We thought there's no 'I' in 'Team'

Posted: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 4:23 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Joe Biden

From NBC's Mark Murray
Given that Vice President Biden is in political spotlight -- with his speech today and also his rebuttal to Dick Cheney yesterday on CNN -- Republicans have seized on another portion of that CNN interview, in which Biden talks in the first person about sending troops into combat.

Asked in the interview if the U.S. is in Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban, Biden replied: "Let's get straight. The Taliban that presents an international threat to the United States of America. The bulk of the Taliban, the phrase that Richard Holbrooke and I have been using, separately but similarly, 5 percent of the Taliban are radicalized Islamists that are no different than al Qaeda."

From the transcript...

BORGER: But wouldn't you use your leverage that you have on an issue like this, which you call outrageous, the president himself has said is abhorrent?

BIDEN: Yes, but that's not -- I am not prepared to send American troops to die for that.

BORGER: OK.

BIDEN: I am prepared to send American troops to protect the United States of America to kill al Qaeda, to root out extremists and to prevent them being able to use Afghanistan once again as a platform to attack the United States of America. Do we find it abhorrent that that law exists or that it's being considered? Absolutely, positively. But we also find abhorrent what's going on in China in some places. We find abhorrent a lot of things. But the question is, if that were the only thing that existed, would we send my son and other sons there to risk their lives to die? I don't think that is a legitimate use.

"Someone want to tell Biden that HE can’t send troops anywhere?" a congressional GOP aide emailed First Read. "He’s not commander-in-chief."

To be fair to Biden, though, the original question asked him "wouldn't you use your leverage" -- which precipitated the "I" response.

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Comments

To be fair to Biden, though, the original question asked him "wouldn't you use your leverage" -- which precipitated the "I" response.

Being fair to Biden, would be pointing out how stupid and sophmoric the criticism is.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 4:32 PM)

"Someone want to tell Biden that HE can’t send troops anywhere?" a congressional GOP aide emailed First Read. "He’s not commander-in-chief."

WOW! Suddenly the GOP wants to make clear the distinction between POTUS and VP? No one on the right felt obliged to tell Bush and Cheney that!

Mark,Seattle (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 4:34 PM)

I will take Joe Biden's verbal slips in public to VP Cheney secretly running the country from an "undisclosed location".

And committing treason, authorizing torture, and (alledgedly)overseeing international death squads.

And his current efforts to undermine President Obama in a futile effort to gerrymander a "legacy" for himself.

But that's just me.

Nashville_fan (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 4:35 PM)

I really hope you (congress and the media) are not missing the point: it's not how Biden spoke but what he said. Grow up already.

Ed30041 (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 4:45 PM)

Who's "Borger"?

Who's On First (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 4:45 PM)

WOW! The GOP is desperate. Their leaders on talk radio and on the hate websites are inciting their followers to ambush cops and attack immigrants. You can almost here
the GOP leadership practicing their salutes,"Heil Limbaugh".

Larry "Noooooo" Craig (R) (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 4:45 PM)

You Go, Joe! WE know exactly what YOU mean!!!! Forget the GOPeers - we had to deal with their My Way or the Highway Administration for 8 years

I/We/Us loves Joe Biden (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 4:49 PM)

Good to see the GOP hard at work coming up with ideas about how to solve issues like health care, the economy, and energy.

Brian Crooks, Naperville, IL (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 4:50 PM)

Eh...Nothin' but blah blah here. Biden didn't say anything bad in the interview. The GOP is a wounded dog and is snapping at anything close to it. The Dem's would do it too if the roles were reversed.

BamaBoy (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 4:51 PM)

It's fun watching Democrats when they get a question they don't like. They never expect it because the media is always playing paddy-cake with them, but once in a while, like in this case, one tough question slips through. Then the Democrats like Biden here go through the 12 step program with anger, denial, bargaining, and depression. Democrats never seem to get to acceptance.

Phil Rogers, Queens NY (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 4:52 PM)

This is almost as funny as watching Barney Frank get questioned, and buried, by the Harvard law school student the other day. Yet another youtube moment for Barney. More spittle flew from his mouth that day then any other time this year so far.

Mop and Glow (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 4:53 PM)

So.... Biden responds with the correct English use of "I" when asked a question, and the Republicans (and you, by posting this) criticize him for speaking proper English?

Seriously, the story / political "oops" here is what, exactly? That the Republicans are stupid maybe? And you are foolish for giving them airtime over it?

Joe Schmoe (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 4:54 PM)

BIDEN: I am prepared to send American troops to protect the United States of America to kill al Qaeda . .

Just another gaffe on the pile of gaffes for Super Joe. Joe, if you want to send someone somewhere, send your pool boy Raul out to get the mail.

JJ Jonesy, Wash. DC (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 4:56 PM)

To be fair to Biden, though, the original question asked him "wouldn't you use your leverage" -- which precipitated the "I" response.

So, a reasonable person can conclude this entry is meaningless? unfair? filler? Yet another example of how fall the 4th estate has fallen?

Cheryl, NJ (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 4:58 PM)

Time to send Joe to that 'Undisclosed location' Cheney always went to. You may have not liked what Cheney had to say, but at least he was coherent and made sense. Joe is always off in his own little world, confused, and alone.

Trisha, Dover NH (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 4:59 PM)

"Someone want to tell Biden that HE can’t send troops anywhere?" a congressional GOP aide emailed First Read. "He’s not commander-in-chief."

------------------------------------------------

Didn't the GOP make a big deal during the campaign about how important the role of the Vice President was in being "one heartbeat away" from being President?

Seriously, I've been reading how all the right wingnuts on this site all throughout President Obama's trip are pulling their hair out talking about how President Obama is being disrespectful towards what President Bush did and how he needs to shut up and not criticize what his predecessor did.

What about Darth Cheney? Should he not be held to the same standard?

Yet you have no issue when he blathers on about President Obama making us less safe.

...and the hypocrisy continues!

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 5:02 PM)

To be fair to Biden, though, the original question asked him "wouldn't you use your leverage" -- which precipitated the "I" response.

Actually, I think your cutting Biden too much slack there. He was asked if he would use his leverage not if he would send troops in.

As much as I like the Obama-Biden team, this is another major Biden gaffe.

chibeardan (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 5:04 PM)

Like Biden doesn't realize that HE can't send troops anywhere. He's talking about what HE would recommend as a team member and everyone knows it...but why not split hairs if it might divert attention from the Party of NO.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 5:05 PM)

The White House is now denying that the president bowed to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at a G-20 meeting in London, a scene that drew criticism on the right and praise from some Arab outlets.

So, what was Obie doing? Tying his shoe?

Deny Lie, Lie Deny (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 5:08 PM)

Well let's just thank God that no one in the GOP has the ability to send our troops anywhere anymore either.

John Doe, The Peanut gallery (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 5:12 PM)

The congrssional GOP aide is a bonehead. HE/SHE is being childish...and when I say, "HE/SHE", I mean the entire GOP.

Mark, Fort Mill, SC (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 5:15 PM)

Brian Crooks, Naperville, IL (Sent Wednesday, April 08, 2009 5:20 PM)

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