Home › Blogs › Patrick Ruffini's blog ›

Obama-Biden: Mr. HopeandChange Picks the Ultimate Washington Insider

Submitted by Patrick Ruffini on Sat, 08/23/2008 - 03:11
in

When Bill Clinton chose Al Gore, this was rightly seen as a template for modern VP selections. The traditional notion of "balancing" the ticket with someone of a different state or background gave way to the idea of using the VP as device to reinforce the message of the guy at the top. So, in the last change election, you had two young Southern party modernizers on the ticket. You couldn't argue their message was not about change.

Instead of reinforcing Obama's message, Biden muddles it. Biden is the ultimate Washington insider, having been in the Senate for 36 years. He is currently running for his 7th (!) term. Joe Biden has been in the Senate just four years less than Ted Stevens. And if he doesn't seem that old, it's because he was elected to the Senate at 29, younger than the legal limit (his birthday was between the election and his swearing in). He has hardly held a real job, having been elected to the Senate as a young attorney fresh out of law school.

In all likelihood, the Democratic ticket of Obama-Biden will have more years in Washington (38) than the McCain-led Republican ticket. So much for hope and change.

5
Your rating: None Average: 5 (1 vote)

Comments

Guess he picked the Senator from MBNA

Submitted by Ironman on Sat, 08/23/2008 - 10:07.

over the Senator from Countrywide  (not much difference; they are both now owned by Bank of America)

"MBNA has been the No. 1 donor to Senator Biden's campaigns since 1993"   http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/07/business/07mbna.html?ei=5007&en=7f97bc61437c4057&ex=1393995600&adxnnl=1&partner=USERLAND&pagewanted=4&adxnnlx=1219501151-dhXwiq+7XFr861cyMMJ71w

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBNA#Politics

Biden , of course, was the prime Democrat sponsor of tougher bankruptcy laws sought by large credit card firms such as MBNAhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBNA and was pushing it for years http://www.senate.gov/comm/judiciary/general/oldsite/41599jrb.htm even when it was vetoed by President Clinton http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/12/20/clinton.bankruptcy.ap/index.html

Obama wants to unreform bankruptcy reform to make it easier on debtors

While I was opposing the credit card industry’s bankruptcy bill that made it harder for working families to climb out of debt, [McCain] was supporting it – and he even opposed helping families who were only in bankruptcy because of medical bills they couldn’t pay,’’ Obama told a crowd at a townhall event outside of Atlanta. “He sided with the big banks again when it came to protecting the most valuable possession that older Americans have – their home.’’

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/07/08/obama-outlines-plan-for-bankruptcy-reform/

Obama has blasted bankruptcy reformers as anti-consumer

Obama blasted his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain, for putting the desires of banks and credit card companies ahead of the needs of working Americans......

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/printedition/2008/07/09/obama.html

Like the president he hopes to succeed, Sen. McCain does not believe the government has a real role to play in protecting Americans from unscrupulous lending practices," Obama said. "He would continue to allow the banks and credit card companies to tilt the playing field in their favor, at the expense of hardworking Americans."

Obama's campaign pointed to a series of Senate votes in 2005 to accuse McCain of "siding with banking industry lobbyists" while opposing measures that the Democrat's campaign said would have helped families struggling to pay medical bills, seniors in bankruptcy fighting to keep their homes, and victims of Hurricane Katrina.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-07-08-obama-bankruptcy_N.htm

Of course, the reasons non-banks wanted bankruptcy reform is that fraudulent Chapter 7 filings (go to Aruba, buy a flat screeen, and then file) were rampant prior to the bill   http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53688-2005Apr14.html. One presumes that this problem is not one of Senator Obama's major concerns 

It will be interesting to see how Senator Hope and Change squares this circle. deeming a water carrier for the banking lobby his preferred choice for the second highest post in the nation.

Wonder if an apology to Senator McCain for supporting Bankruptcy reform will be in order.

i think that obama's campaign

Submitted by dundonjustin on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 03:04.

i think that obama's campaign had more resistance to choosing Clinton than the netroots would have eventually had. after all, they do actually seem to trust Obama. suspicious trust, but still trust that he's acting in good faith).

Corllins University

Question

Submitted by gunthestops on Sat, 08/23/2008 - 10:09.

Has McCain ever held a non Gonvernment Job ???????? 

Re

Submitted by day310109 on Sat, 01/31/2009 - 10:32.

do you like sport? Best sports betting for super bowl betting online. And superbowl betting xliii. Only news and best sites. superbowl odds Super bowl betting xliii super bowl odds betting 2009. Best ODDS for all 2009 year. Find more information and win.

I would argue the last change

Submitted by beladonawww on Sun, 05/17/2009 - 07:43.

I would argue the last change election was actually 2000, when an inexperienced Bush promised to change the way Washington worked after the divisions of the Clinton years. However, he reassured many by picking the experienced Cheney as his VP. teletext holidays - lanzarote weather - waterless cookware - calphalon nonstick

I would argue the last change

Submitted by beladonawww on Tue, 06/16/2009 - 14:23.

I would argue the last change election was actually 2000, when an inexperienced Bush promised to change the way Washington worked after the divisions of the Clinton years. However, he reassured many by picking the experienced Cheney as his VP. accelerated bsn - loan forgiveness for teachers - loan deferment - student loan deferment

Use Wikipedia before asking dumb questions

Submitted by Ironman on Sat, 08/23/2008 - 10:16.

"Living in Phoenix, he went to work for Hensley & Co., his new father-in-law Jim Hensley's large Anheuser-Busch beer distributorship.[57]"

 

Hope and Change

Submitted by Wulf on Sat, 08/23/2008 - 12:42.

Obama is running on a platform of change.  Clearly, he has decided to change his mind about that.  Ergo, there is no hypocrisy or inconsistency at play.

Is There A Worse Pick Obama Could Have Made?

Submitted by Jeff Roberts on Sat, 08/23/2008 - 15:32.

Thank you Obama for this gift!

I'm giddy that Obama picked Biden.  He's not from a swing state, he's a gaffe-machine, and he may be the only person in Washington that's more arrogant than Obama.

Add that to the fact that we have Biden on video saying that Obama is too inexperienced to be President, the main theme against "the One's" candidacy.

The coming YouTube clips will be priceless.

Obama could have done better, and I'm glad he didn't.

 

 

It's quite funny

Submitted by LnGrrrR on Wed, 12/10/2008 - 17:01.

Reading comments like these in hindsight.

newsweek has Mccain shivvering in his boots

Submitted by RisingTide on Wed, 12/10/2008 - 17:13.

about Obama picking hillary (which most of the netroots would have screamed holy murder about)

I wonder how that would have played out

Submitted by LnGrrrR on Wed, 12/10/2008 - 18:32.

I'm sure she would've picked up enough votes to offset the netroots, but he wouldn't have nearly the activist base that he has at this moment.

it would have made it more of a base versus base election.

Submitted by RisingTide on Thu, 12/11/2008 - 11:31.

less of a sure thing than biden turned out to be.

and mccain would have chosen some general or another to be the 'foreign policy' guy.

without palin dragging down the ticket, Obama wins with a much smaller margin.

(and referencing the Newsweek article, i think that obama's campaign had more resistance to choosing Clinton than the netroots would have eventually had. after all, they do actually seem to trust Obama. suspicious trust, but still trust that he's acting in good faith).

But I think that their money at that point in time was critical. And that having them fall in line later (as the hillary supporters did), would have cost obama valuable organizing power.

You confuse longevity with status quo.

Submitted by andrew on Sat, 08/23/2008 - 19:29.

Hi Patrick.

Yes, Biden has been a Senator for quite some time. Just like McCain.

Obama has barely served more than half a term. If McCain chooses Jindal, or Pawley, or someone with little "experience" who will bring "change" to McCain's ticket, can't those on the left make the same charge?

If you can't come up with better attacks, wait until you can before you post. Having a light trigger pull doesn't always end up well. Ask the NYPD.

Change is vacuous, shallow campaign hype

Submitted by Freedoms Truth on Sun, 08/24/2008 - 00:27.

is the point.

Picking Biden (D - Beltway Insider) is a 'tell'. It tells us that Obama knows the hope and change is just a bunch of campaign cr*p and it will be business as usual once Obama is in the white house. Pork, panders, partisanship and politics will be no different.

... but we will have bad-choice Barack and sub-average Joe at the helm. Oh joy.

http://travismonitor.blogspot.com/2008/08/bad-choice-barack-picks-sub-av...

 

 

 

But I think that their money

Submitted by zebbor on Fri, 05/15/2009 - 16:26.

But I think that their money at that point in time was critical. And that having them fall in line later (as the hillary supporters did), would have cost obama valuable organizing power. mephisto sandals | sanuk sandals | naot sandals

Biden had been a senator for 14 years before McCain was elected

Submitted by Ironman on Sat, 08/23/2008 - 19:35.

and his claim to fame is getting a bankruptcy bill passed to help local bankers. Wow

So much to show for 36 years.

My mom called Biden "wallpaper". She's right

Obama was 11 when Joe Biden first entered Congress

Submitted by Keith_Indy on Mon, 08/25/2008 - 10:44.

I still like the line "Obama was 11 when Joe Biden first entered Congress."

 

 

Haha cool, I like it :) true

Submitted by zebbor on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 04:36.

Haha cool, I like it :) true religion fake jeans - avon pedido facil - paint tool sai

"the last change election"

Submitted by JayPe on Mon, 08/25/2008 - 21:06.

Patrick,

I would argue the last change election was actually 2000, when an inexperienced Bush promised to change the way Washington worked after the divisions of the Clinton years. However, he reassured many by picking the experienced Cheney as his VP.

I think Obama has opted for a 2000 change template rather than the 1992 pick (which I think was the best pick of recent times) Bayh would have played to the 1992 memories (youthful, foreign policy chops, neighbouring state). So I think this is a bad pick from Obama.

However I'm surprised that you've forgotten 2000 so quickly!

Re:

Submitted by kenmandella on Wed, 12/10/2008 - 16:24.

The truth say firstly baby's mouth, then - the old man, the author - you are in a category? funny christmas gifts

Re:

Submitted by milbarn on Thu, 12/25/2008 - 06:07.

fake rolex | fake handbags | replica designer handbags | louis vuitton replica | replica rolex watches | replica handbags | fake watches

A recent survey quoted that

Submitted by beladonawww on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 14:18.

A recent survey quoted that more than 65% of the US people believe that Obama is the only rescuer from this financial crisis. accelerated bsn - loan forgiveness for teachers - loan deferment - student loan deferment

Obama has barely served more

Submitted by hallowman on Fri, 02/06/2009 - 09:07.

Obama has barely served more than half a term. If McCain chooses Jindal, or Pawley, or someone with little "experience" who will bring "change" to McCain's ticket, can't those on the left make the same charge?

regards,

Buy Essay

 

 Obama is magic ! Very

Submitted by humor-news on Thu, 06/11/2009 - 08:02.

 Obama is magic ! Very impressive since his arrival

---------

http://www.netvibes.com/humor-news

i love obama and  i love to

Submitted by fc_bar on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 14:03.

i love obama and& i love to read anything related to him !

Burgas hotels|| Dry tortugas

i certainly prefer obama over

Submitted by danny007 on Sun, 04/12/2009 - 16:13.

i certainly prefer obama over bill clinton and bush .

Custom research papers

 PR: wait...  I: wait...  L: wait...  LD: wait...  I: wait... wait...  Rank: wait...  Traffic: wait...  Price: wait...  C: wait...

 

 

 

Seriously

Submitted by jamesD on Fri, 04/17/2009 - 07:20.

Who would he have to choose as vp, to make everyone happy?

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

I certainly prefer Obama to

Submitted by Danny on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 23:58.

I certainly prefer Obama to Clinton and Bush. A recent survey quoted that more than 65% of the US people believe that Obama is the only rescuer from this financial crisis. It is up to Obama now, let us all wait with our fingers crossed.

Panama real Estate Companies

What the H E double hockey

Submitted by beladonawww on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 14:34.

What the H E double hockey sticks has Obama 'rescued' us from? Winning the lottery? Fiscal sanity? A balanced budget? Full employment? Getting out of Iraq by the end of 2009 nys regents | regents exam | math b regents | tanning lotion

I doubt it. These politicians

Submitted by TheMankey on Tue, 07/21/2009 - 02:50.

I doubt it. These politicians become politicians because they can't get real jobs in the private sector.

Free MMORPG - Browser Games

fashion jewelry

Submitted by Briace on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 05:25.

supply vast kinds of styles handmade jewelry,mainly engage in wholesale handmade jewelry such as wholesale fashion jewelry,wholesale costume jewelry,wholesale jewelry,handmade jewelry,fashion jewelry,jewelry wholesale

I certainly prefer Obama to

Submitted by emil300 on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 14:18.

I certainly prefer Obama to Clinton and Bush. A recent survey quoted that more than 65% of the US people believe that Obama is the only rescuer from this financial crisis. It is up to Obama now, let us all wait with our fingers crossed interesting facts

4 million jobs lost so far since Obama was elected

Submitted by Freedoms Truth on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 14:27.

 ... and he plans a $10 trillion debt load for his term... 6 months in and the bond market is already getting heavy ... very heavy.

What the H E double hockey sticks has Obama 'rescued' us from? Winning the lottery? Fiscal sanity? A balanced budget? Full employment? Getting out of Iraq by the end of 2009?

It's certainly is not a 'bad economy'... we are 'all in' on that now.

 http://travismonitor.blogspot.com/

It is the season to compare

Submitted by Luke on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 15:41.

It is the season to compare Barack Obama to Abraham Lincoln. Two thin men from rude beginnings, relatively new to Washington but wise to the world, bring the nation together to face a crisis. During the campaign, he pledged to be a unifying leader and we all expect the same from him.

Mexican mushrooms

I love change

Submitted by picogoons on Fri, 06/12/2009 - 10:16.

So I love obama !

I hope he won't make us be disappointed :)

Obagoons !!

estimation immobilière