ABOUT FIRST READ

First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Biden: The running mate's two tasks

Posted: Monday, August 25, 2008 9:20 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:

Aboard her plane en route to Israel today, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had positive words for Obama’s new running mate, NBC’s Libby Leist reports. Despite his often-harsh criticism of the Bush Administration's foreign policy, Rice called Biden "a very fine statesman" and "a true patriot. "She said she would not comment on the "politics" of the selection, but told reporters: "I've known him for a long time. He's been a really very supportive committee chair and before that ranking chair for the State Department and for our diplomatic efforts."

Per the New York Times, the Obama camp has two tasks for Biden: to campaign in the Industrial Midwest and to whack McCain. “[C]ampaign advisers said Sunday that they were certain Mr. Biden would spend considerable time campaigning through Election Day in four swing states: Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.” More: “A task for Mr. Biden, the advisers said, will be to doggedly portray the presumptive Republican nominee … as a handmaiden for President Bush who would continue his policies. In the words of one adviser, Mr. Biden can be an artful critic because he knows ‘chapter and verse’ about Mr. McCain’s Senate votes and controversial positions after serving with him for two decades.” 

If you want proof as to why the Obama campaign thought waiting until the very last minute to name a VP, look no further than this other New York Times story about Biden's lobbyist son.  Imagine how high up the media food chain this story would be if this weren't the first day of the convention?  “During the years that … Biden was helping the credit card industry win passage of a law making it harder for consumers to file for bankruptcy protection, his son had a consulting agreement that lasted five years with one of the largest companies pushing for the changes, aides to Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign acknowledged Sunday… Campaign officials acknowledged that the connection between the Bidens and MBNA, the enormous financial services company then based in their home state of Delaware, was one of the most sensitive issues they examined while vetting the senator for a spot on the ticket.”

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

Rice called Biden "a very fine statesman" and "a true patriot.
********************************************************

Is this 'endorsement' a good thing, or a bad thing?  I mean come on -- this is Condi Rice were talking about!

http://thepajamapundit.com/
Biden's lobbyist son.  Imagine how high up the media food chain this story would be if this weren't the first day of the convention?  “During the years that … Biden was helping the credit card industry win passage of a law making it harder for consumers to file for bankruptcy protection, his son had a consulting agreement that lasted five years with one of the largest companies pushing for the changes.

Hmmm Guess there goes one of the favorite talking points on this board.
Can you say Conflict of interest......
Shady isn’t it

Excellent...

I hear them running for the cover of past which will not save them..
Let's end this oil war and rebuild America's values.
Is Juliana/Romney really gonna be stalking the Democratic Convention for the next couple of days? Really? Do the two of them really have anything else better to do with their time? Come on now guys lets be more productive, like campaigning for McCain, instead of being his  "yes" men.

The attention is on Obama this week so the republico-nuts will do anything for attention. SAD bunch of souls.
I can't stress enough what a great pick Biden is. He's approachable and he helps kill the 'scary' factor in Obama that the GOP has tried to instill.

http://www.rodneyhopper.com
What is it with these Hillary Fans!!!.. No one owes her anything... she human like the rest of us..She’s no God!!! She lost..he had no obligation to select her...she should have thought about this when she tried to destroy him during the primaries and now you think that he wants that kind destruction in his cabinet, where she challenges all of his decision...I Think NOT.. Move on...And if you not going to vote for him because he didn't select, then you are one of those folks that were going to be part of the "Back Door" activists still seeking to destroy him..Like you're doing now.
Biden leads with a right cross to jaw..McWar braces back and Biden delivers an upper cut to the nose..
McWar leans in for the clinch as Biden brings home the round house right to the left of McWars head...
McWar falls into the ropes...and bounces to the mat...Referee..counts 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and your out!..McWar is OUT...and all cheering and celebration breaks out in the ring....

We are happy voters and we approve this message...

Obama/Biden'08
Hopefully Biden can bring all those votes he got in the presidential primaries to Obama. All 5,000 of them.
John McCain would be a mediocre president.

Like George Bush, McCain got his first career breaks from the connections and money of his family, not hard work.

The son and grandson of Navy admirals, he attended Annapolis where he did poorly (graduating 894 out of 899). Nevertheless, he was commissioned as a pilot, where he performed poorly, crashing three planes before he failed to evade a North Vietnamese missile that destroyed his plane. McCain spent more than five years in a prison camp where he gave away important information concerning the whereabouts of his "brothers" in arms.

After his release, McCain knew his weak military record meant he'd never make admiral, so he turned to politics. With the help of his new wife's wealth, his new father-in-law's business connections and some powerful friends he had made as a lobbyist for the Navy, he was elected in 1982 to a Congress in a district that he didn't reside in until the day the seat opened up. A few years later he succeeded Barry Goldwater as a senator.

McCain hasn't accomplished much in the Senate either. Even his own campaign doesn't trumpet his successes. His campaign finacne law failed to significantly reduce the role of money in politics. He failed to get a big tobacco bill through the Senate. He's failed to change the way Congress spends money; his bill to give the president a line-item veto was declared unconstitutional, and the system of pork and earmarks continues unabated. He failed to reform the immigration system.

Every Senator misses votes in Washgington from time to time, but between the beginning of 2005 and mid-2007, no senator has missed more roll-cll votes than John McCain, except Tim Johnson, who was recovering from a near-fatal brain aneurysm. He even failed to show up for a vote on Social Security. Even Ted Kennedy, who has a brain tumor, showed up for that vote. McCain hasn't voted on any issue in the Senate since April 8, 2008.

McCain, himself, says he doesn't know the economy. He's demonstrated that he doesn't understand the workings of Social Security, or the political history of the Middle East. He doesn't know who our enemies are. He says he wants to reduce global warming, but then proposes ideas that would stimulate - - not reduce - - demand for fossil fuels.

John McCain is still fighting the Vietname War. But he's not fighting the real historic war, which taught us the mistake of injecting ourselves into a civil war that was none of our business. Instead, McCain is fighting an imaginary war, where sure victory could have been achieved with just a "little more" bombing, just a little more "pacification", just a little more will to win at home. This fantasy clouds McCain's judgement on foreign policy.

John McCain's major accomplishments, both in the Senate and in View Nam has been merely to survive. Just surviving doesn't make you a hero...or a decent president. America needs to do more than survive the next four years.

If you would do your homework you would see that the John McCain of 2000 is NOT the John McCain of today and realize that we cannot afford to put him in the White House in November. American cannot afford another mistake. Obama '08
Cindi,

It had been 15 hours, and 21 minutes when you made your comment. I agree with you. As an honored contender at the tippi-top of Obama's short list, Bayh should have made a statement for the good of our country, and party solidarity. Biden's top three standing in the Senate, and his triumphant accomplishments there, in the face of wrenching tragedy with the loss of his wife, and infant daughter, at it's inception, as well as, the grueling circumstances of close to a 3 hour, daily commute in his struggle as a single father, should have inspired Bayh to honor the man with a few words.
Maybe Joe can go to some 7-11s and some Dunkin Doughnuts and speak to the workers there in a fake Indian accent? I'm not kidding.
Joe Biden will be a great attacker of "Bush Hugger" McCain and his flip flopping policy stances.  He will show that he's supported middle class America his whole career while the repugnant ones have been trying to destroy the middle class by destroying unionized labor, the heart and soul of middle class America.

It's way past time for the fools and tools of the middle calss who have voted for the most repugnant of the repugnant ones twice to get a clue that they're backing the wrong horse in "Warmonger" McCain.  Time to show the rest of the world that Americans have gotten smart after the past 8 years of scandals, lies and intolerance and that we're ready for a change.

Time to change the direction of this country for the better and only Obama/Biden can make the change our country desperately needs.

Go Obama/Biden 08/12!
Thanks Condi.
__

Campaign officials acknowledged that the connection between the Bidens and MBNA, the enormous financial services company then based in their home state of Delaware, was one of the most sensitive issues they examined while vetting the senator for a spot on the ticket.”



I am not concerned. Especially considering Biden maxed out his 'plastic' in order to finance his children's college educations. He therefore held himself to the same standard.

Speaking of it, birdman, ny:

I was referring to credit cards when I used the term 'plastic' in the 'Convo' article about the conventioneers. I regret not having made myself clearer.



We know the work that Sen Joe Biden has been called to service to do.
1. represent the people of the Unied States of America
2. be a partner with the president of the United States of America.
3. Break any ties in the senate.
4. Take over as Camander of Chief in for some reason that should be necessary.

  The President and Vice President are servants to
the people of this country. Thats what happened in the
Bush administration, they laughed at the American people, as in  ( so ). We have not counted at all , only corporate intrest, wall street intrest, Wars for
big oil, Bush an Cheney has made America weaker, we are the laughing stock of the world, if you think we
are a poster country for democracy youre crazy.

Obama/biden
Biden leads with a right cross to jaw..McWar braces back and Biden delivers an upper cut to the nose..
McWar leans in for the clinch as Biden brings home the round house right to the left of McWars head...
McWar falls into the ropes...and bounces to the mat...Referee..counts 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and your out!..McWar is OUT...and all cheering and celebration breaks out in the ring....

We are happy voters and we approve this message...

Obama/Biden'08
BJ, CA (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 9:51 AM)

----------

You've got some real issues, don't you?
I was so happy, I slept on air and dreamt great dreams after I got my 3am text message.  Sic 'em Joe!!!
BJ, CA, you're funny! I love your humor on these posts.

I imagine McWar's swollen jaw exploding with the impact of Mighty-Joe Biden's punch!
Given Sen. Biden's very modest net worth and lifestyle, and the fact that the Obama vetting process was way-beyond-the-norm thorough, I don't think any smear trying to connect him to influence-peddling will have much traction.  Also, there are very good PRO-consumer reasons for making bankruptcy less available and Biden articulated his reasons perfectly well. -- I don't know anything about the son (Hunter, I believe) or his ethics, but it's his ethics, not the identity of his employer, that might, arguably, be of some rather distant relevance.
I was watching Larry King last night with Bill Maher as guest. I don't agree with the man on many issues but I do agree that Barrack is turning out to be another Kerry and Gore. God forbid.
Bill is no fan of Hilary and a big supporter of Barrack. But even he contends that at this point where it's 50-50 between Barrack and John in the polls, Hilary should have been the choice. Biden simply will not be able to bring as much to the table.

One of the many things that attracted people to Barrack was that he seems to defy common notion, that he is different and not afraid to take risk. That he is bold. Biden was as safe a choice as he could get. It's not bold, it's catering to what the majority around him wants.

Sure, he will displease some people in his circle if he had gone with Hilary but he will also gain 100% of her supporters thus insuring a victory for the democrats.

He is in a very shaky grounds right now. If after the convention he is not leading comfortably, he truly better do anything in his power to get her support and supporters. That is the only way to win.

The repubs had already dug dirt on Biden, a lot of his blunders will soon surface that are news to most people. With Hilary, we already know the mud thrown at her, we know the dirt. Nothing new will shock us. And she is able to respond to the repubs just as effectively as Biden.

Obama had better return to his stance when he started this race and not cater to the centrist views to please everyone. He needs to develop a back bone. Sometimes you need to talk at the enemy's level and language to be understood. You can't always take the high road. Lessons learned from Gore and Kerry. Biden can't do all the fighting. Obama is the Presidential nominee after all. His supporters were afraid of how the Clinton's could upstage him, just look at how Biden can single handedly do that.

He better pray for good results in November. I don't think I can forgive the Democratic party if we have another Republican in the office.

MSNBC I don't post much. I certainly would appreciate you posting this for once. Thanks.
"the connection between the Bidens and MBNA, the enormous financial services company then based in their home state of Delaware,..."
------------------------------------------------------
Meaning a large percentage of Delaware residents relied on MBNA for jobs, and Joe Biden did have a  responsibility to his constituency in that regard.

But that side of the story won't get any consideration, I'm sure.    
Congrats to Joe Biden and to Barack Obama who had the wisdom and judgment to pick Joe.  It just rattles my mind that anyone would cast a vote for Father Time McCain.  He is 72 years old -- too old for the presidency.  He is hunchbacked when he walks.  He is hard of hearing.  He would be an embarrassment to represent America on the world stage.  Use a little imagination and play the picture out in your head.  Give me a break.
OBAMA/BIDEN '08
Who cares what my friend Joe says....I'm the one who was a POW...you shouldn't care what I say or don't say.  If you persist...I'll have someone get back to you on it.
I am so proud to be a Democrat...O'Bama/Obiden make a great team...A rainbow will appear over The United States of America when Obama/Biden are sworn in January 20th, 2009.  I see and feel hope in my future, our country and the world.

I am a white woman of 59 years who would never support a man who has lost his integrity.  McWar lost his footing the day he merged with Bush campaign strategist Karl Rove.  The GOP want to win at any cost...we've had 8 years of lies and I for one do not want 4 more.

America, wake up...McBush means losing our middle class entirely, it means reinstatement of the draft and most importantly it means more wars.

Vote Obama/Biden 08-12
John McCain would be a mediocre--at best--president.

Like George Bush, McCain got his first career breaks from the connections and money of his family, not hard work.

The son and grandson of Navy admirals, he attended Annapolis where he did poorly (graduating 894 out of 899). Nevertheless, he was commissioned as a pilot, where he performed poorly, crashing three planes before he failed to evade a North Vietnamese missile that destroyed his plane. McCain spent more than five years in a prison camp where he gave away important information concerning the whereabouts of his "brothers" in arms.

After his release, McCain knew his weak military record meant he'd never make admiral, so he turned to politics. With the help of his new wife's wealth, his new father-in-law's business connections and some powerful friends he had made as a lobbyist for the Navy, he was elected in 1982 to a Congress in a district that he didn't reside in until the day the seat opened up. A few years later he succeeded Barry Goldwater as a senator.

McCain hasn't accomplished much in the Senate either. Even his own campaign doesn't trumpet his successes. His campaign finacne law failed to significantly reduce the role of money in politics. He failed to get a big tobacco bill through the Senate. He's failed to change the way Congress spends money; his bill to give the president a line-item veto was declared unconstitutional, and the system of pork and earmarks continues unabated. He failed to reform the immigration system.

Every Senator misses votes in Washgington from time to time, but between the beginning of 2005 and mid-2007, no senator has missed more roll-cll votes than John McCain, except Tim Johnson, who was recovering from a near-fatal brain aneurysm. He even failed to show up for a vote on Social Security. Even Ted Kennedy, who has a brain tumor, showed up for that vote. McCain hasn't voted on any issue in the Senate since April 8, 2008.

McCain, himself, says he doesn't know the economy. He's demonstrated that he doesn't understand the workings of Social Security, or the political history of the Middle East. He doesn't know who our enemies are. He says he wants to reduce global warming, but then proposes ideas that would stimulate - - not reduce - - demand for fossil fuels.

John McCain is still fighting the Vietname War. But he's not fighting the real historic war, which taught us the mistake of injecting ourselves into a civil war that was none of our business. Instead, McCain is fighting an imaginary war, where sure victory could have been achieved with just a "little more" bombing, just a little more "pacification", just a little more will to win at home. This fantasy clouds McCain's judgement on foreign policy.

John McCain's major accomplishments, both in the Senate and in View Nam has been merely to survive. Just surviving doesn't make you a hero...or a decent president. America needs to do more than survive the next four years.

If you would do your homework you would see that the John McCain of 2000 is NOT the John McCain of today and realize that we cannot afford to put him in the White House in November. American cannot afford another mistake.
Well, I like Biden and always have.  He says what's on his mind,and you can take it to the bank.  

As far as the Hillary backers.  Are you really going to turn away from Obama, not vote or vote for McCain.  Would you really be vindictive enough to put the Republicans back in the Whitehouse??


SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=1289864

First Read e-mail alerts


Sign up for First Read alerts
The first place for key political news and analysis

Syndicate This Site

Add First Read to your news reader:
live.com xml
myyahoo msn
bloglines newsgator
google