I personally love this choice and was shocked at how many people were "haters" this morning, not sure if we were invaded by the Taylor Marsh fan club or by repthugs trying to get points on McCain's website
For all of those doubting this choice, Al from the Field, by far my favorite new blog of the 08 Political Season, hits one out of the park...
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Al, in this epic Field piece ,goes into details about "the speech" where Joe sometimes did and, tragically, sometimes didn't credit
"Why is it that Joe Biden is the first in his family ever to go a university? Why is it that my wife . . . is the first in her family to ever go to college? Is it because our fathers and mothers were not bright? . . . Is it because they didn't work hard? My ancestors who worked in the coal mines of northeast Pennsylvania and would come after 12 hours and play football for four hours? It's because they didn't have a platform on which to stand."
Like Al points out, what part of that still isn't true? What part of that is there to be embarrassed about?
Biden is a man who never went into politics for the fame and fortune others did. He went in AND has stayed in for the greater good of America and while there he has been on every major commission and became an expert in Foreign Policy.
Biden is a fighter for change, has been that for 30 years and he and Obama together make for some marvelous symbolism that fits the Obama campaign so well
And in Biden, we have a textbook example of the difference between holding racist ideations (his "clean and articulate" comments about Obama, his stereotypical remarks about Indian-Americans and convenience stores, etc.) and "race baiting" (the Clintonian and Republican penchant for willfully using the wedge of race to divide Americans in order to win elections). Biden is surely guilty of the former but, let's be honest, who isn't? You? Go to the mirror and think again! Watching Biden over the decades, I've not seen him willfully use race to divide others (which is what has placed so many of us in an unforgiving stance toward Bill Clinton, especially this past year). Even when they were still primary rivals for the nomination, Obama came to Biden's defense during a debate, defending that "in his soul," Biden's not a hater.
Biden will fight tooth and nail for Obama, he will NOT back down, he will take the punch because he knows Obama is what America needs right now, Obama is all that Biden has fought for and continues to fight for.
And I can't wait for the speech today and Election Day!
Update 12:23 PM
Al has updated with some quotes from some pretty strong Republicans and how they have reacted to this pick
The sound you hear is of plates being thrown in the McCain household (or is that households plural?) when they hear the statements today from three moderate Republican senate colleagues:
Sen. Chuck Hagel: U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel issued the following statement today following Senator Barack Obama's selection of Senator Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic Vice Presidential nominee: "Joe Biden is the right partner for Barack Obama. His many years of distinguished service to America, his seasoned judgment and his vast experience in foreign policy and national security will match up well with the unique challenges of the 21st Century. An Obama-Biden ticket is a very impressive and strong team. Biden's selection is good news for Obama and America," Hagel said. LINK
Sen. Richard Lugar: Tbilisi, Georgia - U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar made the following statement today en route to Tbilisi. "I congratulate Senator Barack Obama on his selection of my friend, Senator Joe Biden, to be his vice-presidential running mate. I have enjoyed for many years the opportunity to work with Joe Biden to bring strong bipartisan support to United States foreign policy..." LINK
Sen. Arlen Specter: Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter, a Republican who serves on the Judiciary Committee with Biden and often rides Amtrak with him to Washington, also offered praise. "No one on the Democratic side knows more about foreign policy than Sen. Biden," Specter said. "He's been an articulate spokesman on the subject. He also knows about domestic policy. He's been a leader on crime control.