Maybe his latest black moment will be enough to make Biden go away and leave the rest of us to contemplate a manageably smaller Dem field:
In an interview with The Washington Post's editorial board, Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) asserted that he is more prepared to be president than any other candidate, disputed the notion that governors are better suited for the White House than senators and warned that Pakistan is a potentially bigger threat than Iran.
Biden also stumbled through a discourse on race and education, leaving the impression that he believes one reason that so many District of Columbia schools fail is the city's high minority population. His campaign quickly issued a statement saying he meant to indicate that the disadvantages were based on economic status, not race.
After a lengthy critique of Bush administration education policies, Biden attempted to explain why some schools perform better than others -- in Iowa, for instance, compared with the District. "There's less than 1 percent of the population of Iowa that is African American. There is probably less than 4 or 5 percent that are minorities. What is in Washington? So look, it goes back to what you start off with, what you're dealing with," Biden said. He went on to discuss the importance of parental involvement in reading to children and how "half this education gap exists before the kid steps foot in the classroom."
Kidding? And this guy is an experienced politician? Eventually his staffers attempted yet another podia-oral extraction:
The Biden campaign moved quickly to clarify the senator's remarks in a statement: "This was not a race-based distinction, but a discussion of the problems kids face who don't have the same socio-economic support system (and all that implies -- nutrition, pre K, etc.) entering grade school and the impact of those disadvantages on outcomes."
Biden may be articulate and bright and clean and a bit of a Civil War buff, but when is enough enough?
Ahem, the War of Northern Aggression.
=====================================
Posted by: kim | October 25, 2007 at 05:28 PM
According to Paul Krugman, he should be running for the Republican Party nomination:
Posted by: Patrick R. Sullivan | October 25, 2007 at 05:45 PM
In somewhat related news, Dr. Watson is no longer merely a noun, he's now a prickly retiree.
Posted by: Walter | October 25, 2007 at 05:54 PM
Doesn't matter..In his own mind, Biden is still a sage. Come to think of it, compared to his colleagues in the "greatest deliberative body in the world", he is. *shudder*
Posted by: clarice | October 25, 2007 at 06:06 PM
Kim,
Those of us from border states may still refer to it as the "civil" war whilst bemoaning the loss of our culture.
Odd trivia: The City of St. Louis has no control over the St. Louis City Police. Whenever they want a pay raise or other changes in working conditions, they must seek and receive permission from the state legislature.
Why? Seems that the urban (urbane?) areas of the state leaned heavily abolitionist. The rural areas wanted to maintain some control over the jackbooted thugs who might otherwise threaten their privileges.
Snark aside, what culture was lost deserved to be lost and consigned to the dustbins of history. Gracious hospitality and sweet tea remain, more than a century after the war.
Posted by: Walter | October 25, 2007 at 06:09 PM
Why didn't he just say "poor and stupid" instead of A-A? He may be clean, not so sure about the other two attributes.
Posted by: Ralph L | October 25, 2007 at 06:28 PM
Make Biden go away? At least he's amusing, unlike Ron Paul, or Chris Dodd, or Hillary.
Posted by: centralcal | October 25, 2007 at 06:58 PM
PM Jmax rollcall
Posted by: Rick Ballard | October 25, 2007 at 06:59 PM
Thanks for the reminder, Rick.
Posted by: centralcal | October 25, 2007 at 07:02 PM
Since Mark Dayton retired earlier this year, the battle for the stupidest, male Senator has been up for grabs. Always a contender, Slow Joe knows you can't depend on merely being tone-deaf on all matters racial, you have to grab headlines in order to rise above the competition. Where better to show your stuff than before the WaPo editorial board?
Posted by: capitano | October 25, 2007 at 07:46 PM
Alright, Walter, in the interest of hospitality, we'll call it the War Between the States.
For all who still think Bush is an idiot child leading fools, read 'Chickamauga'.
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Posted by: kim | October 25, 2007 at 08:26 PM
Krugman is a lowlife anyway.
Posted by: Mike B | October 25, 2007 at 09:17 PM
Conspiracy
Posted by: fs9 | October 25, 2007 at 09:29 PM
This little girl from Illinois is giving us a run for our money. Everytime we pull ahead with a comfortable lead, she comes right back.
Posted by: Sue | October 25, 2007 at 09:47 PM
at least he didn't say macacca.
otherwise he'd be thru.
seriously: if a gop'er'd said this he'd be victimized nonstop by the msm.
Posted by: reliapundit | October 25, 2007 at 10:01 PM
On the men's side, Evan Barnes of the US Naval Academy is leading with 30% of the vote. Second place has 13%.
Posted by: hit and run | October 25, 2007 at 10:04 PM
When is the election over? Friday?
Posted by: clarice | October 25, 2007 at 10:13 PM
These finalists will be placed on the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award ballot for a nationwide vote beginning October 17 and concluding November 21.
Posted by: hit and run | October 25, 2007 at 10:14 PM
huh?
Posted by: Ralph L | October 25, 2007 at 11:29 PM
GMax' daughter Jessica Maxwell is competing for a scholarship. Hit the link above and vote for her as often as you can.
Posted by: clarice | October 25, 2007 at 11:45 PM
The extraordinary thing about Biden is that he has been in love with the sound of his own voice for over thirty years now, and he's still waiting for everyone else to appreciate his wisdom. He never recovered from being hailed as an up-and-comer, a man on the move, a fellow to keep your eye on, when he got elected to the Senate at the age of thirty. I honestly think he actually believes that one of these days the American people are certain to recognize how badly they need him in the White House. Nothing will ever convince him otherwise.
Posted by: Other Tom | October 26, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Biden took the place of better qualified women or minority in law school in the bad old days
Posted by: paulv | October 26, 2007 at 12:08 AM
I think H&R has the dates wrong at 10:14.
Posted by: Ralph L | October 26, 2007 at 09:50 AM
Link hit.
If plagarism were a disqualifier for Congress, it would be a better place.
Posted by: MarkD | October 26, 2007 at 10:31 AM
when is enough enough?
When he's a Republican.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | October 26, 2007 at 12:11 PM
While we're vote-begging, my friend Shelley could use some more votes.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | October 26, 2007 at 12:15 PM
Well, what Biden said may not be politically correct speech, but without any doubt there is a lot of truth to it.
Posted by: John Cole | October 26, 2007 at 12:51 PM
Posted by: cathyf | October 26, 2007 at 01:26 PM
Ralph, my dates came from here
I hope the date's not wrong. I've based my entire strategy on it!
Posted by: hit and run | October 26, 2007 at 05:32 PM
VOTE SHELLEY!!!!
Or the dog gets it.
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Posted by: reyrtdudri | October 27, 2007 at 01:36 AM