Last Friday, the lovable scamps at Fark decided that after Vice President Biden's debate performance the previous night he deserved a show of appreciation. However, since this is the internet it couldn't just be any normal show of appreciation it had to be, for lack of a better word, silly. Thus was born the Give Joe the Bird campaign.
And unlike most things the Internet does, this is actually become a success. In nearly four days, they have raised $7,890 of the $25,000 goal. That's nearly a third of the way there, and all of it going to Biden Breast Health Initiative, Doctors Without Borders, the Wounded Warrior Project and GLAAD charities.
For those of you wondering why the internet is trying to buy the Vice President a 1981 Trans Am, it started with an Onion article which poked fun at the Vice President because of his blue collar mannerisms and forthright speech when discussing...well...anything. The campaign goes on to explain why they are doing all this "stuff".
Joe Biden has made a career about speaking what he means, regardless if it is in his best political interest or if it is the "politically correct" thing to say. Because of this he endures jokes regarding his "gaffes" and verbal miscues and America (and some of the rest of the world) laugh and chuckle about this homer Vice President of ours.
All the while, Joe Biden has calmly and quietly been an incredible Vice President. He was one of the first politicians to publicly embrace gay marriage and may have been personally responsible for President Obama coming out in favor of gay marriage and the subsequent change in the Democratic Party's platform. He is also a stunningly intelligent politician who understands the nuance of foreign and domestic policy. He is also not afraid to show disdain for factually deficient arguments.
The hard work of the group has not gone unnoticed as they have gained media attention from Yahoo, Motor Trend, Wonkette, and numerous auto-themed magazines and websites, and all that in just three days!
Please considered donating today, or at the very least sharing this campaign with friends and family. Anyone can donate to charity, but not always in a bitchin' Trans Am!
8:30 AM PT: Thanks to an anonymous donation of over $1,000, they currently at $9,000!