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Biden: 'I was trying to compliment a colleague'

Posted: Thursday, February 01, 2007 5:25 PM by Hardball

WATCH VIDEO

CHRIS MATTHEWS, MSNBC ANCHOR:  Senator Biden, thank you for joining us.

Let’s go back to the text of what this is all about.  Now, here’s the statement that you made the other day:

“I mean, you’ve got the first mainstream African-American who’s articulate, bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.  I mean, that’s a storybook man.”

There’s two ways to read that sentence.  Please keep it up.

There’s two ways to read that.  He’s the first mainstream, yes.  Are you saying he’s the clean...

SEN. JOE BIDEN, (D) DELAWARE:  No, not at all.

MATTHEWS:  The first articulate...

BIDEN:  I wasn’t making a historical statement.  I was trying to complement a colleague.  I was complementing a colleague.  I wasn’t...

MATTHEWS:  SO you were just saying he was clean and articulate?  You weren’t saying he was the first one?

BIDEN:  Brand new (ph).  No, he’s not the first one...

MATTHEWS:  OK.

BIDEN:  ... and when I...

MATTHEWS:  People took it that way. Barack Obama said there have been a lot of articulate candidates before, as if you were saying you were trashing all the previous black candidates for president.

BIDEN:  Well he’s—I campaigned with those articulate candidates.  I campaigned with them.

MATTHEWS:  Well why did he feel like he had to correct you and say that there were articulate candidates?

BIDEN:  Well, I heard his first statement saying he understood what I meant.  And then I heard his second statement.

MATTHEWS:  Then he got staffed up, right?

BIDEN:  Well, I don’t know about that.  All I’m saying is that I can see how—in retrospect, what I really regret here is this sort of takes everything I was saying in that article about the war in Iraq and everything I was talking about what we need to do to get out of that war, and it just sort of it moves it.

And I also regret that there are people out there who would think that I was making a statement about the past.  I was complimenting one of my colleagues, who by the way, he’s like a meteor.  There’s not a single politician in either party who wouldn’t like to be positioned where he is at this point.  That was the point I was making when I said he’s clean—what I meant to say was fresh, that he was new, he’s exciting and so...

MATTHEWS:  ... Well now you’re saying that.

BIDEN:  Well I am saying that and I spoke to Reverend Jackson, I spoke to Carol Moseley Braun, I mean some of them called me.  I spoke to Bennie Thompson.  I believe they know that.

MATTHEWS:  Is this media too in love with “gotcha?”

BIDEN:  Well look, I mean this is ...

MATTHEWS:  ... Is this “gotcha” journalism jumping on your back?

BIDEN:  Well, look, I think I’m going to be judged by a different standard and I deserve to be judged by a different standard because I say what I think.  I sometimes say things in artfully.  But I think this election is about—part of it is going to be about authenticity and ideas.  And so look, I can’t change ...

MATTHEWS:  ... Here’s what I say to people.  You represent a large mixed community.  Wilmington is heavily African-American.  Your base, you can argue, is African-American.

BIDEN:  It is my base.  I would not be elected without that.

MATTHEWS:  So you’re talking to people on street corners, you’re talking to people in homes.  You know them personally, you know a lot of your local people, your supporters for 35 years, close personal relationship with African-American friends of yours—close.

BIDEN:  By the way, they’re the very people who came out of the civil rights movement.  They’re the very people who were in the marches.  Some of them like Linton Mitchell (ph), they got beat up.  I mean I didn’t, they did.  I mean so these are people I have enormous respect for.

They’re the ones that elected me.

And Chris, you know my state.  My state, I think, has the eighth largest black population in America.

MATTHEWS:  Every time I drive through Wilmington I think of that as your home base.

BIDEN:  But it’s also the whole state.  It’s evenly divided.

But my point is that I don’t think anybody in my home state misunderstands, but what I really regret is that I fought my whole life, along with many others, you and a lot of other people, to give everybody an equal shot.  And for it to look like, to be interpreted that I was somehow dividing the black community into now we’ve got a good candidate, there weren’t good candidates before, now we’ve got an—that wasn’t what I was saying at all.

MATTHEWS:  By the way, let’s move on—operation—moveon.org, whatever we’re going to call it, because you’ve made your statement. Let me ask you about this.  There seems to be some new standard out there while I don’t understand or like, which you can’t criticize your opponent.

You said Hillary’s plan was basically to cut up the Iraqi army if they don’t do help us do what they have to do, is crazy.  You said that it’s crazy to pull the troops out immediately, which you say Edwards wants to do.

And that gets drawn up in the media and everywhere else as somehow you’re getting ugly. 

That just seems like standard competitive politics to me.

BIDEN:  Well look.

MATTHEWS:  Do you think the press is crazy all of the sudden?  You can’t criticize an opponent?

BIDEN:  Well look, I was criticizing the opponents ideas.

MATTHEWS:  Yes, well what’s wrong with that?

BIDEN:  I hope nothing wrong with that.

MATTHEWS:  Well I’m answering you—I want you to say something I want you to say, which is there’s some new crazy standard out there that a politician can’t defend its position and take on the opponent.

BIDEN:  Well I think they apply that to everybody.

MATTHEWS:  Jesus, what kind of a world do we live in now?  You can’t argue politics?

BIDEN:  But I don’t think most of the mainstream press thinks that.  I don’t think they think you can’t criticize your opponents ideas. This is what this is about.  I’m running because I think I’m best positioned and best qualified to end this war and end it without it being a debacle, having a debacle in the Middle East.

So I was asked by a reporter a legitimate question, “What do you think of the idea of, A) pulling down our troops and, B) putting a cap on out troops and, B) cutting funds for Iraqi troops.  I said that’s a crazy idea (INAUDIBLE).  But it is—it’s a bad idea.

MATTHEWS:  Jesse Jackson, who was obviously, like most politicians, like you, fairly egocentric over the years, has become a very generous, I would say almost sweet public figure.  He is very loyal to Obama.  He treats him like the next generation.  He fought, like so many blacks did, to make a chance possible for a guy to win statewide.  Back in the Jesse’s time, the old Dailey (ph) machine would give him a job collecting quarters out on the Interstate if he came looking for a job.

BIDEN:  Jesse won in New York.

MATTHEWS:  I know.

BIDEN:  Jesse put healthcare up on the...

MATTHEWS:  I know.  Things are moving because of Jackson.  He knows it.
He’s part of that arc that goes back to 60s right into this century.

But he’s saying something about you in politics, which is rare.  He says, “I hope this doesn’t dim your efforts, that you stay bright, you stay out there and keep fighting and don’t get—don’t start ducking.”

Is this going to make you duck?

BIDEN:  Chris, I can’t.  I am who I am.

MATTHEWS:  I know.  But I—it’s nice to hear Jackson say that.

BIDEN:  No, no, it is nice.  He’s a friend.  It is nice to hear him say that.  I appreciate that.  But, you know, he’s been through this stuff, too.  Everybody has.  Everybody gets it.  It’s a different game.  It’s a different place.  It’s a different time.  And...

MATTHEWS:  By the way, he took a lot of heat for when he described New York that way years ago.  I remember that one.

BIDEN:  Yes.  No, I remember that, too.

Look, I appreciate it.  I appreciate (INAUDIBLE).  I appreciate all these people who know me, who have dealt with me.

MATTHEWS:  Who’s given you a hard time?  Besides the press.
Well, let me tell you this, Senator.  You have your chance now for the platform.  You’re 32nd.  I can’t give you much more.

BIDEN:  All right.

MATTHEWS:  Why you and not Hillary or Obama?

BIDEN:  Let me tell you why...

MATTHEWS:  Why you and not them?

BIDEN:  ... why me.  Why me.  This president’s dug us into a deep hole.
His foreign policy has made us more vulnerable in the world.  His domestic policy’s made the middle class more vulnerable.

My background, my experience, my track record and who I am I think best suits me to deal with both those problems.

MATTHEWS:  Are you advantaged because of your years in the Senate?  Are they going to help to learn this metric (ph)?

BIDEN:  Look, I mean, I hope...

MATTHEWS:  Or are you a prisoner of Capitol Hill?

BIDEN:  Well, I hope I’m not a prisoner.  You know, you know I ride home every day.  I don’t live here.

MATTHEWS:  I think they love you on the train, coming off the train this morning, based on the pictures.  They know where to find you.

BIDEN:  Everybody knows where to find me.

MATTHEWS:  But you don’t think you’ve had too many years of politics?
Like, you know, a lot of guys like Mondale and people like that, Dole, end up talking in a Senate language.  And, you know, don’t know how to talk...

BIDEN:  ... in the Senate language, I’d be a lot better off if I said I liked my distinguished colleague from Illinois.

But, look, Chris, I think—I’ve never seen the electorate so sober.

People know big things are at stake.  They know literally their place at a shot at the middle class is at stake.  They know literally  that the nation is at stake.  I mean, we are in a very bad place.

MATTHEWS:  So you wouldn’t have been offended, maybe—let me ask you this—if Obama had said you’re the first sober Irishman to run for president?  You wouldn’t have taken offense at that?
(CROSSTALK)

BIDEN:  ... and I don’t think he was offended.

MATTHEWS:  OK.

BIDEN: His reference, as I understand it, was saying that others might have been offended.

MATTHEWS:  Yes.  Well, he was careful.  But he issued a statement two after the first one.  The first one was beneficial to you.  Two hours later he said, obviously, historically you were inaccurate because you suggested—and this is where his judgment came in politically—he put you in a position of saying people like Jesse Jackson and al Sharpton are not articulate, the one thing their worst enemies would say there are.

So he was using your statement to get you, wasn’t he?  He was playing hardball here.

BIDEN:  Well, look, it’s a hardball game.

MATTHEWS:  OK.

BIDEN:  It’s a hardball game.

MATTHEWS:  He wasn’t being chivalrous like Jesse Jackson was.
Now, let me tell you.  Is Sharpton on your side in this?  Because he’s coming on now.  In a few minutes after you’re done, he’s going to be our judge, like the Miss America contest.  He’s going to judge you.

BIDEN:  Let me put this: as that old joke, I know Al knows what it’s my heart.

MATTHEWS:  Did you like that joke of his?  “I assured Senator Biden I take a bath every day, I’m clean.”

BIDEN:  And then I told him there wasn’t anything historical about this.  We’ve known each other for years.  We’ve known—he’s known my involvement in the fight.  He knows I’ve been there keeping the Civil Rights Commission alive.

MATTHEWS:  Well, as they said in that old thing for the black states, here come the judge.

BIDEN:  That’s right.

MATTHEWS:  So we’ll have him coming on here.  Anyway, thank you...

BIDEN:  A piece of mercy.

MATTHEWS:  ... a good guy, by the way, Senator Biden, I’ve watching for him, a good guy.

 

 

 

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Comments

Now with all this so called respect that Biden has for Obama would he vote for Obama as President when Biden drops out of the race for President. I bet he wouldn't vote for a so called clean Black man to be President. What's in your heart always seems to come out your mouth. Obama has to give Biden an American history lesson of all the African Americans that have run for President. Why is it that our elected officials don't know American history yet people from other countries know it all.

Jackie Rawlings Riverside California (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 6:06 PM)

Instead of spending time on this, why don't you talk about Dick Cheney sitting right behind Bush, when he lied to Congress about WMD? Now that is something to spend time on!! This is nonsense!!

Bruce Maltz, Eugene, Oregon (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 6:10 PM)

I was disappointed that there wasn't any rejoinder from you or the other panelists when Lisa Caputo interpreted what Sen. Biden meant with his "complimentary" statements about Sen. Obama. She said that he meant to say what a great new personality and freshness that Obama brought to the table, then why didn't Sen. Biden use those phrases that Ms. Caputo interprets, rather than "articulate" for example. As a Black human resource director, I cannot count the number of times that whites have said to me, "but you're different, you are so articulate." This is not in any way a compliment. And if Sen. Biden is so in tune to the African American community as he states, then he should be aware of how condesending his words sounds to us in the Black community.

Vera Sims, San Leandro, CA (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 6:25 PM)

Waste of time, waste of time. It kills me that one of the best and proven candidates for President has to defend such innocuous remarks, while men, women and children die in Iraq and our country has lost its way in the world. Biden should tell the media to simply shut up and focus on what’s important. I bet he’d gain even more support if he did. This is just what the media wants: discredit a seasoned politician so that we can have a newbie like Clinton or Obama do the popularity contest thing next year. And then, you guessed it, get hammered by an average Republican candidate in November. Biden would be good, but the only Dem who has a slam-dunk chance to win is Al Gore. Will he run? Who knows. Would you when you have to put up with nonsense like this?

JC Flanagan, San Francisco, CA (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 6:47 PM)

Sen. Biden did apologize, and Sen. Obama accepted. It was clear that Sen. Biden was trying to speak about how we as a country have come to be able to accept a candidate, such as Sen. Obama or Sen Clinton. He is not going to be the Democrats' choice in '08 anyways, so this is making a story out of a non story.

Devon (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 7:09 PM)

What is truly ridiculous is that it depends on who says what as to how seriously the "offended" respond. Had this been a prominent Republican, he would have been tarred and feathered. Be honest - our overly sensitive humorless society is wearing on all of us, and makes us look quite silly to each other and the rest of the world. And while you are criticizing Bush and Cheney, listen to Hilary and Sen. Beiden's own remarks when our troops were sent - they all had their own sources, not just the Bush team, telling them the same things. We were all fooled - it wasn't a conspiracy, it was bad intel, and a misguided idea that we can somehow fix what centuries of fighting in the middle east could not fix. The middle east is doomed, they are all going to kill each other. Let's hope we are smart enough to get out of their way.

Paul F, Fresno, CA (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 7:19 PM)

Hi from Prince Edward Island, Canada I think Senator Biden should be more careful with his use of the english language. He tends to talk a lot and this can lead to the mouth over ruling the mind.

George Jordan, Beach Point, Prince Edward Island, Canada (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 7:19 PM)

give it up. every body with any common sense,or very little common sense knows what biden was saying. how mathews can take up time discussing this with biden,is absurd. another absurdity,is to think jessie jackson is articulate, must butcher the english language worse then me.i was hoping obama was above all this bs. but obviously after talking to advisers, obama had to release a statement, scoilding biden. i guess all politicans eat out of the same trough. and mathews we know your pretty smart. so just shut up. all your little corny analogies, are very tiring.

earl wirick (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 7:25 PM)

I think it is getting pertty petty when a person can't give an honest comment or compliment to another ( regardless of their color/gender/ or nationality with out getting some sort of flack and turning words around to mean something elce!! It seems as though some people enjoy "picking fly---- out of pepper" Oops, or should I rephrase that and say "white out of rice"?

Goldia (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 7:41 PM)

Chris Mathews beats this Biden subject to death, and we switch when he gets boring. Get off of Bidens case. And ease up on Hillary. We will continue with Chris because we like him.

Dorothy Van Doren Swanson (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 7:59 PM)

Telling the media tho just shut up and focus on what is important is what john Kerry did...he didnt get anywhere for doing that.

Randy, Madison, WI (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 8:02 PM)

Who cares...............liberals of all people, now want to hold Biden's feet to the fire for a comment which clearly was meant to compliment Obama....who by the way, has no relevant experience and will NOT win anything, let alone the Democratic nomination......best thing that can happen for Republicans is to see Bill's wife get the nomination because she will surely lose. I can almost guarantee that the next POTUS will be none other than brother John McCain..........and really the only one qualified to lead this country in time of war.

David, Miami, FL (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 8:07 PM)

When I heard Senator Biden's comment, I thought by "clean" he meant that Senator Obama had not been contaminated by the corruption in Washington, and when He said "articulate" he was drawing a comparison to our current President, not other black politicians. I guess if you are looking for something to take offense at, you can find it almost anywhere.

ilima, Makawao, Hawaii (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 8:16 PM)

His words speak for themselves. White people have used "articulate" for years as a way to separate out one group of African Americans from another. A one word euphemism meant as a compliment but received as a slap. It is seemingly innocuous but cuts to the core about what is in the heart of the one speaking regardless of the spin used in attempt to clean it up.

CP Clark (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 8:23 PM)

ummmmmmm ever thought that he is a person a person like all of us and sometime everything you say isnt scripted or thought about it just happens everyone does it i dont think he is a racist i think that he was just talking to him like he was a dinner table or a bar. To much media hype is what lags and slows down alot of things in politics were a person cant speak his mind and becomes a puppet in which the telleprompter and notecards writen by advisors gives us a view of who they are its rediculus. As a conservative you respect FDR when the country was in a bind but we dont want the country to become communist we just want a leader who will look out for the working man and not to be handing out money to people who dont deserve it. Go ahead and judge, I feel that welfare is a major problem which leaves inner city citizens to a life of dependence. I agree with giving scolarships, better teaching and conseling to poor citizens though giving them an advantage. Were I disagree is affirmative action which is assentaly racist. Main thing I'm tired of is politicains sitting on their hands. In Mass they shut down the building of wind farms in cape cod. Yes thats right the most liberal state wont help the people. All because of property value. THey also didnt pass the seatbelt law in mass which is mind numbingly dumb. They said minorities would get pulled over cuz of this.... OK so thay just said either "Minorities" are iggnorant or thier police are racist. Ok so i hate to say this but i would want Al Gore as best dem cuz if he isnt a idiot he'll bring the need for oil in public electricity eliminated. While probably ruining our forien policy and defence raising taxes i think the legacy he would leave would be worth it and end the bizzar practice of using coal, or gas for electricity when we can get it in a never ending supply.

mark power (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 8:32 PM)

It was a racist comment because it clearly implied that only a black like Obama who is half white is clean and the nice to look at. Tsk, tsk, Mr Liberal Senator! He wouldn't say that about 100% negroes like Jackson & Sharpton and others. White Liberals are the most racist of all!

Paul A Trouve (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 9:30 PM)

If the senators comments would have come from somebody on the right, that person would be blasted by the media, including our beloved Chris Matthews.

Bill Cunningham, NY. NY (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 9:40 PM)

As an African- American articulate female, I take no offense to Biden's statement. According to the Webster's dictionary, mainstream "is the principle or dominant course, tendency or trend. When you think of African-American dominant course, the first thing that comes to mind is Hip-Hop or Sports. Out of the mainstream African-Americans Obama is the most articulate, educated, and bright publicized person. Therefore, Biden’s statements are accurate. If we as a culture (black) had put more emphasis on mainstreaming educated blacks, these comments could have been deemed racist. Until then, there is some truth. Furthermore, I feel us as American’s pay to much attention to race. We need to get or priorities straight and keep the emphasis on our soldiers and what we are going to do about getting them home safely. I know right now the President is so happy that the pressure is off of him thanks to Biden.

H.A.M. Salt Lake City, Utah (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 10:03 PM)

What a liberal political backlash of bull....Sen. Joe Biden has always spoken his mind and said what he means and means what he said. He never intended this to be disrespectful to anyone. Sen. Obama would be better served if he used his carfully crafted attempt at political leapfrog an opponnet to those who are better suited to defend black history. Not those Johnny come latelies who bore the product of those who fought the battles.

JJ Johnson, Birmingham , ALABAMA (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 10:10 PM)

Another media hype!! or another "Its a racial thing"?? H.A.M. from SLC is right, need to keep our focus/attention on the bigger, real problems of the world...terrorism, economics,Iran, poverty,education,health care...

Chief Rob, Colorado Springs, CO (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 10:43 PM)

I think this is a clear indication of what liberals would call 'soft racism.' The implication I get from the statement is that we should all be surprised and happy that a black person is clean and articulate. If this statement had been made by a Republican senator, he would have been run out of town. But, since this statement was made by a Democrat, he gets a pass. Then he goes on MSNBC to do a "hardball" interview with Chris Matthews to rehabilitate himself. Bottom line, I think the guy is truely a racist and let his feelings known in an unguarded moment.

MG, Atlanta, GA (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 10:51 PM)

It's simply a conditioned reflex. It's an ailment that afflicts many politicians. The jaws went to work before the brain fully engaged. Anyone who is not blind can see that Senator Obama is a black man. Anyone who is not deaf can quickly conclude that he is articulate. The other accolades, well, one can only surmise that they started spewing out as his clutch began to engage. He forgot to mention a most important and salient point. Senator Obama is running before he gets a fat neck. Right?

Rick Rodriguez, Corpus Christi, TX (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 11:29 PM)

biden blows hot air all the time. this time he blew it at the wrong guy and HE is taking the heat. what goes aroung comes around.

Jim, KC MO (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 11:33 PM)

Enough all ready! Forget Biden...seems like a nice enough guy who, as he put it himself when speaking to Diane Sawyer, "needs to stop talking too much." He is inconsequential in 2008. We are a country being led by a dictator, in a war that can not end to our advantage, whose security is in worse shape now than on 9/11, who is no longer internationally revered, but rather looked upon as war-mongers and hypocrites and seem to be comprised of lazy, apathetic citizens who are fine watching their nation perish! The real story is the impeachment of Bush and Cheney! It's not about red or blue anymore...it's about saving this country. Let's stop this nonsense and do something before it's too late.

Corrine, Bloomfield, NJ (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 11:46 PM)

Can someone confirm whether or not Sen. Obama is actually an African-American, or a Muslim? I read that he was brought up in a Muslim school, his father was a practicing Muslim, etc. This isn't meant to condemn him in any way, only to clarify possible misinformation. I really have no opinion on the man as a senator, as I only learned of his existance about two months ago. But an arguement has sparked in my friend's office due to Obama's "Muslim Ties". Would anyone be willing to elaborate on that, please?

Kris, Louisville, KY (Sent Thursday, February 01, 2007 11:59 PM)

To interpet Biden's comments as racist is a bit racist in itself. Are we that insecure with each other. I'm so tired of the childish behavior we get from the politicians and the press. Our President says stupid stuff and has been given a pass for too many years. Other countries must shake their heads at all the stupidity coming out of America. Bring our soldiers home and spend our money on protecting our borders. We're sitting ducks. Bring back the middle class by spending billions of dollars on health care, fuel efficiency, job creation, etc., not on some unnecessary war.

Mark, Stockton, Ca (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 1:04 AM)

I know for a fact that Biden didn’t mean what he stated in a racial tone. I had an internship in his office and had met with him on several different occasions. He always would say to anyone no matter what race, if they talked in a decent and articulate matter that they were a “storybook”. He meant it as if they were a great role model and delightful to be around. Biden’s personal assistant was even a black guy just like almost every other person in his office. I don’t know about everyone else but I was raised only to comment on people that I knew and I knew Biden on a personal level.

Kourtney, Newark, Delaware (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 1:54 AM)

H.A.M, Salt Lake City, UT. Your message is right on. Race is not the issue. When is the media going to quit with all the non-sense of RACE RELATED ISSUES. FOCUS!!

JT, San Diego, CA (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 1:56 AM)

obama is articulate. this is in stark contrast to the "ghetto language" we are constantly bombarded with on mtv and vh1, on nba broadcasts, and many other media sources where blacks are represented in a less than favorable light. what biden said is very accurate. now, what didn't get said is that there are whites who are inarticulate as well. but, obama stands out because he is bright, clean-cut, personable and can express himself better than anyone else in the political arena, white, black or otherwise. biden isn't a racist. he's perceptive. and he was right in what he said. anyone who was offended by what he said about obama is seeking to wear a "victim" label. why have any empathy for those who willingly categorize themselves in such a manner?

mj, tallahassee, fl (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 7:03 AM)

just keep telling each other its bushes war,and the white witch will save us all. then we'll see how your wife or girlfriend looks in a burka. stay tuned..

dan..ok.. (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 7:21 AM)

When I think about mainstream black culture, I think about the three black women I work with who don't do their jobs, have multiple children, by multiple fathers, never married the fathers, and draw a government check. They eat at expensive restaurants, wear better clothes than I do, get their nails done and I know one who bought purses for her daughters that cost hundreds of dollars for Christmas. I think about the men who live with them and off government money. So yes Obama is a fresh black voice. He isn't harping on affirmative action (reverse discrimination)and other issues that favor blacks over whites. Why in the world does my child have to sit through two months of black history? Why is there no native american history or irish american history? Why is the NAACP not a racist organization and the NAAWP labeled a hate group? I think the NAACP should be sued for discrimination for excluding whites from it's scholarship funds. Here I am struggling to put my child through college and if he were black, we'd have free tuition. It's not right. Why are our prisons overcrowded with a majority of black inmates, costing us millons in tax dollars? Why is there so much black on black crime? Why would anyone chose to live in government housing? These are the things I see and think of when I think of mainstream black culture. The few who work and make something of themselves and raise families with values and morals are an exception to the rule.

R. Nickolson Birmingham, AL (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 7:43 AM)

Until we realize love from others will come only after we learn how to love ourselves, we're primed for those types of comments. Let's face it, glamourized drug usage, Black on Black violence and most important; the out-right disrespect of lifes lone creater(Our Women), make us an easy target! Let's work on self.

Coach K, El Sobrante, Ca. (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 8:39 AM)

This "he said she said" crap has to stop!!!We have an idiot for a president~our VP is a lying fool and people are up in arms about something Biden said. Who cares?? What about our Soldiers who are in Iraq~~fighting the BUSH war.Why aren't all of you bitching about that?? All this nitpicking is a waste of time. Does everything have to be racial. Get a life~~stand up and be counted. Our country is going down the toilet. Does anyone care!!??

Bess Moore granville il (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 8:45 AM)

In the last few years, race has become a divisive component in everyday American life. As an immigrant of African descent, the current administration had stalled my citizenship, and almost everywhere more people tend to stereotype my character, especially my name 'Mohammed', and I too attended a 'Madrasa' in Africa; by the way 'Madrasa' simply means 'school' in Arabic. Thanks to the media's distorted interpretation of the Arabic word 'Madrasa' more Americans are unaware of its literal meaning 'school'. Now, when people know who I am in my everyday life; they refer to me as 'different' a 'good Christian' an 'ideal' Middle Eastern American, and by the way I'm neither America nor Middle Eastern, but by virtues of my character, I am an American; this the country I know; this is my wife's and children's country of birth, but to this administration and its 'Patriot' agenda, I'm simply Mohammed, but wait take a look again and see the faces when they find out that I'm a practicing Christian, from the seed of an African Christian Saint, St. Augustian; add to that what I do for a living, a Professor of American Literature, and above all, I volunteer to give others the gift that was denied to me, thanks to the Patriot Act and its Nseers aftermath; I help other immigrants realize their dreams by passing the citizenship test. A couple of years ago, I assisted an old man to pass the test, so he can get back what he invested for fifty years; he wanted to become citizen so as to get his well-deserved social security retirement. Obama, you rock, you are the voice of the unheard and the hope of many. I would give you my vote if I had one, but for now, you have my prayers, God bless.

Florida (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 9:06 AM)

Joe Biden's comments were clearly racist. Those who think they were not are immuned to the fact that racism still exists in this country. There are two types of racism: overt and covert. Overt racism is when Michael Richards blatantly calls an African-American the n-word. Covert racism is what we have here. Those who think this statement wasn't racist have not had to endure years and years of people being "surprised" or "amazed" by their intelligence, or being told that they were "different" because they were so articulate. What this statement implies is that African-Americans aren't typically articulate, clean, or good-looking; and to let this comment slide is to continue to ignore the growing problem of racism in America as this country has done for so long. We need to begin to talk about the issue, not simply ignore it. One of the reasons why our country is in such bad shape is because we're so concerned about what's going on in other countries and in the world around us that we've lost sight of our own internal problems. Let's starting dealing with issues such as racism, the lack of adequate education in inner cities, the wealth disparity between whites and minorities, etc. instead of focusing on places and issues that we know nothing about and that are really none of our business.

James, Baltimore, Maryland (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 10:04 AM)

These phrases say it all: "There’s two ways to read that sentence." Everybody else is reading it wrong. "Then he got staffed up, right?" Leading the witness. "Here’s what I say to people." Again Leading the witness. Also how I have been defending you. "Your base, you can argue, is African-American." "That just seems like standard competitive politics to me." "I want you to say something I want you to say, which is there’s some new crazy standard out there that a politician can’t defend its position and take on the opponent." More leading the witness. "Every time I drive through Wilmington I think of that as your home base." You really live in a black part of town don't you. "a good guy, by the way, Senator Biden, I’ve watching for him, a good guy." Straight out endorsement. And a very racist comment: "Well, as they said in that old thing for the black states, here come the judge." If a Conservative host had said this the Dems would be screaming to have him fired.

Bob Snee, St. Peters, MO (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 10:22 AM)

There's always going to be someone,or something to be offended by in politics. I didn't like the comments (offended) but, I'm also trying to sift through all the "stuff" to find the real material of the person - sifting never stops. I've never seen a politician that has been 100% of anything gauged. That's the nature of the beast.

MetroMark, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 10:47 AM)

people PULEEZE! It was obvious he was talking no Washington scandals when he said "clean". Articulate is the first word that comes to mind when you hear Obama speak. I am black and I am tired of everyone being so sensitive to anything directed towards black people. Judge a person by their actions, not their words. Words can EASILY be misconstrued when 1) taken out of context, 2) involve ambiguous terms and 3) spoken without concern for the other 2 items...get the chips off your shoulders and let's fight the REAL battles like AIDS, crime, drugs, illegitimate children, etc. that are so rampany in our communities.

W Thomas, Conyers, Ga. (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 11:02 AM)

This is hysterical. Being articulate isn't a black or white thing. Bush is so inarticulate he borders on incomprehensible, Obama is articulate. Jesse Jackson is so inarticulate he borders on incomprehensible, Clinton was articulate. Big deal. Biden meant it as a compliment and I say that with full knowledge that I wouldn't vote for a Democrat in 2008, unless the republican's nominate Osama. Yeah lets have a real dialogue on race, should be hysterically funny since no one can say anything without bigoted, race baiting, charlatans like Al (I am responsible for suborning perjury)Sharpton calling them names.

JPW Worcester Mass (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 11:15 AM)

Racist Racist Racist....I am so sick and tired of the need for a racist filter to be on every single comment made by every single politician...Joe Biden is what America needs right now in my estimation, he is no racist nor was his commment in anyway condescending or should be perceived as being condescending and anyone who says something to the contrary is admitting that they have internal hang ups with regards to race. I am a black man and I would vote for Joe Biden over Hillary and Obama simply because he is the best damn candidate out of the three. He is one of the few that I think has the ability to truly unite aspects of this country that are already primed for unification. I think his very long oratory on topics expemlifies his willingness to think things through which is what we need right now. Regarding Obama and Hillary, one is just popular but truly an untrustworthy radical and the other is not time tested in a time where we cannot afford to gamble, if you know who I am talking about regarding each description, you are validating my analysis. We need a time tested candidate, from both parties, that is truly serious about the business of getting America back on track. Skip the politics, it is time for common scense, something most Americans have.

Van Fitz, Atlanta, GA (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 11:52 AM)

You know, it is to easy for everyone's comments to be taken out of context. What I am getting tired of is the labeling or separation that many seem to make between American and Blacks. I am a American, born and raised in the United States. I am not a African American. I'm sick of the media making this distinction because of race. You don't say White Americans so why African Americans? I've been following Biden I agree with a lot of what he says and stands for.

Curtis Brooks (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 1:56 PM)

I was stunned to hear Biden attacked for a "racist remark" when he described Obama as "clean." I heard the comment and it came through to me as meaning "fresh on the scene" or perhaps he is clean of any of big mistakes and history plaguing other elected officials. The thing is I never consider Barak Obama as "African-American." That is itself is divisive and I think he should just be proud to simply call himself "American." Hyphenation designations keep the color and race issue going. American only means one thing and that is not "color." The other issue I have is that Jamal Simmons, a Democratic strategist, can get on national t.v. and use the phrase "...I wasn't born a privileged white male..." and I don't hear anyone screaming racism. I think he is highly racist. So, why is Biden having to apologize..this is the presidential candidate strategy..and I can bet even money I know which camp fanned the flames on this one to rid the ring of one less candidate. Gee, did anyone think of that one..lets get on to the real business at hand. Finding a credible candidate to run this country.

Cheyanne, Houston, Texas (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 2:14 PM)

Let those of you without sin cast the first stone. It seem incomprehensible to me that we Americans agree to support the media wags who work lines of questioning comparable to the the manner of a lawyer on cross-examination, seeking to waylay the honest words of a genuine person speaking their minds in a forthright way. Compare the following for perceived integrity, perceived value of service to the public, perceived truth: Sen. Joseph Biden v. Al Sharpton; Biden v. Jesse Jr or Jesse Sr; Biden v. either Clinton; Biden v. George or Dick. The fortunate thing about this in the long run is that the values will continue to shine, not the utterance of a few words - whether properly or improperly ordered and spoken. As to Sen. Obama especially, the values should continue to shine under the light of any examination - he knows the values and the view from both sides - as one of the many children abandoned by his "rolling stone" Kenyan father, and as the beloved son of his white American mother; as a boy from the City of Chicago, and as a Harvard graduate; as a husband, father, and role model for ANY child in the world who wants to make the most of her/his time on the planet. Sen. Obama certainly possesses the intellect, heart, experience, and values necessary to make a difference independent of anything Sen. Biden or anyone else says about him. He is the rising star - watch his course across the years.

Jamie Tadsen, Peotone, IL (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 2:32 PM)

It must be tough to come up with something to discuss when you have a daily talk show. Why not discuss substantive issues rather than minor blips like this.

Javan (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 2:40 PM)

I did not see Joe Biden’s comments live till I heard the entire fuse the Talk Shows were making. Thing have been bad for African American since they were brought here to be sold as salves. But that was many many years ago. It would appear that it is not the African Americans who are crying the blue over this , but the Talk Shows trying to make a story bigger that life itself. Why would Joe Biden and Barack Obama not be allowed to work out their difference. Are they not grown men? Came close to calling them Big Boys, but that might make a story as well. It seems that the Talk Shows have to have it their way and only their way. I guess from this story, the idea of being a clean cut, hard working American is a thing of the pass. Has anybody asked and or listen to Mr. Obama. If he thinks or wants to be done with why not. The only things I saw wrong with the comment was that Joe Biden did not include Mr. Obama with the rest of the African community. So if indeed he insulted someone it was the rest of the African Americans not Obama. Come on guys go look for a real story and stop trying to make one up. Money in Iraq, Dead Soldiers in Iraq. Money in the Gulf Coast Money for a Fence Immigrations Welfare Just plain old lying. Tom Delay Foley Maybe you can not make a story here with out actually blame someone in Washington.

Richad, Texas, (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 2:53 PM)

When Lisa Caputo, during Thursday night's discussion, referred to Joe Biden as "intelligent," no one tried to claim that she was inferring that the rest of the members of the U.S. Senate are NOT intelligent! Joe Biden used words to describe Barack Obama that I, myself, would probably use to describe Biden. I can understand how members of the African-American community would be sensitized to the idea of a White American referring to them using the term "articulate" but, speaking as a White/Hispanic American female, I can assure you that in 2007 America, with half the population seemingly lacking a working knowledge of the English language, I use that term myself to refer to anyone who HAS one! (And BTW, I would NOT use it to describe every single member of the U.S. Senate!) It's not the 1960's anymore; race was simply an easy marker for not very bright people to latch onto at one time to distinguish themselves from people who were "not like them." These days, it's beyond being a Black-White issue -- it's those who consider themselves to be in the "Americana Mainstream" (read WASPs or simply acting like them, black, white, brown, or blue) vs. everyone else who doesn't quite "fit the mold" (read black, brown, Asian, Muslim, Jewish, African, or plain old ordinary white but with different views and opinions from those of the "real Americans"). It's not a Black-White thing anymore; it's those who used to consider themselves the arbiters of "good and evil," "acceptable and unacceptable," "proper and improper" in the world against all the rest of us who've taken to challenging their arbitrary and self-appointed authority. So far as the label of articulate vs. inarticulate goes, it's not a Black-White thing anymore either; it's an intelligent-stupid thing!

TJ, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 3:46 PM)

Senator Biden does not deserve all this criticism by the media. Even Senator Obama accepted his apology; knowing he meant no harm. They work together and respect each other. We should be thanking Senator Biden for all his hard work in fighting against this war mess of Bush's. He is a great Senator. Vi Rothermel (IL)

Vi Rothermel (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 4:49 PM)

When Chris Mathews kow tows to Al Sharpton, and refers to jesse Jackson as a great orater, it is time to take a sanity test. Both of these "Reverends" are nothing but racial racketeers. Doesn't anyone remember Tawanna Brawley vis-a-vis Sharpton, or Hymietown vis-a-vis Jackson? Does anyone remember how Sharpton referred to a white storeowner in Harlem as a white interloper or Jackson's support of the rape accuser at Duke Univ? If either of these men stand on the same platform with any of the contenders for the Democratic Presidantial nomination, it is an assurance that my vote will go to the one who pays no attention to them, be he/she the nominee of either party? As for being clean the way Biden referred to past Black leaders, I would say in the moral sense not the hygienic sense. As for Mathews giving the racial racketeer, Sharpton, time and exposure on TV, shame on him and also MSNBC.

Irwin Bialer, Monroe Twp., NJ (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 5:40 PM)

Yes Senator Biden....Obama is one of the good ones. Obama and Romney...articulate men and a breath of fresh air from the hot air in Washington today.

BP, Boston, Mass (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 6:14 PM)

I heard Joe Biden outline an exit strategy for our troops in Iraq at least six months ago. The plan was comprehensive and took into account the needs of each of the Iraqui factions involved.The plan called for diplomacy and compromise. Biden's plan made sense and seemed to truly address the issues.He is a seasoned statesmen with a great deal of intelligence and know how.The fact that he is plain speaking and willing to say what he thinks is an asset in my opinion.As far as his remarks being racist....bologna. Enough already. He's the kind of leader needs right now. Shame on the right wing media for jumping all over a non issue once again.Mr. "macaca" almost won his election in spite of his clearly racist and derogatory commments during his campaign to retain his senate seat.True, it got a lot of media coverage, but there is no comparison between the two events. My point is that if you have to disect and examine a man's comments under a microscope to find any latent racism in his words, there probably isn't any racism there.Biden is not a racist.

ursula (Sent Friday, February 02, 2007 6:54 PM)



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