A "Clean" Slate?
Aug 19, 2008 12:12 PM EST
As
Jonathan notes below, Joe Biden seems to be the flavor of the day when it comes to the Dem veepstakes. Given that he's seen within the Democrat ranks as a foreign policy solon, it may well make sense, given Russia's invasion of Georgia and other ominous international developments.
But it seems to me that a Biden pick does nothing so much as highlight the weakness of the Democrat bench when it comes to foreign policy. After all, Biden is remarkably gaffe-prone -- remember his description of Barack as
"the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy"? How about his
memorable comments about Indians and 7-11?
If there's any advantage to a Biden pick as veep, at least it means that he won't be Secretary of State. Anybody this gaffe-prone has no business in a job where the merest use of one word over another can be construed as having a distinct diplomatic meaning . . . unless, of course, he's just mouthing the words of someone else -- something of a pattern with Biden, it seems, judging from
this and
this.
I'm actually rooting for a Biden choice. It would make the campaign a whole lot more
more entertaining.
Carol Platt Liebau
Carol Platt Liebau is an attorney, political commentator and guest radio talk show host based near New York. Learn more about her new book, "Prude: How the Sex-Obsessed Culture Hurts Young Women (and America, Too!)"
here.