Saturday, August 23, 2008

Around the Horn on Biden for Vice-President

Posted by James Grant

Dustin Steeve, a graduate of the Torrey Honors Institute at Biola University, has an "around the horn" post at Evangelical Outpost regarding Joe Biden and his role as Vice-President for Obama. Here is his run-down:

The Trumpet Resounds:
Alexander Burns and John F. Harris provide a sketch of Biden for those unfamiliar with him or his record.

Trumpeting from the Right:

Hugh Hewitt agree's with the assessment of Biden that he is the "stupid person's idea of a smart person's candidate." Hewitt argues that picking Biden means that, "Obama has added to his unsteady candidacy an epic amount Beltway cluelessness and arrogance unsupported by anything except frequent flier miles and Delaware's love for a chuckle-headed fellow with a big smile." Cliff the Mail Man for Vice-President.

Proving that he understands the language of Obama's core support demographic, Washington Post On Faith columnist and Scriptorium Daily contributor John Mark Reynolds says "LOL" to Obama's seemingly unwise choice. Noting the unique role that a Vice-President can play, Reynold's says, "You look all over America able to choose the person (other than yourself) most fit to be President of the United States. It is a primary with one voter and you can choose your own Socrates, since he need not win over the masses." Instead of choosing Socrates, Obama chose Empedocles.

The editors at National Review Online question whether Obama's choice of Biden for VP leaves any hope for change in Washington.

Trumpeting from the Left:

Mike Allen quotes Obama spokesperson Linda Douglass who attempts to refute the notion that Biden eliminates any hope for change in Washington. According to Douglass, ""He's stared down dictators all around the world. He has decades of experience in Washington and, yet, uniquely, he is not of Washington...He is the perfect person you could try to find to get away from the failed policies of the Bush administration. He is an independent thinker. Joe Biden, as you well know, has never been at a loss for words."

At the Daily Kos they see Biden as a strong choice for Obama. Noting that Obama did not merely want a "yes man" Kos references this Obama quote, "I want somebody who is independent. Somebody who is able to say to me, 'you know what, Mr. President, I think you're wrong on this and here's why' and will give me (applause) who will help me think through major issues and consult with me, would be a key advisor." Joe Biden certainly does not seem to be one who would merely say "yes."

Finally, James P. Rubin argues that Joe Biden is the right man at the right time. According to Rubin, Biden's "foreign policy experience and wisdom are unmatched in American politics. There is no one in Congress who has been around as long, who understands the international realities better, or whose judgment has proven sounder than Joe Biden's."