February 1, 2007 6:30 AM

Another DUMB@$$ AWARD wiener

Biden Unbound: Lays Into Clinton, Obama, Edwards

DUMB@$$ AWARD wiener #517: Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE)

Mr. Biden is equally skeptical‚Äö√Ñ√Æalbeit in a slightly more backhanded way‚Äö√Ñ√Æabout Mr. Obama. “I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy, he said. “I mean, that’s a storybook, man.

I wrestled for some time with whether or not Sen. Biden truly deserves this DUMB@$$ AWARD. While his particularly offense may pale in comparison to most past DUMB@$$E$, I came to the decision that Biden’s a DUMB@$$ nor for what he said, but for what he did in losing sight of the fact that discussing race is a no-win proposition for a Senator with Presidential aspirations. Race really is the third rail of national politics, and a Presidential candidate puts his (or her) tongue on that third rail at their own peril.

Call me ignorant, but I really didn’t find anything offensive in what Biden said about Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL). I thought it was genuinely complimentary, if somewhat ham-handed and awkwardly presented. There’s nothing I can read into Biden’s words that seems even remotely racist or insulting.

Biden’s crime was in blithely and unthinkingly stepping into the verbal minefield that is the issue of race. Biden could have simply issued a nondescript, bland, race-neutral opinion praising Obama many admirable qualities…and no one would have taken issue. Unfortunately, Biden jumped in with both feet, and a statement that was issued with all sincerity and devoid of prejudice was left out there to be twisted by anyone and everyone with an agenda. Jesse Jackson, Rush Limbaugh, etc., ad infinitum, ad nauseum, have all weighed in so far, either implying indirectly or accusing Biden directly of being a racist…when there is no evidence available to support that accusation.

A politician with Biden’s experience in national politics should frankly know better. He knows that every word, tic, and expression will be analyzed for implied meanings, hidden agendas, or sinister intent. He knows that where none of these things exist, they will be made up if he supplies the media with anything resembling an unguarded moment. It’s sad, and it shouldn’t be this way, but it is, and Biden knows this.

Yes, Joe Biden knows better…and that’s why he so richly deserves his DUMB@$$ AWARD. Perhaps he can console himself with it when he’s out of the race by Labor Day.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on February 1, 2007 6:30 AM.

Ah, irony; thou art a Conservative Republican was the previous entry in this blog.

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