Obama Biden '08

The official announcement is still wet behind the ears and already the sniping, criticizing and whining has begun.  This is the real problem with Democrats.  Not the choice of Biden but our seeming inability to keep our eyes on the prize.

There is no perfect VP candidate out there.  All the leading candidates had pluses and minuses.  How about instead of immediately pouncing on the negatives and proclaiming gloom and doom, we focus on the positives?

Ironically, it takes a Republican to make the most compelling case for this Democratic pairing.  Go read David Brooks' New York Times Op-Ed Hoping It's Biden and tell me you're not seeing the possibilities.

Go read Steve Clemons Huffington Post piece about loving Jill Biden and tell me you can't imagine the awesome positive wallop Michelle Obama and Jill Biden will have on the American public.

Worried that Biden can't deliver a state?  No VP has since Lyndon Johnson in 1960.  Even at the top of the ticket, Gore couldn't win his own state and Edwards couldn't deliver North Carolina for Kerry.  Plus, if there is any shred of hope of geographic help, Delaware is practically part of Pennsylvania.  Biden has at least a chance of appealing to that PA, OH Appalachian corridor of working class white men which is the only demographic where Obama is actually struggling.  If their unwillingness to vote for Obama is racism, then no VP candidate would make a difference.

And even if you think Biden is the worst pick possible, he's no Dan Quayle and even Quayle couldn't sink George Bush the elder.

Another plus for Biden in my book is that he will be effective in helping Obama govern.  In addition to his foreign policy experience (though I am not a fan of his 3 state Iraq plan), Biden knows the Senate.  He can help get legislation through Congress.  Remember, presidents (despite the shrub's valiant efforts to make it so) don't have a magic policy wand they can wave to get their way.  They still have to get Congress to go along with the plan.  The fact that Biden will be too old at the end of 8 years to run means that he can focus on #GSD.  Now if Hillary Clinton actually focuses in the Senate on continuing her work on issues she championed, that's a powerful team that actually has a hope of getting some kind of health care reform through.  And that is totally changey.

So, again people, eyes on the prize.  We cannot afford to allow McCain to capture the White House.  Quit yer bellyaching and let's get to winning!

Updated to add: Oh yeah, Biden can fill the traditional VP attack dog role (and he'll be good at that) allowing Obama to stay on his above-the-fray path and message.

P.S. I'll be reporting from the Democratic Convention next week for BlogHer.com - be sure and check it out!

Comments

[Ted]

Biden — the perfect foil for Palin!

[Lisa Stone]

Excellent tactical post Maria. I think you're right. And a nice cattle-prod to your Democratic readers. I'm never sure what irritates me more: Lemming-like devotion on the part of some Republicans, or I'm-smarter-than-thou-and-am-willing-to-hurt-the-candidate-to-prove-it on the part of some Democrats.

I'm so glad you're covering DNC '08 for BlogHer -- keep bringing it. With tough love like this, we'll get the real policy and political story from the party in Denver.

[Suzanne]

Thank you! Thank you a million times over. I can't tell you how dismayed I am by everyone's moaning and groaning over Biden. I hope that all the naysayers and whiners will read your factual post and refocus their eyes on the prize.

[Suzanne]

Thank you! Thank you a million times over. I can't tell you how dismayed I am by everyone's moaning and groaning over Biden. I hope that all the naysayers and whiners will read your factual post and refocus their eyes on the prize.

[Megan]

Great analysis and you're absolutely right.

Megan

[Maria Niles]

Thanks Lisa, Suzanne and Megan. Hope my tough love wasn't too harsh ;)

And, hey everybody, let's welcome astroturf Ted!

http://www.writeslikeshetalks.com/2008/08/23/biden-yes-did-the-happy-dance-at-801am/

[Ginger Kenney]

I'm good with Biden too, and I am a Hilary supporter who is still reserving my opinion about Obama. I have never doubted I would still vote the Obama-whoever ticket in November. We cannot, under any circumstances afford another 4 years of Republican "leader"ship. Biden is genuine, offers excellent foreign relations experience, and I would think that he is one of the last candidates McCain would have wanted to see as the VP candidate.