Column Gave Biden a Bum Rap
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I read with great interest Moore County Republican Party Chairman Robert Levy's recent column in which he proclaims Joe Biden unfit for the presidency.
I have known the vice president for more than 20 years and feel I must respond.
In over 40 years of public service, Joe Biden has spoken millions of words, many of them ill-timed and sometimes oafish. Sarah Palin spit out more nonsense in her short, unremarkable political life, and she remains the darling of many on the right. But if being an oaf disqualifies you for public office, the halls of Congress and state houses across the land would be empty.
In fact, there is documented evidence to be found in the C-SPAN archives that show Biden giving hundreds of speeches on the floor of the U.S. Senate, using no notes and displaying mastery of a variety of complicated topics. These impressive displays are a stark contrast to his reputation as a campaign clown.
Mr. Levy throws out a conciliatory bone by agreeing with most of the world that Sarah Palin was unqualified for higher office and then foolishly suggests that she was nominated before the economic "meltdown." The meltdown, as most educated folks would agree, began with the crisis in the sub-prime mortgage lending industry, which began in 2007 - deep in the middle of the Bush administration and long before John McCain introduced the world to a half-term governor named Sarah Palin.
He lists two or three misspoken things Biden has said from the vice president's hit list of bloopers. But Levy appears to join a group that likes to use Biden as a punch line to a joke they feel no need to tell. It is a throwaway line. An assumed reality like "Paul Ryan is certainly ready," or "Donald Trump is good for the country."
He claims Biden is fundamentally dishonest, noting that Biden lifted quotes from British Labor Party Leader Neil Kinnock's speeches. I worked for Joe Biden at the time, and the Kinnock riff was part of his standard stump speech. In the dozens of times he used it, he failed to reference Kinnock only twice. More than enough, it seemed, to sink the campaign.
Mr. Levy claims these revelations were made by Stephen Ambrose and Doris Kearns Goodwin. The story was actually broken by Maureen Dowd of The New York Times, who was tipped off by a political hit man named John Sasso, who worked for Mike Dukakis (Biden's opponent).
As for honesty and his trumpeting the qualifications of Paul Ryan? Well, a central focus for Ryan these past few weeks has been the closing of a GM plant in his district, for which he lays full blame on Barack Obama. A bald-faced lie. There are even letters from Paul Ryan's office during the Bush administration lamenting the closing of this plant.
Although I know Biden better (still not well), I have met and like Paul Ryan. I once sat on the steps of a skybox with him and his girlfriend (now his wife), Janna, at a Rolling Stones concert.
But if I wanted to have a childish argument like the one Mr. Levy seems to think we should have, I might point out that Ryan misstated - by more than an hour - the finish time he ran in the only marathon in which he ever participated. Anyone who has ever run a marathon knows their time too the exact nanosecond. Talk about dishonest!
And finally I must comment about the free advice the Moore County Republican chair wants to give the Democratic presidential ticket by suggesting Hillary Clinton would complete an unbeatable dream ticket with Obama. "Malarkey," as my pal Joe Biden would say. This has been a favorite parlor games of conservatives for years: stoking the draft-Hillary game.
The game is fueled by the belief that the more one side hates a ticket the more the other side will love them. Whenever I hear people suggest such a thing for their opponent, I always think of Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown. You can never trust them to act in your best interests.
Chris Larsen, who formerly worked in public relations and lobbying in Washington, lives in Southern Pines. Contact him at cdlars42@gmail.com.
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Comments
Courseaire 8 months, 1 week ago
Chris - I must disagree with "But if being an oaf disqualifies you for public office, the halls of Congress and state houses across the land would be empty". I think the hall of Congress and state houses are full of oafs. History proves that "being an oaf" is one of its qualifications.
OldPilot 8 months, 1 week ago
Courseaire: If you read what you just wrote you will find you agree with Mr. Larsen, not disagree.
Noluv4thugs 8 months, 1 week ago
Biden has given Biden a bum rap....What is up with idiot Vice Presidents? Quail, Gore, now Biden. I would never want any of those guys be the most powerful man in the world.
JimRussell44 8 months, 1 week ago
OldPilot, this may be a case of Courseaire being against it before he was for it, all in the same sentence.
JimRussell44 8 months, 1 week ago
Noluv4thugs, We would all take your comments more seriously if you actually knew the name of a former VP. Nobody named "Quail" was ever a vice president. Seems you suffer from the same idiocy as Dan Quayle...you can't spell either.
Courseaire 8 months, 1 week ago
OP & JR44: OK - Maybe I misinterpreted Mr. Larsen. I've always had trouble with double negatives. I guess that disqualifies me from being in office, thank God. Doh!
justpassingby2 8 months, 1 week ago
JER talking about being taken seriously?!?!? Go back and read your last post on the Levy column. And then tell us how 'hope and change' got your vote. Then tell us how 'forward' gets your vote. You ole phony you!
justpassingby2 8 months, 1 week ago
Turns out biden was the perfect choice. No leader likes their 2nd in command being smarter than them. Take away the teleprompter and obama is biden.
fugitiveguy 8 months, 1 week ago
The debt is 16T and climbing, the unemployment rate is > 8% (likely higher if not for gov math) and gas is 4 bucks a gallon. The choice could not be easier. Amateur hour is over. The players are calling for a managerial change.
teufelhunden 8 months, 1 week ago
boscoe50---you are spot on as usual. hahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thatcher 8 months, 1 week ago
"Take away the teleprompter and Obama is Biden." I think you give Obama way too much credit. Cheers!
Thatcher 8 months, 1 week ago
Hey fugitiveguy, you back from the Middle East (of Virginia)? Cheers!
fugitiveguy 8 months, 1 week ago
Hey, Thatcher.Still in Va. R and R
Thatcher 8 months, 1 week ago
Good for you! Be well! Cheers!
clarabelle 8 months, 1 week ago
" Noluv4thugs - Biden has given Biden a bum rap....What is up with idiot Vice Presidents? Quail, Gore, now Biden. I would never want any of those guys be the most powerful man in the world."
Yes - and I am certain YOU could do much better - but you would have to give up that part time job greeting people at Wal Mart.
clarabelle 8 months, 1 week ago
" Thatcher - Take away the teleprompter and Obama is Biden." I think you give Obama way too much credit."
They ALL use teleprompters - but you being a right wing looney simply ignore that fact.
cheers!
Thatcher 8 months, 1 week ago
clarabelle-- No one here knows what is going on in your life. You are always negative with every post. You call folks names, or on your best day, accuse folks of working part-time at Wal-Mart. Why do you feel the need to do this? I'm sure many folks here would gladly give you a loan.
fatboy 8 months, 1 week ago
At a Democratic rally last week, Biden said that the country was better after four years of NObama, and he said to the crowd that he couldn't take the time to explain because it was too hot outside. Now that's leader potential if I ever hear it.
clarabelle 8 months, 1 week ago
geez Thatcher - and all YOU do 24/7 - with a break every so often to change your diapers - is make foolish statement against obama........ BLAH BLAH BLAH.
clarabelle 8 months, 1 week ago
" fatboy - At a Democratic rally last week, Biden said that the country was better after four years of NObama, and he said to the crowd that he couldn't take the time to explain because it was too hot outside."
Yes - I am certain he said just that ........... with press all around. But of course - you were there and recorded it - right?
Thatcher 8 months, 1 week ago
Diapers. clarabelle...shhh, shhh, shhh. Many may think you are acting foolish.
geoffcutler 8 months, 1 week ago
This is odd....I was told columnists would not be allowed to go after other columnists in a column. Guess that's changed now that we're getting close to a presidential election and it's liberal on Conservative. So surprised.
JPB, glad to see you're not falling for the "sorry to disappoint you guys." I'm not either.
sodakhic 8 months, 1 week ago
Unremarkable political life. That's hilarious, Larson. Mayor, Oil Commissioner, Governor, First woman GOP VP candidate, mastermind of the GOP 2010 takeover of Congress, plus she runs marathons, has a son in a warzone, and birthed a special needs child. I'd say pretty remarkable
geoffcutler 8 months, 1 week ago
Yeah, I'd say that's pretty remarkable. But you won't hear it from a leftie, or even many supposed Conservative/Rhinos. Better still, she can shoot, dress and cook a Moose.
JimRussell44 8 months, 1 week ago
Ah, Palin, it's a shame she didn't run for president being such the remarkable woman she is. Geoff, you are dead wrong, I was praying she would be the Republican choice. Why every time I hear her speak, I shake my head and say, "Wow, that's just freaking remarkable". Also, Geoff, I note you use the term "supposed Conservative/Rhinos". Would those folks be a part of that "united" Republican party you talked about earlier? (And Geoff, please understand this is in no way meant as any type of personal attack on you).
geoffcutler 8 months, 1 week ago
Jim, do you see anywhere where I said she should run for president? Stay calm, if possible, recognize humor.
Yukonjohn 8 months, 1 week ago
Geoff, Good morning my friend. Careful how you lump us all together. I am an AIP member (AK Independence Party) same as Todd, Sarah's old man. I know her, not well, but we have spoken several times. I am not a fan of Sarah. She is pretty enough, she even did a fantastic job for her first eighteen months as Gov. Once she got the "nod" from Sen. McCain, she dropped us like a bunch of hot potatoes. There are many of us up here that have little use for her. Republicans, Democrats, and yes, even AIP members. Todd is OK, heck maybe HE should run for something, at least he is a regular guy.
geoffcutler 8 months, 1 week ago
Good Morning, Yukon. I guess I don't think Palin, at this point, would be good in Washington. But I agree that she is a remarkable woman based on what she has done with her life. That's outside whether we like her or not.
Are you watching the news this morning and hearing the tapes of the media coordinating the hit questions they will ask of Romney, instead of questions about the murder of Ambassador Stevens? What a world!
geoffcutler 8 months, 1 week ago
double entry deleted.
Yukonjohn 8 months, 1 week ago
It is a crazy world Geoff. Too weird. I did see those idiots all getting all ganged up for Romney. I don't particularily like or dislike him, I can't vote for him, but bothered me too. I just do not know what the world is coming to. I just got back from a late night run that we had for work, and getting ready to hit the hay and get ready for tomorrow. I wonder what it will bring? Best Wishes to all of ya'll down there.
geoffcutler 8 months, 1 week ago
A retired SF friend just stopped by and brought up an interesting question. The radical Islamists in Cairo scaled the embassy wall, shinnied up the flagpole, ripped down our flag and replaced it w/ an al-quaida flag(?). Where were our Marines, normally stationed at our embassies to protect our ambassadors?
fugitiveguy 8 months, 1 week ago
yes, Geoff. I wondered about that too. I thought all our embassies were guarded by US Marines
fugitiveguy 8 months, 1 week ago
John, you say you don't like or dislike Romney, but you can't vote for him? Why not?
fatboy 8 months, 1 week ago
clarabelle 13 hours, 1 minute ago " fatboy - At a Democratic rally last week, Biden said that the country was better after four years of NObama, and he said to the crowd that he couldn't take the time to explain because it was too hot outside."
Yes - I am certain he said just that ........... with press all around. But of course - you were there and recorded it - right?
No, I wasn't there, but I heard the entire clip and it wasn't on one of the mainstream liberal stations.
geoffcutler 8 months, 1 week ago
Not but a day or two after making the point that the media is in the tank for Obama, and trying to do anything to artificially inflate his numbers after a mundane speech and a horrendously embarrassing convention, we get two leftist chuckle-heads, one from NPR, and another from ABC-- on tape-- trying to coordinate gotcha attacks against Romney when they should have been asking him what he would do differently than Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, who have utterly diminished our standing in the world and made it so that terrorists can assault our embassies/consulates, and kill Americans with us not there to defend them, and without firing a shot in their defense. Appeasement is no foreign policy. It's weak, it provokes.
fugitiveguy 8 months, 1 week ago
Biden has been (no pun intended) going around shooting his mouth off "gm is alive, Osama is dead" over and over. Spiking the ball if you will. I assure you if a Republican had been doing this all the usual suspects on here would be soiling themselves from outrage. Chris Matthews would have to be committed until he settled down. Biden and Obama may have incited this latest wave of anti American violence in the Muslim world. I thought Mr H and C was going to bring us all together.
geoffcutler 8 months, 1 week ago
What a joke that turned out to be.
Yukonjohn 8 months, 1 week ago
fugutiveguy, l am sorry. I just saw your question. I can't vote for Mitt for a number of reasons. We do not see the world the same, his administration would support NDAA, he would never disband many "Unconstitutional Agencies", and l know many, many LDS folks. I am friends with many of them. I could never vote for one. No differently that voting for a Branch Dividian or any other religion that felt that their religion was more important than running the country. I would prefer an agnostic or even atheist over most religions.
Yukonjohn 8 months, 1 week ago
Fugitiveguy, I meant to add....I could never vote for a Moslem either, if there were one running!!
Noluv4thugs 8 months, 1 week ago
CB, I don't work for Wal-Mart. But I'm sure even with your liberal agenda you shop there. You are one of the most miserable people posting on this site. I love how much you hate your life :) Try and not be so c**ty. And Jim sorry about the faux pas of not spelling Quayle correctly. You just keep on loving Obama Bin Biden and all will be good in the world.
homerunfun 8 months, 1 week ago
Mr. Larsen's column demonstrates that being a liberal far outweighs ignorance to qualify as a pilot columnists
Noluv4thugs 8 months, 1 week ago
CB, just for the record, I would never want to be the Vice President or President. You have to be f**ked in the head to want to do that job......I think you would be a perfect candidate