesn’t appear to be a war hero by conventional standards, but rather a tough survivor whose handlers are overplaying the war hero card.”
This excerpt (nothing radically new) is from NPR article for the McCain supporters reading SM –
Since Obama balanced his relative youth with the experience of the 65-year-old Biden, McCain may seek to balance his age with a young candidate, such as Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. Jindal, 37, would bring the added advantage of being a governor in a field of senators. If Obama’s choice of an older white man could be seen as an effort to reassure older white voters, Jindal’s heritage as an Indian-American could bring diversity to the McCain ticket.
108 · Valmiki said
Did you actually read what he wrote?
i disagree. obama has the lingering issue of perceived otherness which is unprecedented in it’s complexity. obama and his story has too many variables for the average voter to digest in exchange for a vote. so the calculus is different this time and his VP needs to push that otherness back while talking about standard issues. biden makes that task easier because he’s an oldhand and a familiar face.
108 · Valmiki said
Valmiki: You are delusional. For your information Georgia is more than an ally, it is an integral part of the US of A. Ray Charles had Georgia on the brain even. And referring to the Appalachian range as the Caucasus (sic) just because its residents are 95% white is just racist plain & simple. I was in Buckhead last week when this was going down doing what I could… oh the humanity !
Including undermine Obama as a presidential candidate for her own gains later down the line? There’s no chance for Biden to run for President again; there’s also very little risk of him “tanking” his ticket-mate the way Edwards did with Kerry in 2004, or the way Clinton most likely would have done with Obama. Let’s get over it and move on to an actual conversation.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hXRHkYwdYFfYT4R2Xa3ihL_lzbJAD92O9CO80
“From confronting Russia to dealing with climate change, Barack Obama’s selection of Sen. Joe Biden as his vice presidential candidate Saturday was seen abroad as adding weight and depth to the foreign policy of a potential Obama administration. European analysts said the crisis in the Caucasus provided an appropriate backdrop to Biden’s nomination.”
“Biden owes his selection to (Russian Prime Minister Vladimir) Putin,” said French political analyst Dominique Moisi. “Russia’s invasion of Georgia reinforced the American worry about international tensions.” The choice of the foreign affairs veteran was intended to reassure the electorate concerned about Obama’s lack of credentials, Moisi said.”
“In Germany, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right Christian Democrats, Eckart von Klaeden, said Biden was “an exceptionally good decision, which shows how Obama is trying to organize all elements of the Democratic party behind him.”
Yeah, I guess he’s fine, more or less.
I’m just not feeling it. At all.
I hope all this doesn’t end badly.
60 · Camille said
With all respect, I think you’re really being blindly forgiving here. I hadn’t heard of this incident until now and rewatching that clip a couple times REALLY grates on me. I find it offensive. He is NOT contextualizing that “it’s not a gay disease” and he’s DEFINITELY not making any connection to the fact that it happened in Kenya (thought that may have been a laudable impetus for the testing in the first place).
The way he clearly says, “I just gotta make it clear here… I got tested with Michelle” and shows a bit of a smirk. Yeah, borderline offensive, unfortunately (and yes I give him the benefit of the doubt, he didn’t plan it, it just came out that way — humans say dumb things). I don’t like the sound of it. But oh well, whaddaya gonna do? I’m still voting Barry, of course.
If Obama were to win, it could set up an unusual scenario. Most likely Biden would not run for the Presidency in 2016. Biden would be 73 in 2016. For 16-years the vice-president not running for the top post is peculiar.
85 · SM Intern said
Yeah, that worked.
Valmiki:
A bit harsh in IMHO. I give McCain the benefit of doubt about being an honorable soldier, and his long and difficult imprisonment.
However, as I’ve said before, McCain is affirmative action for white people.
— He was admitted to the Naval Academy based on being the scion of a distinguished military family (not his high school grades). — At the academy he secured a rank 5th from the bottom.
— Because of his political clout he secured a pilot’s position — these are generally reserved for the brightest cadets.
— In the war he served with valor. However, he wasn’t hero in normal sense… there are no great victories or tactics attributable to him. — At age 40 his wife accused him of acting like a carousing 25-year-old, when he divorced her (while openly living another woman).
No Black or Asian would ever have a shot at the presidency with this track record, but this is affirmative action for white people.
120 · vv vvaraiya. said
must add class to the equation. it AA for white people with pedigree, like bush and gore getting into the ivys. poor whites get hosed.
To vv vvaraiya,
No Black or Asian would ever have a shot at the presidency with this track record, but this is affirmative action for white people.
And what track record does the chosen one Obama have? How many legistlative accomplishments? 143 days in the U.S. Senate? A “community organizer”? Voted the most liberal member of the Senate,notwithstanding his claims of bipartisanship? Attended a racist church for 20 years, inspite of calling himself “post-racial”? Zero executive experience?.
Obama is the ultimate AA candidate