We have his record on women's rights. And his compelling personal story. And the fact that he is Catholic and White (and male). We have details on his personal wealth, and his foreign policy cred. We have his years of service and his son being deployed to Iraq. But I see nervous people who say..."he talks a lot". He refered to Obama as a "clean and articulate" man. And he made that 7/11 quote. And people speak about it as though it was a horrible thing. I am a minority and I disagree. In fact I think it is a great thing. Here is why.
Political correctness does not come easy. Hell, if you are a minority, or a gay/lesbian person you have usually been able to distinguish between the well meaning guy who is putting his foot in his mouth and the one using humor to disguise a very prejudiced opinion.
As an East Indian, the erruption that followed Biden's "Indian Accent" comment was perplexing. His intention was to give a compliment about how industrious, and enterprising the Indian community was. It came out a bit clumsy, sure. But I could not believe the indignation that followed regarding the "implications" of what he said rather than the intention it was made with.
Hell, when I first saw the Obama speech in the Democratic convention...I made the exact comments Biden did. I said "clean and articulate." It was not meant as a patronizing comment to the black community. It was made to distinguish him from the community of politicians. When Biden got caught on the wrong foot on that- as a person apt to make clumsily worded statements all the time, I can identify, I can relate, and I can sympathize.
When Obama made his speech about racial relations, he made it a point to mention those white people who are justifiably upset. They did not have a hand in the horrific history of oppression that others do, and yet the face the aftermath. And then there are those other minorities who come from a culture that was stomped upon, marginalized, and mocked. These minorities justifiably frustrated as well - for their history as well as their present.
There is racism.
There is dog whistling.
And there is Bidenism.
Many Americans suffer from Bidenism. Well meaning guys and gals navigating through PC waters that can be treacherous and often confusing and making mistakes. Obama and Biden, in that sense make for the racial struggles we face in our daily lives- where people are scared to even interact with each other out of fear of "saying" or "doing" the wrong thing. They are symbolic of the fact that intention matters more than delivery.
I will never forget a drunk white man begging his black friend (who was standing around some black people) to forgive him for taking his car when he was not at home. There, in an almost completely white bar called Rusty's Last Chance in Manhttan, he cried. He sobbed. He said "Dude, am I not your friend. Am I not your n*&er?"
I turned around with such swiftness, that I nearly spilled my beer. The white people around this conversation literally gasped. The black guy patted him on the shoulder, embraced him and they went to Rockabelly. His friends rolled their eyes a bit...but they went with them.