Biden Pushes Back

By TChris, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 01:34:46 PM EST
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Joe Biden is pushing back against the McCain-Palin claim that Barack Obama is a mysterious figure who "pals around with terrorists."

“The one they have chosen is to appeal to fear with a veiled question: ‘Who is the real Barack Obama?’ Ladies and gentlemen, to have a vice presidential candidate raise the most outrageous inferences, the ones that John McCain’s campaign is condoning is simply wrong,” said Biden, who blamed McCain’s Republican strategists - the ones that successfully deflated McCain’s chances against George W. Bush in 2000 with sensational rumors and attacks.
“These same people, they’re attacking Barack Obama in the ugliest of ways,” said Biden. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is beyond disappointing, this is beyond disappointing. This is wrong.”

Ugly is all the McCain campaign has left. As Biden said, the attacks on Obama’s character are "an attempt to get you to stop paying attention to what’s going on in this country." It won't work. This year, voters couldn't stop paying attention to reality if they tried.

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Biden Pushes Back | 36 comments (36 topical)

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I loved Biden's tone this morning: (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by steviez314 on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 01:41:50 PM EST

"It's just malarkey, flat malarkey."

Not angry, just mocking the stupidity. And it has a nice Irish Catholic sound to it, for all those PA and OH types.

Good for Biden (5.00 / 0) (#3)
by CST on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 01:44:30 PM EST

To be honest, I wasn't thrilled with him as VP pick, but in retrospect I think he's done as good a job as I could want/expect so far.

I guess I don't understand (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by Steve M on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 01:49:13 PM EST

how this is a pushback. "It's beyond disappointing, it's wrong"? John Kerry could have hit back more strongly.

A little ... (5.00 / 0) (#12)
by Robot Porter on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 02:14:51 PM EST

sanctimonious too.

And I think we've dumbed-down "swift-boating" in this campaign. People should go back and look at those ads.

They claimed that a central part of Kerry's biography was a lie. And they did this with lies.

McCain's attacks on Obama are in the powder-puff league by comparison.


: They keep doing (none / 0) (#23)
by jondee on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 03:26:56 PM EST

it because they're essentially allowed to get away with it. To most of the media, the big-red-flag fact that John O'Neil was an ex-Nixon "dirty tricks" weasal was much less sexy than the public blood-letting of the Swiftboat camapaign.
Oh, and T. Boone Pickens can buy alot of friends.

: Sanctimony is justified (none / 0) (#26)
by Socraticsilence on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 04:14:50 PM EST

Seriously, he should be sanctimonious this beyond the pale of political attacks (as were the swiftboats).

Reminded me of that too (none / 0) (#7)
by ruffian on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 01:57:57 PM EST

Weak tea. What happened to the guns at the knife fight?


give him a break (none / 0) (#22)
by A DC Wonk on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 03:16:42 PM EST

cut him some slack -- have we forgotten that he was at his mother-in-law's funeral yesterday?


: You're right, I did forget that (none / 0) (#25)
by ruffian on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 03:46:46 PM EST

Sorry Joe. But get tougher soon.

Ouch! (none / 0) (#8)
by CST on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 01:59:47 PM EST

I find it so funny when people talk about what a "great candidate" Kerry was, and how they really wanted him as president.

The man is about as exciting as a brick wall and was the Democratic equivalent to Bob Dole.


: not a great candidate (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by coigue on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 02:47:55 PM EST

would have made a great president though

: And to think my husband and I (none / 0) (#11)
by hairspray on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 02:07:08 PM EST

went to another state to walk around strange (and I do mean strange) neighborhoods to drum up support for him. It was almost as hard as it is for me today.

for something tougher (none / 0) (#9)
by ruffian on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 02:00:40 PM EST

See DailyHowler's list today of McCain calumnies since 1999. I'd like to see Biden rattle off a few of those.


I think when they think they are ahead (none / 0) (#14)
by ruffian on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 02:28:38 PM EST

they tend to worry more about preserving their own image as nice guys than nailing down the victory. Didn't work so well for Kerry-Edwards. I suggest Obama-Biden play the rest of the month as if they are down by 5 in the polls.


I was furious with the MCM for not covering Bush's (5.00 / 2) (#19)
by jawbone on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 02:53:29 PM EST

background in any real or detailed way. All those failed businesses which Poppy's friends bailed him out of. The ugly little situation of using the power of the city and state to take over private property at low, low rates for building his baseball teams' stadium. His interesting National Guard status.

So many questions....

The lefty blogs were aghast that the MCM was derelict in its duty. Some good reporting was out there, but it had to be searched for, diligently. Otherwise, things were ignored or hidden in the fog if they did not help the MCM's candidate, Good Ol' BushBoy. Bringing respect and honor back to the Oval Office. Oh, yeah, riiiiight.

But, hey, if it's our guy? Let the good times roll--and let the candidate say Bill Ayers was only some guy in the neighborhood. A tad far from accurate? Way to go, MCMers!

I hated it when it was done against our candidate, issues, principles. I hate it when it's done in favor of our candidate, etc.

I feel we need the all the data points possible in order to best assess who will be our president. The MCM does not agree with me--and has lots more power.

(MCM--Mainstream Corporate Media)

Ayers - Obama ties = False (5.00 / 0) (#27)
by wurman on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 04:20:02 PM EST

There is no connection between Sen. Obama & Prof. Ayers.
CNN Fact Check

Verdict: False. There is no indication that Ayers and Obama are now "palling around," or that they have had an ongoing relationship in the past three years. Also, there is nothing to suggest that Ayers is now involved in terrorist activity or that other Obama associates are.

The media have checked this out.

Ayers was never even tried for terrorism, so to call him a terrorist is based on some very weak extrapolations. And then to connect him with Sen. Obama is a fabrication.

And the Woods Fund documents were available to CNN.


ha (5.00 / 0) (#31)
by connecticut yankee on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 05:29:08 PM EST

Yeah, the ayers thing is right wing bs. Spread by ignorants.

When will McCain explains his actual friendship with convicted nutcase G Gordon Liddy.

Or when will Sarah Palin explains her speech to a group that wants to leave the union and who IRAN sponsored to come to the UN to bash the US. Yeah, that Iran.

Or when McCain explains his role on a right wing foundation with links to nazis and racists.

Wake me when they get around to it.


Please--reality check: Obama knew Ayers fairly (none / 0) (#32)
by jawbone on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 10:33:30 PM EST

well, worked with him on boards, was director of a board connected with Ayers. Boards are not that huge. Please accept the reality.

They knew each other. Ayers hosted Obama's first big fundraiser for his IL state senate run. Or was it the announcement of his run. Whatever--it's just that they did know each other more than passing on a street in the neighborhood and saying hi.

It'a possible Obama, being so young, didn't even know about Ayers and Dohrn's backgrounds. It's possible he did and believed them to be at a different stage in their lives.

But, to tell the public he was "just some guy in the neighborhood? Why fudge things, when the truth was so easy and nonthreatening?

Sheesh.

But, then I have not seen the light, and obviously I am an ignorant as well.

Wow. Interesting times we live in. Now I see how rightwads can deny reality. It just doesn't fit, or something; therefore, it is false and those who say differently are not worthy of being listened to. Cognitive dissonance--hard to deal with.

Maybe after the election things will return to normal, and we will find the reality-based community together once again.


: You're Right (none / 0) (#35)
by daring grace on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 10:11:14 AM EST

when you say that Obama had more than a passing on the street and saying hi acquaintanceship with William Ayres. And if he said that was what it was then he was not being wholly accurate.
But the apparent relationship he has had with Ayres as I've seen discussed here and in the media is light years away from this 'palling around with terrorists' nonsense the McCain/Palin campaign is promoting. Ayres hosted ONE and apparently only ONE meet the candidate kind of event for Obama early in Obama's political career--as in maybe his actual first political campaign? And they've served on boards together? Oooh, sounds sinister and oh so intimate...
I'm not directing that snark at you. It's my reaction to McCain and Palin trying to rev up this association as something it clearly is not. Their deception about what this relationship is far greater (and more cynical) than anything Senator Obama has said that has sought to underplay it.

careful there. (none / 0) (#28)
by Salo on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 04:43:02 PM EST

Ayers was a Manque Terroriste Poseur. He was no Martin McGuiness, or Che, although he desperately wished to be like these sorts of revolutionary bomb throwers.

The greater sin on Obama's part is that he seems to have been attracted to the remnant of very lame imitation of Freedom fighters. Weak tea terrorists.


: It disturbs me Obama won't (none / 0) (#30)
by oculus on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 05:07:41 PM EST

acknowledge his relationship w/Ayers. No wonder the GOP campaign distorts it. Just say what happened and move on, Obama. Very reminiscent of how Obama took so long to 'fess up on his relatioship with Rezko. It is what it is. Be a man.

Suggest you double check CNN's Fact Checking-- (none / 0) (#33)
by jawbone on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 10:35:13 PM EST

Given their tendency to take sides, which used to be against the Dems btw, it's always a good idea to double check.

Like with supporting BushCo's Great Iraq Adventure?


OK. Here's a short list (none / 0) (#34)
by wurman on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 01:25:56 AM EST

Washington Post

Both Obama and Ayers were members of the board of an anti-poverty group, the Woods Fund of Chicago, between 1999 and 2002. In addition, Ayers contributed $200 to Obama's re-election fund to the Illinois State Senate in April 2001, as reported here. They lived within a few blocks of each other in the trendy Hyde Park section of Chicago, and moved in the same liberal-progressive circles.
Is there anything here that raises questions about Obama's judgment or is this just another example of guilt by association?

Chicago Sun-Times

That's why back in the day when Obama was starting his political career -- making a visit to the Ayers home while running for a state Senate seat, and then agreeing to being on panels with him and serve on a foundation board together -- it was no big deal, or any deal, to any local political reporters or to the editorial boards of the Sun-Times or Tribune.

LA Times

Although Ayers was reincarnated as an academic, when his path and Obama's crossed, the budding politician should have recognized that his Chicago neighbor was radioactive. But their association should not be distorted. There is no evidence that Obama shared Ayers' approval of violence or his views about whether America is "a force for good in this world." For Palin and McCain to insinuate otherwise is a 21st century form of McCarthyism.

Looks as if CNN got it right, hunh? And the CNN fact check even shows how this malarkey got started by Christopher Hitchens' rightwingnut brother in London, England.

McCarthyism!


: If Liddy and (none / 0) (#36)
by jondee on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 01:11:30 PM EST

people like David Horowitz are any indication, all Ayers has to do to recieve ccomplete remission of sin is to humble himself and perform the act of contrition to Dick Scaife & co and then maybe start looking into a career in talk radio.

Ugly and McCain . . . (5.00 / 1) (#24)
by Doc Rock on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 03:32:18 PM EST

. . . look increasingly more like one another.

Cat Killer! (none / 0) (#1)
by blogtopus on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 01:36:34 PM EST

I hear that is something that people haven't yet said about Obama. Let me be the first. /snark

Good on Joe.

Brazille Pushes Back, too (none / 0) (#4)
by A DC Wonk on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 01:44:56 PM EST

Must see video: Donna Brazile Is Not Going To The Back Of The Bus

Who told her to go to the back of the bus? (none / 0) (#17)
by jawbone on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 02:46:28 PM EST

What's she pushing back against?


she's pushing back against (none / 0) (#21)
by A DC Wonk on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 03:11:56 PM EST

those who are portraying Obama as the strange "other": a guy who "pals with terrorists", a guy who's middle name is "Hussein", who takes his orders from Wright, and other such nonsense -- an amalgamation of which includes some racism just below the surface.

She's also pushing back against those voters who are explicitly saying that they don't feel comfortable voting for a black man.


: I tend to thin k they are trying (none / 0) (#29)
by Salo on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 04:44:36 PM EST

to pin Farrakhan on him. You'll see if i'm right soon enough.

The battle over the next week or so (none / 0) (#5)
by barryluda on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 01:46:06 PM EST

will be whether the independents believe McCain/Palin or Obama/Biden. If they believe McCain, it'll be a nail biter, but Obama will likely still win. If they believe Obama, games over and it'll be a landslide.

We need more of Biden just like today.

I keep hearing that there isn't a paper (none / 0) (#10)
by hairspray on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 02:04:39 PM EST

trail on Obama. What does that mean? I thought he was thoroughly vetted including the stuff about his birth certificate.

: I"ve read his personal papers from (5.00 / 1) (#20)
by oculus on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 02:54:42 PM EST

his tenure in the Illinois state senate are not available. Cream City has written about the Wood Foundation files during Obama's tenure there are also not available, although they were previously

: "thoroughly vetted"? (1.00 / 1) (#13)
by patriotgames on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 02:16:48 PM EST

OBAMA??
Surely you left the /snark tag off.......

Well, (none / 0) (#15)
by bocajeff on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 02:29:15 PM EST

If I recall, there were a few Hillary supporters on this site who made the same claims of Obama in regard to his association with Ayers. Not to his association with Tony Rezko.

Fair is fair, no?

ya (none / 0) (#16)
by connecticut yankee on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 02:29:51 PM EST

I was there, he gave a good speech.

Better in some parts than others but people were really energized. He had a few good zingers and the applause near the end was close to drowning him out.