Yep, It's Biden

Posted by Liliana Segura, AlterNet at 5:17 AM on August 23, 2008.

Obama has chosen Delaware Senator Joe Biden as his running mate.

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The text message arrived at 3am, officially confirming what had been leaked hours before:

"Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee. Watch the first Obama-Biden rally live at 3pm ET on www.BarackObama.com. Spread the word!"

Read more here or here.

General consensus is that Biden was chosen to "fill the gaps" in Obama's resume, given his 36 years in the Senate and the fact that he chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But when it comes to Obama's base, Biden isn't exactly the "change" agent people might want. (And of course, there was that whole "clean," "articulate" thing.)

The McCain campaign immediately released as statement claiming that "there has been no harsher critic of Barack Obama's lack of experience than Joe Biden" and CNN and MSNBC, relieved to have something to show on the air besides speculating pundits and the people camping out in front of various would-be VPs houses, has started playing some clips to that effect.

Of course, it's too soon to know how this will be spun -- let alone what Obama's supporters and detractors do with this news. For now, here's what you find when you Google "biden wiki." (Yes, it has already been updated.)

Tagged as: cnn, msnbc, barack obama, election 2008, presidential election, joseph biden

Liliana Segura is a staff writer and editor of AlterNet's Rights and Liberties and War on Iraq Special Coverage.

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Go JOE, Give them Hell! [Report this comment] Posted by: williameon on Aug 23, 2008 5:48 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Obama will have the hatchet man he needs? Some body has got to call BUSH and Gas Bag Chainey out! Makes some waves Joe, GIVE them HELL! [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Joe "Bankruptcy Bill" Biden A non-progressive choice [Report this comment] Posted by: scott.gregory on Aug 23, 2008 6:28 AM Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Well, this shows where Obama is going. Biden authored the worst anti-middle class bill in recent history; a made-for-corporations bankruptcy "reform" that includes medical debts as part of overall debts to which one's lifetime savings can be attached. Delaware, Biden's state, is the state corporations charter in because it is the state with nearly NO corporate governance regulations that protect even the shareholders, much less the employees or the public. He is a Richard Holbrooke/Madeleine Albright international interventionist in among his alleged "foreign policy" credentials. This is a non-progressive choice. This was a terrible choice. I've given my last contribution to Obama. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Biden???!!! Seriously? [Report this comment] Posted by: zeitgeist1979 on Aug 23, 2008 7:07 AM Current rating: 2 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] My God, what an uninteresting choice. It does nothing for Obama's electoral map ... only for his image. Yet again, it may do nothing for Obama's image either ... people don't vote for VP's, they vote for the top of the ticket person. I've trusted Obama on his judgement but this one ... I don't know about this man. I could care less Biden is a "centrist" so for all those that are whining about it I say get a life people ... Presidents are not your own personal btch who will please you on every single issue. They should please you on the majority of them, not all. That's just the reality of our political system. What I care most about this choice is that it reeks of nonexcitement, nonevent, anti-climax. This VP choice blows. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Biden???!!! Seriously?* Posted by: vivachavez Change? Hope? [Report this comment] Posted by: GuitarBill on Aug 23, 2008 7:11 AM Current rating: 2 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Joe Biden? You must be joking. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Hmmmm . . . [Report this comment] Posted by: Scientz on Aug 23, 2008 7:13 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] . . . I would've preferred Chuck Hagel, but I'm good with Biden. Nicely done. Certainly better than Bayh, and Clinton would've been suicidal. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] He Could Have Had Sebelius... [Report this comment] Posted by: goldmarx on Aug 23, 2008 7:21 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] ..and now, what? Biden has a lot of negatives. He said he was not interested in being Veep, and now turns around to be the undercard on a ticket whose head he declared as unqualified to serve as President?? He refused to tap into the passion, the hunger for a woman executive unleashed by the Clinton campaign. How does this heal the divisions within the Democratic Party mass? Sebelius was scandal-free - as a running mate, she was bullet-proof compared to Biden. Two senators on a ticket? Ugh! Sebelius is a governor who is a white Catholic with known crossover appeal to moderate Republicans. Obama has said he "loves" Sebelius, but Biden insultingly referred to Obama as "clean" and "articulate". If you mess with your base, you'll have egg on your face! If McCain is smart, he'll pick Condoleeza Rice as his running mate, thereby tapping into the growing discontent with Obama among the Dems. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » I guarantee it won't be Condi . . . Posted by: Scientz » Also . . . Posted by: Scientz » RE: He Could Have Had Sebelius... Posted by: JSquercia » You forgot to mention . . . Posted by: dustdevil *» Can I have a toke off that sht you're smoking? Posted by: GuitarBill » RE: Can I have a toke off that sht you're smoking?* Posted by: Dboy Biden's a true ally of corporate, police state America and the military-industrial complex... [Report this comment] Posted by: Frank J. Burris on Aug 23, 2008 7:31 AM Current rating: 3 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] ...and he's not above pandering to the religious right. Here's a list of some of his votes to that effect: 1)Voted in favor of authorizing the war in Iraq 2)Voted in favor of the Patriot Act 3)Voted in favor of NAFTA 4)Voted in favor of the draconian 1994 Crime Bill 5)Voted in favor of Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China 6)Voted in favor of the Border Fence 7)Voted in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act Change we can believe in? I hardly expect it from this ticket. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Biden's a true ally of corporate, police state America and the military-industrial complex... Posted by: EncinoM » RE: Biden's a true ally of corporate, police state America and the military-industrial complex... Posted by: Frank J. Burris » RE: Biden's a true ally of corporate, police state America and the military-industrial complex... Posted by: Dboy Moving toward the domestic agenda [Report this comment] Posted by: jebpgh on Aug 23, 2008 11:03 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I think the selection of Biden makes a lot of sense. Obama can move off of foreign policy talking points and focus for the balance of the campaign on the central issue of the economy and the class divide. Biden - even with his vote on the war at the beginning - has been the loudest and most consistent critic of the administration's prosecution of the war. He was also a tough advocate on the Judiciary against the Bush nominees. He has a son about to ship out to Iraq and he has a reputation for having a credible history of personal conduct in office. But for me the most important reason is that Barack needs to re-focus on the domestic agenda - foreign policy does not win elections for Democrats - the economy does. Right now the economic situation is made for Democratic victories in the Congress and White House. This looks a lot like the Clinton/Gore ticket. Gore had the credentials of a long-sitting US senator with decent foreign policy experience - Clinton was able to attack the GOP on their "party of the rich" image. If McCain obliges and picks Romney, it will do nothing but reinforce the image of the GOP as the country club elitists that they really are. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Moving toward the domestic agenda Posted by: VZEQICVA » RE: Moving toward the domestic agenda Posted by: JSquercia » RE: Moving toward the domestic agenda Posted by: VZEQICVA My Advice for Obama [Report this comment] Posted by: JSquercia on Aug 23, 2008 4:06 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] The NEXT time McCain talks about how Obama will raise taxes he should reply with the illustration of what happens to McCain's taxes which go down 300,000 under McCain's plan but Increase under Barack's plan by 700,000 and say YES your taxes will increase as will mine. He might add that as the fortunate few WE both of us have an Obligation to the country HE should then show the different treatment that a family making the MEDIAN income will receive . McCains would give less than 300 dollars while Obama's would give about 1100 . [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Follow the leader [Report this comment] Posted by: YogiBear on Aug 23, 2008 9:44 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Obama should have followed Bush's lead. Pick a VP who people are so freaked about they'd rather have you than him. Obama should have picked a true agent of change as his VP, like Kucinich. Or better yet, he should have picked Hilary. He would have been bulletproof. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Uninspired, corporatist, Zionist placater [Report this comment] Posted by: truthteller on Aug 24, 2008 7:35 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I agree with just about all the prior criticisms leveled at Sen. Biden. I really thought and hoped he was a head-fake for the truly bold move of picking Gov. Sebelius for VP. I stand by my long-ago made decision to vote for Cynthia McKinney, after Kucinich was hatchet-jobbed out of the race (at least he didn't get "Wellstoned"). I still believe that the only way to get real, truly progressive change in the Democratic Party is to take it over after it crashes and burns - sorry to Tim Carpenter of PDA. About the only thing that Biden has been really good on is mass-transit and Amtrak. Joe should stay in the Senate and keep working for a better rail-passenger system for America. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

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» RE: Biden???!!! Seriously? Posted by: vivachavez

» I guarantee it won't be Condi . . . Posted by: Scientz

» Also . . . Posted by: Scientz

» RE: He Could Have Had Sebelius... Posted by: JSquercia

» You forgot to mention . . . Posted by: dustdevil

**» Can I have a toke off that sh*t you're smoking?** Posted by: GuitarBill

**» RE: Can I have a toke off that sh*t you're smoking?** Posted by: Dboy

» RE: Biden's a true ally of corporate, police state America and the military-industrial complex... Posted by: EncinoM

» RE: Biden's a true ally of corporate, police state America and the military-industrial complex... Posted by: Frank J. Burris

» RE: Biden's a true ally of corporate, police state America and the military-industrial complex... Posted by: Dboy

» RE: Moving toward the domestic agenda Posted by: VZEQICVA

» RE: Moving toward the domestic agenda Posted by: JSquercia

» RE: Moving toward the domestic agenda Posted by: VZEQICVA

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» RE: Biden???!!! Seriously? Posted by: vivachavez

» I guarantee it won't be Condi . . . Posted by: Scientz

» Also . . . Posted by: Scientz

» RE: He Could Have Had Sebelius... Posted by: JSquercia

» You forgot to mention . . . Posted by: dustdevil

» Can I have a toke off that sh*t you're smoking? Posted by: GuitarBill

» RE: Can I have a toke off that sh*t you're smoking? Posted by: Dboy

» RE: Biden's a true ally of corporate, police state America and the military-industrial complex... Posted by: EncinoM

» RE: Biden's a true ally of corporate, police state America and the military-industrial complex... Posted by: Frank J. Burris

» RE: Biden's a true ally of corporate, police state America and the military-industrial complex... Posted by: Dboy

» RE: Moving toward the domestic agenda Posted by: VZEQICVA

» RE: Moving toward the domestic agenda Posted by: JSquercia

» RE: Moving toward the domestic agenda Posted by: VZEQICVA

**» Can I have a toke off that sh*t you're smoking?** Posted by: GuitarBill

**» RE: Can I have a toke off that sh*t you're smoking?** Posted by: Dboy