Yes I do. I think it would have been a much bigger and more serious story if a Republican said the same thing. I think this is a case of Biden thinking of someone differently because of their race. It wasn't in a negative way, but he wouldn't have said or thought the same things about a white candidate. It is kind of like the way some people feel more comfortable giving black people a friendly clap on the back. The gesture is intended to be positive, and nice, but it is still a different way of looking at someone based on race.
why aren't people contrasting obama being 'articulate' with bush being not. thats the way i see things. perhaps eloquent is a better word but personally eloquent brings more of the preacher/painting a picture usage of speech not a clear concise articulate one...
Can anyone think of a 'context' where Biden's comments would not be offensive? Even if you remove the 'clean' reference, there's just no defending what he said. Doesn't matter whose team he's on. The comments were bigoted and wrong. Period. He should be called out on it by everyone. Especially Democrats. For what it's worth, his comments on Hillary are also off base. She has frequently commented on the war prior to her candidacy announcement. If anything, she's spoken out on so many issues that from a campaign standpoint it's tough for her to now resort to empty platitudes, as candidates from all sides are apt to do. And if Biden even dreamed he could get 30-40% support at any time in his campaign he would wet himself. Biden's proving why he's a fringe candidate. Be thankful he came clean early so we can properly ignore him from here on in.
I kind of like how Biden will say what's on his mind, and I do not disagree with him on everything, and he is very very smart, but these quotes reflect an arrogance, bitterness and thoughtlessness that I really do not want in a president. I think this sort of thing happens to people who spend too long in the senate. They get big headed, weird, cocky, petty and a little bitter that they're not in charge of more things. They crave the microphone, fetishize it, and put their feet in their mouths. Kerry, Biden, Dole, McCain to a lesser extent... Obama and Clinton have not been spoiled by it yet. But something about getting stale in the Senate makes you a bad presidential candidate, i think. Biden is the perfect example.
If the qualifiers weren't there it certainly would have been. But when talking about a mainstream Presidential candidate, he is wrong but not wholly negative in what he is trying to say. He was trying to make a positive statement. But the fact that he felt the things he mentioned were exceptional based on race he has made a racist statement. But it is easy to be more negative. He could have stated a fond reminiscence of white only ideas for government. He could have voiced support for a belief that most blacks are criminals, or any number of other things that would have been far more negative. Instead he was trying to make a positive comment, but his own race based ideas snuck in and showed his thoughts for what they were.
He more than implied that it was somehow commendable to have found a black candidate who was articulate, bright, clean and good looking. Did he say Hillary was the first woman candidate who was articulate? (Or perhaps I missed his comments on Ferraro?). Was Leiberman was the first Jew who was bright? Why the need to mention articulate or bright (or clean) when referencing a black candidate??? Look! We have a black candidate. But is he bright? Is he articulate? What about his hygene? (or perhaps he meant background?). He's OK on all three accounts....impressive! I'm not suggesting he's out there burning crosses....but calling him out on those statements should not be a partisan issue.
Oh I definitely agree he betrayed a racist way of looking at things with his comment. I agree with all that you said here.
Of course there is likeability towards Obama, (although I am not too impressed) because he is very sincere and comes across as such. Now with Hillary, you have someone who looks like an evil robot, who is cold, calculating, can glance through a 30 page policy overview and recite it nicely, but can't come up with a seat of the moment comment that doesn't seem "fake"...When she said she was for the war,...she sounded fake, and now with being against the war, she still sounds fake...regardless of her intelligence people just don't feel comfortable if a lack of genuiness is felt...and this is Obama's strength...His weakness is his inexperience,...so no thanks to him.
