Biden On School Reform And Race

Mark Coffey has a doozy from Biden by way of a WaPo editorial backing him:

...we saw a glimpse of the old [self-defeatingly verbose]  Biden when he met with The Post’s editorial board during his short-lived presidential campaign. Asked about failing schools, Mr. Biden seemed to suggest that one reason so many of the District’s schools fail is the city’s large minority population and contrasted D.C. schools with those in Iowa. “There’s less than 1 percent of the population in Iowa that is African American,” Mr. Biden said. “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.” The Biden campaign quickly issued a statement asserting that the candidate was referring to socioeconomic status, not racial differences. The lesson we took was not to think that Mr. Biden is a racist — we don’t — but to worry about his tendency to speak too much before he thinks enough.

Wow - bring on the clean and articulate students.  Well, if a Republican had said that earnest libs would be leaping from tall buildings.  Fortunately Biden is a Dem so its all good.

Comments

[anduril]

oh, yeah. i don't think that was too long ago, either.

[clarice]

Just after I moved here the DC schools were desegreated. One of my Black friends seemed to me to be inexplicably distraught and I asked her why. She said that until this point they had had Dunbar High School and soon they'd have nothing. Look it up to see what she meant. Dunbar was one of the best high schools in the country and it regularly prepped Black students from DC for entry into the best universities in America. In the years which followed the schools--in the hands of Black teachers, administrators and a predominently black union--became impossible despite receiving more per pupil than any other public high school system in the country I know of.
It took Mayor Fenty and his appointee Michelle Rhee to begin to turn this around--in one year they've closed ca. 130 schools; taken direct management over others; fired about 150 administrative and professional staff and have pitched the notion that standards are somehow not for our pupils. Yesterday in Denver he was joined by other brave Dem mayors who (per Kaus) are saying the truth--the unions are for the teachers , not the pupils and must be clipped back if there is to be any imrpovement at all in the schools.

[anduril]

Did anybody link this? Well here it is: Pelosi lies about Catholicism and abortion. My brother commented: As Rush said there are no words in the English language to describe her stupidity or hubris.

[anduril]

IMO, deeply stupid and hubristic. No apologies.

[David Walser]

The lesson we took was not to think that Mr. Biden is a racist — we don’t — but to worry about his tendency to speak too much before he thinks enough.

Why the assumption of good faith on Biden's part? I'm not saying Biden shouldn't receive the benefit of the doubt; while acknowledging he could have phrased things better, there's no reason to assume his remarks are an open window through which we can glimpse his racist soul. No, I think (virtually) all speakers should receive the benefit of the doubt from their audience. The burden of speaking in a way that cannot be misconstrued is too great for any of us to carry for any length of time. What I'm questioning is why the Post and others in the MSM don't extend this same courtesy to speakers on the right.

[bgates]

In the years which followed the schools--in the hands of Black teachers, administrators and a predominently black union--became impossible
Weren't they in the hands of black people before desegregation?
there's no reason to assume his remarks are an open window through which we can glimpse his racist soul
If there is no reason to believe words convey thoughts, why speak?

[Ranger]

What was the Biden campaign's response? "The Senator can't be a racist, some of his best friends are people of color."

[SWarren]

Anduril,
Archbishop Chaput slams Pelosi:
......
During the Meet the Press interview on August 24, Pelosi responded to a question about when human life begins by saying that “as an ardent, practicing Catholic, this is an issue that I have studied for a long time. And what I know is over the centuries, the doctors of the church have not been able to make that definition . . . St. Augustine said at three months. We don't know. The point is, is that it shouldn't have an impact on the woman's right to choose.”

The Archdiocese of Denver argues that since Speaker Pelosi claims to have studied the issue “for a long time,” “she must know very well one of the premier works on the subject, Jesuit John Connery’s Abortion: The Development of the Roman Catholic Perspective (Loyola, 1977).

The statement recall’s Connery’s conclusion: “The Christian tradition from the earliest days reveals a firm antiabortion attitude . . . The condemnation of abortion did not depend on and was not limited in any way by theories regarding the time of fetal animation. Even during the many centuries when Church penal and penitential practice was based on the theory of delayed animation, the condemnation of abortion was never affected by it. Whatever one would want to hold about the time of animation, or when the fetus became a human being in the strict sense of the term, abortion from the time of conception was considered wrong, and the time of animation was never looked on as a moral dividing line between permissible and impermissible abortion.”

The Archdiocese’s statement also quotes “the blunter words of the great Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer.”

Bonhoeffer, a strong critic and later victim of the Nazi regime in his native Germany wrote that “the destruction of the embryo in the mother’s womb is a violation of the right to live which God has bestowed on this nascent life. To raise the question whether we are here concerned already with a human being or not is merely to confuse the issue. The simple fact is that God certainly intended to create a human being and that this nascent human being has been deliberately deprived of his life. And that is nothing but murder.”

Archbishop Chaput’s statement continues, explaining that, “ardent, practicing Catholics will quickly learn from the historical record that from apostolic times, the Christian tradition overwhelmingly held that abortion was grievously evil. In the absence of modern medical knowledge, some of the Early Fathers held that abortion was homicide; others that it was tantamount to homicide; and various scholars theorized about when and how the unborn child might be animated or ‘ensouled.’ But none diminished the unique evil of abortion as an attack on life itself, and the early Church closely associated abortion with infanticide. In short, from the beginning, the believing Christian community held that abortion was always, gravely wrong.”

Archbishop Chaput also highlighted that “we now know with biological certainty exactly when human life begins. Thus, today’s religious alibis for abortion and a so-called ‘right to choose’ are nothing more than that – alibis that break radically with historic Christian and Catholic belief.”

“Abortion kills an unborn, developing human life. It is always gravely evil, and so are the evasions employed to justify it. Catholics who make excuses for it – whether they’re famous or not – fool only themselves and abuse the fidelity of those Catholics who do sincerely seek to follow the Gospel and live their Catholic faith,” the statement adds.

Finally Archbishop Chaput recalls that “the duty of the state and its officials is to serve the common good, which is always rooted in moral truth. A proper understanding of the ‘separation of Church and state’ does not imply a separation of faith from political life. But of course, it’s always important to know what our faith actually teaches.”.....

[matt]

Every time I hear a democrat say something racist, there's an excuse. Every time I hear a republican say anything even close to a differentiation because of race, it's overt racism...talk about a double standard...

Biden, while speaking a truth, is also stepping right into it....so what have Jesse or Al or Obama said in response?

[kim]

Hey, socioeconomic was a good fallback, but that was a developed and repeated thought; he had plenty of opportunity to not finish saying it if he didn't mean it. Oh, boy, both Democrats are racist, in quite different ways. Only in America.
==========================================

[SWarren]

Also this:
Catholic leaders react to Biden pick; Bishops say he should refrain from Communion,

LUN

[bgates]

socioeconomic was a good fallback
That word itself is a dodge. It's not the economic, it's the "socio". Median income in DC is $47,473; for Iowa? $48,075. Michelle Obama may spend that $600 stimulus check on earrings, but to hear Biden's staff, the good people of Washington could use it to achieve grade-level academic performance.

[Soylent Red]

OT...

So I was reading this
about George Obama and wondered to myself,

"John McCain should set up a donation box on his campaign website."

Can you imagine how many heads would explode? How does a person make that kind of suggestion?

Also, it's day one of the 2008 American Liberal Politician Awards (Convention) and the market takes a huge dump.

The Obamessiah Effect (as calculated using the Ballard Coefficient) strikes again.

[Soylent Red]

"The Senator can't be a racist, some of his best friends are people of color."

Servants and gardeners don't really count as "friends".

[RichatUF]

This is another for the Biden's greatest hits. He's not a Notheast Liberal, he's from a "slave state".

[Chris]

No convenience-store owner left behind for slow-Joe. Good times!

[matt]

It's "Wear red" week at Angel's Stadium in Anaheim...I wonder if it's subliminal.....maybe they're trying to launch a "Take back the Coasts" effort....

[John]

"What I'm questioning is why the Post and others in the MSM don't extend this same courtesy to speakers on the right."

Because the right is full of racists, as well as nonracists trying to appeal to racists, prolly...

[JM Hanes]

Soylent:

Blogger baldilocks is doing the next best thing, raising money for the Senator Obama Kogelo Secondary School in Obama's Kenyan home town, a school which he publicly promised to help on a visit some years back -- and apparently never thought of again.

[matt]

I've donated $250 to Baldilocks fund raiser and urge you all to do so. Despite the politics, it's a worthy cause.

[JM Hanes]

Convention is off and running. For a hint of what's to come:

Donna Brazile: Obama has a compelling story which Michelle will begin to unfold tonight.

U.S. News: "Democrats Seek To "Humanize" Obama At Convention."

NY Times: "Obama's aides "said they would use speeches and presentations during the next four days, including having Al Gore introduce Mr. Obama for his acceptance speech Thursday night, to offer a fuller biography and a more detailed plan of what he would do as president."

I'll put my money on fulsome biography and sparse plans.

[JM Hanes]

Add "John McCain is wrong" to "Yes, we can."

[RichatUF]

Is this the live snark thread?

Pelosi: the "trillion dollar war"

John McCain is wrong. Health care is a right. Education is the key to the future. End dependence on foreign oil and "invest" (like Pelosi) in "clean energy". End the Iraq War...

Is she drunk?

[RichatUF]

What a creepy story about he grandkid...

[JM Hanes]

Pelosi: Obama will work miracles and end the war.

Oh Lord, we're going to hear about every speaker's children aren't we? All endorsing Barack Obama.

[RichatUF]

Ethics reform...only possible with Obama (didn't he go the other way on that)...strengthen and renew this great country...America the Beautiful...President Obama...

I need a drink. I put this on the other thread but does Biden look like Fire Marshall Bill to anyone else?

[JM Hanes]

Pelosi needs a little remedial coaching her on teleprompting, but alas Obama's otherwise occupied. She gets the hook. It could have been more painful. I could have listened closely.

[JM Hanes]

Feel the pain.

[Mary]

If I hear the phrase "compelling story" to describe either one of these clowns one more time I am going to hurl. The Beltway media has a case of pack phraseology that would embarrass the dimmest Valley Girl in America.

[Mary]

If I hear the phrase "compelling story" to describe either one of these clowns one more time I am going to hurl. The Beltway media has a case of pack phraseology that would embarrass the dimmest Valley Girl in America.

[JM Hanes]

We're running against Bush. We're running Jimmy Carter.

To relieve the tedium, here's this from Roland Martin's earlier interview with Michelle, transcribed by yours truly:

I have met so many people on these rope lines who break down in tears, people who saw this history, and they have fallen to their knees just thankful that they're alive to see the day. It is powerful, so we do have to work hard to finish it out. It will be really powerful if folks get out and vote, and get registered, beause that's part of this history as well.

If Barack can require them to work, getting out the vote shouldn't be that hard, and then...

.... not only will Barack Obama be the President of the United States, we can change the fundamental direction of this world

[RichatUF]

Was it open bar at the convention tonight? Everything seems to be in a tipsy-filter.

And Pelosi was terrible only to be out done by Prez. Carter...seems that they are getting the proper fascist lighting for the stage

[JM Hanes]

I had to laugh, Mary, when that particular post duplicated itself. Welcome!

[Sue]

Mary,

Get a bucket, because you will be hurling often.

[JM Hanes]

Maybe they'll beam in the African & Chinese brothers.

[Sue]

Obama's sister is not a compelling speaker. Obama got that from his father, apparently.

[JM Hanes]

Women are already crying. I don't think Maya wrote this speech herself. Another one under coached.

[JM Hanes]

He'll be there for you the way he's been there for me. Not for the Senator Obama Kogelo Secondary School in Kenya though.

[JM Hanes]

Ladies and gentlemen: We are ON the mountain top now. This is the end of history as we know it.

[Sue]

They didn't take him seriously until he got the divorce records of his opponent unsealed. Chicago politics, baby!

[Rick Ballard]

".... not only will Barack Obama be the President of the United States, we can change the fundamental direction of this world"

sending it hurtling into the sun within one week of his inauguration.

[JM Hanes]

All the right people were apparently helping other candidates.

[Ann]

Did they really only let President Carter and his wife walk up on stage to wave and shake hands with Nancy? That's it or did I miss something?

[clarice]

McCain's response to O's response to the Ayre's ad:
"The fact that [Obama] is launching his own convention by defending his long association with a man who says he didn't bomb enough U.S. targets tells us more about Barack Obama than any of tonight's speeches will,” said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers. "

[Jane]

I got my Obama energy policy tire gauge today.

It's fab.

[RichatUF]

Changed to CSPAN. Jesse Jackson Jr is up.

Hummm..Lexington and Concord...Selma AL...and so again in Denver when we nominate Obama...Obama worked across the isle (esp. on BAIPA)...

Timeless mid-western values (from where HI, NYC, Chicago)...what he heard from the people of IL was hope...that America had a place for them too, the idea the heart of whole we are as Americans...well-being of the "we"...we raise together as one nation-

What the hell is he saying, its fucking gibberish?

[Sue]

His father? The one that wants to castrate Obama?

[centralcal]

Okay, just got home. Looks like I missed Obama's sister, Nancy (blech), and Jimmy Carter?

Anything really important that I missed????

[Sue]

For the sake of our children, someone explore CAC.

[Sue]

Dear Lord. Nothing is more horrifying than old white women shaking their booty.

[RichatUF]

Did they really only let President Carter and his wife walk up on stage to wave and shake hands with Nancy?

That's what it seemed like to me.

Jesse is still droning on something about the mountain top...They told Glenn Reynolds that if George W. Bush were re-elected the seperation of church and state would get blurry-and they were right!!!

And yea-Its Fire Marshall Biden!!!

[Soylent Red]

I am screaming at the television. This is absolute torture.

I thought Obama was against torture.

[JM Hanes]

Here's one for the hurling contest: One more person who thinks I need to Understand. Who. He. Is.

[Jane]

Where are you guys watching this? All I see is O'Reilly.

[JM Hanes]

Sue: Hush yo mouf.

[JM Hanes]

C-Span Jane, C-Span. Everywhere else, the news folks think this is all about then.

[RichatUF]

centralcal-

Anything really important that I missed????

No. You have been spared. Do you think Biden looks like Fire Marshall Bill?

[Soylent Red]

I'm watching it on PBS Jane.

[Jane]

Where are you guys watching this? All I see is O'Reilly.

[Sue]

Sue: Hush yo mouf.

Mouf hushed. ::grin::

[RichatUF]

Jane-

I was watching it on C Span, but I can't take it any longer.

[Soylent Red]

Did Jimmy Carter just say "This black boy..."?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Soylent:

For Less than a Dollar a Day, You, Too, Can Sponsor an Obama…

[clarice]

Did he, Soylent? I'm not watching for fear that he'll declare war on Israel now that he's in front of a mic again.

[JM Hanes]

Maybe I shouldn't have zoned out when Carter was speaking after all. If it makes you cringe, he probably said it.

Biden appears. You only think it's about the hair. It's really about the shirt cuffs, and cufflinks the size of lunchbuckets™.

[centralcal]

Terry McAuliff (or however you spell his name) is on with Hannity. All these Clinton folks on Fox News! Grining from ear to ear (oh, I mean me). How long before the Obama folks will have to tuck their tails between their legs and do the same?

[clarice]

abc asks:"Why would the Obama campaign even want to bring up Ayers as the Democratic National Convention gets underway tonight in Denver?"

Let me offer up a suggestion--Because they are STUPID.

[centralcal]

omg. They let Jimmah speak?

[JM Hanes]

Works for me, Clarice.

Meant to keep track of the interest groups granted a token spot on the podium tonight, and plum forget. They'll all be telling the same story, things were bad for me and getting worse, but my life turned around, the minute Barack showed up. What's important is who sent them.

[JM Hanes]

Kerry schmoozes David Gregory. Big hair confab.

[Sue]

The music sucks.

[RichatUF]

Is that Sen. Kerry about to wow the faithful?

[JM Hanes]

So, are we betting on whether Teddy shows up in the flesh?

[RichatUF]

Opps Caroline Kennedy-they are easy to get confused...

[Soylent Red]

Yes he did.

Jim Leh-ruh was interviewing him for PBS and he started a sentence with, "This is a black boy who..."

I couldn't believe it.

In related news, for her position on Palestine, Jimmuh declared war on Clarice Feldman.

Luckily he immediately surrendered. Not so luckily, he's demanding the UN force Clarice from her house.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Carolyn Schlossberg introducing Teddy

[JM Hanes]

Caroline apparently didn't get the memo:

A senior Obama adviser, speaking on condition of anonymity, said his boss has expressed impatience with what he calls a "reverence" inside his campaign for his message of change and new politics. In other words, Obama is willing — even eager — to risk what got him this far if it gets him to the White House.

Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate!

[Soylent Red]

Teddy is my Senator too?

Cool. Everyone should own a drunken philandering Irishman.

I'm immediately setting him to work on rounding me up some hookers.

[clarice]

Let that peanut boy try it, Soylent.

Let him try.

[Jane]

Carolyn is not a good speaker. This sounds like Teddy's Eulogy.

[JM Hanes]

Dignity is not a word I associate with Teddy.

[Sue]

Did he also teach them how to leave a young girl in a car to drown?

[Sue]

And they start his tribute with water? Yikes!

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Is that Maria Schriver Schwarzenegger they keep flashing to in the audience?

[clarice]

JMH I think "Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate!" ught to be on the gateways to Denver right now.

[Sue]

Sara,

Yes.

[Soylent Red]

In honor of Sen. Kennedy, the Obamessiah is going to introduce legislation entitled.

"No Girlfriends Left Behind"

followed immediately by

"No Hookers' Behinds Left Alone"

[JM Hanes]

I'll give Ted the fight for the common man; he really has walked that walk.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

And all the common man men have great big beautiful sailing yachts.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

And playground mansions in Palm Beach.

[JM Hanes]

Clarice:

Read my mind. This afternoon, I suggested that hit break out the photoshop and give it a whirl.

[Sue]

I can't stand him, but I'll give him his due. You always knew what he stood for. And not to get in a car with him.

[JM Hanes]

Do you suppose Ted knows how many boats his family owns? I was going to say off the top of his head, but I'd have been compelled to thwack myself mightily for it.

[Soylent Red]

He obviously hasn't been undergoing chemo. His hair is all still there.

[Sue]

He has been in the senate for 46 years? How come he hasn't provided healthcare before now?

[JM Hanes]

I think we can pretty much count on a newer world, which is odd when you think of it, since the world gets older every day. I like the hope I grew up with though.

Oh, no you won't. Obama hasn't quite got that book on race & gender closed yet.

[RichatUF]

The more we know about Sen. Ted Kennedy...

[hit and run]

JMH:
Read my mind. This afternoon, I suggested that hit break out the photoshop and give it a whirl.

I sent you one -- but the quote is way subtle..on the screen behind the podium. I'm limited in what I can do, but...working on it!

[centralcal]

I've never been a Teddy fan, couldn't stand him in fact. But it is kind of poignant and old lion trying so hard to bless the lion cub.

Sadly, they needed to save him for Wednesday night. This will be long forgotten by then.

[clarice]

Do you suppose more than a handful of the screamers in Denver realize the family that is always helping the poor is doing it with others money, theirs' having been safely tucked away in tax free trusts in Tahiti?