For the first time in my life, I’m going to say something positive about Dick Cheney.
Cheney may be a war criminal, he may have been the mastermind behind virtually every George W. Bush policy debacle, he may have held the Constitution and Bill of Rights in contempt... but Cheney showed us that the position of Vice President can be one that commands great power and influence.
Barack Obama is going to need an exceptionally qualified vice president.
In this age, presidents need as many quality and qualified advisors at their disposal. A vice president should complement the president in terms of expertise and experience. A person should not be appointed as a vice president merely because they can deliver a swing state or appeal to a particular constituency.
Most importantly, a vice president should be presidential in their own right.
Lyndon Johnson was able to step into the presidency because of his many years of leadership in the Senate. Imagine what life would have been like under a Dan Quayle presidency?
For all of these reasons, Delaware Senator Joe Biden would be an excellent choice for vice president.
Nobody questions Biden’s experience. He is in his sixth term in the Senate. He has served as chairman of two of the most critical Senate committees, Judiciary and Foreign Relations. Over the years he has championed the causes of workers, women, minorities and children.
Biden has not just been an opponent of the war in Iraq, he has visited the country multiple times, meeting with senior military and political leaders. Of all of the candidates, Biden had the most detailed and reasoned positions on the Iraq War, offering a clear plan for withdrawal and a practical plan for political stability in the region following our withdrawal.
Obviously, Biden’s foreign policy credentials fill in a major gap in Obama’s resume.
In terms of the practicalities of the campaign, Biden would be a huge asset. He is a tremendous debater and orator. A middle-aged Catholic out of a working-class background, Biden appeals to many of the voters that Obama has had difficulty connecting with. While coming out of Delaware is a definite disadvantage, Biden is very popular in neighboring Pennsylvania, a key swing state in the election.
Most importantly, Biden is a man of unquestioned integrity. As an advisor to Obama, Biden would not only be a terrific sounding board, but he would also be brutally honest- the way a real advisor should be.
Others may position themselves as a "dream" candidate for the Vice Presidency, but this is no time for dreaming. The harsh realities of the day point to only one perfect candidate for the job- Joe Biden.