(Jake Turcotte)
Biden’s supreme challenge: no gaffes
By Jimmy Orr | 10.02.08
Just like a football game (we confess, we overuse sporting analogies), the tailgating has begun in St. Louis in preparation for tonight’s historic vice presidential debate.
Historic for a number of reasons. But when you think of past debates, it’s mostly the one-liners or gaffes that you remember. Policy is important. But history remembers the sound bites.
Like in 1976. President Ford announced that there was “no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe.” This led Ford staffer Stuart Spencer to recollect:
“[I] was sitting next to [National Security Adviser] Brent Scowcroft in the holding room watching this. I heard [Ford] say it, and I didn’t think anything about it. Brent, in his style, punched me and said, ‘You’ve got a problem.’ I said, ‘What’s the problem?’ He said, ‘What Jerry just said about Poland. He means “emotionally.” . . . There are x-number of divisions in Poland.’ . . . I said, ‘How many is that?’ He said, ‘Some 240,000.’ I go, ‘Oh God, these are Russians, 240,000 Russians, and they don’t have control of Poland?’ I go out. By this time, [White House Chief of Staff Dick] Cheney and I were spastic.”
Who says Dick Cheney doesn’t show emotion?
Zingers
Fast forward to the legendary “You’re no Jack Kennedy” of 1988. Or Al Gore’s “lockbox” or 2000. Or Ronald Reagan’s response to a question about whether he was too old to serve.
“I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience,” he said.
These are what people remember.
And with Joe Biden and Sarah Palin entering the ring this evening, we may have just hit the jackpot. Who is apt to flub the most? As Tim Russert would say, “It’s too close to call.”
Palin’s media exposure
Every time Sarah Palin’s done an interview in the past month, there’s been a story. Rarely has it been flattering. This has been a major distraction for the McCain campaign. After all, Biden routinely shoots himself and everyone around him.
Stand up Chuck!
Some are innocent gaffes. Like when he asked Missouri State Sen. Chuck Graham to stand up at a campaign rally. A second later he realized that Graham uses a wheelchair.
“Oh, God love ya’,” he said punching himself in the head. “What am I talking about. I’ll tell you what, you’re making everybody else stand up though, pal. I’ll tell you what….. stand up for Chuck!”
Others are more odd, like his harrowing helicopter ride when he was forced down in Afghanistan. He always leaves out the fact that it was snow that forced him down, not a military attack.
Or when he announced last week that President Roosevelt went on TV following the stock market crash of 1929. The problem was FDR wasn’t President and TV wasn’t available yet.
With other gaffes, he appears to honestly think he’s saying the right thing, only to find out that he wasn’t. Like when he announced that he and Obama were against clean coal.
“We’re not supporting clean coal,” Biden said. “No coal plants here in America.”
The problem? Obama mentioned his support of clean coal in his acceptance speech at the Democratic National convention.
The little engine
You have to credit the McCain campaign. Try as they would to get some focus on almost - at one point - daily foibles by Biden, none of them got any play. Sarah Palin was just too much for the media to ignore. Both when she was a superstar and when the star was falling.
So, the Republican campaign tried again today. This time launching a new ad focusing on Joe Biden’s frequent misstatements.
Ready to lead?
“What might Joe Biden say at tonight’s debate?” the announcer asks. “Anything’s possible.”
Then the commercial cuts to a highlight reel of some of Biden’s fumbles.
- “I think I probably have a much higher I.Q. than you do” he says to a reporter.
- “You cannot go to a 7-11 or a Dunkin Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent,” he said to another reporter.
- “Hillary Clinton is as qualified or more qualified than I am. It might have been a better pick than me,” he said at a town hall meeting.
Time to be part of the deal
The announcer then asks, “And what might he say about his vote to raise taxes on those making just $42,000 a year?”
“It’s time to be patriotic, Kate, time to jump in, time to be part of the deal,” Biden says in a recent television interview.
Ready to gaffe?
After a reference to the “Stand up, Chuck” moment, the ad concludes with “Ready to gaffe? Yes. Ready to lead? No.”
How to stop Biden from screwing up tonight?
How to stop Biden 101
Democratic strategist Chris Lehane told The Vote that Biden needs to focus — not on Palin but on the viewers.
“Biden’s challenge is not to prove he is smarter, better positioned to serve or more experienced than Palin - as that risks looking patronizing or sending the exact wrong message to working class voters who get turned off by Democrats who appear to be looking down their nose at working families,” he said.
His goal is to ignore Palin and focus on connecting with voters sitting in their living rooms by making clear he is indeed one of them - an uncommon, common man,” Lehane adds.
Electroshock therapy
GOP operative Rob Stutzman enjoyed talking to The Vote about the propensity of a Biden gaffe: “My guess is they’ll have electrodes hooked up to Biden’s 20 pound cufflinks so they can shock him if he starts praising Hillary or discussing his favorite his favorite ice cream from the dining car on the Amtrak.”
Comments
3. Rue Dee | 10.02.08
Palin has already revealed her empty-headed-ness, so all that’s going to come out of her mouth is a bunch of stuff from her handlers.
4. Doug | 10.02.08
I’m more interested to see what kind of flubs, gaffes, and political faux pas Paulin pulls in this debate. With her oratory skills, she’s likely to make Biden look better than Barack. Biden might eat his shoe, but not before he eats Palin alive.
6. Jeb Jebadiah Jebberson | 10.02.08
Well I guess his gaffes will have to be less than when every time Palin opens her mouth. Her life is a walking gaffe. I’d rather Biden gaffe here and there, than say some of the gibberish that rumbles from Palin’s mouth constantly. His gaffe’s will be overlooked forever and eternity when standing next to the dumbest woman that ever made it in politics.
Dumbest ever, chosen by an equally dumb geriatric.
7. SueP | 10.02.08
Totally disagreeing with most of the pre-game chatter about the VP debate.
People don’t want a wonkfest: They want to back a VP choice who is both reassuring and relate-able.
Remember Biden at the Democratic Convention?
He moved the entire crowd to tears.
Because Biden has a personal story that is even more compelling than Moosey Mom’s story: His wife and and one of his children died in a horrific accident shortly after Joe won his Senate seat. There he was, a widowed, single father to his surviving sons. He wanted to quit the Senate. But others convinced him to stick it out, and he did, while famously making sure to take the train home from Washington DC every night to be with his family.
Sarah Palin tries to play the Hockey Mom card? Joe doesn’t ridicule her — he relates to her, and then plays the Soccer Dad card, with interest. Because Joe can point to his heroic efforts to raise his two older sons and be very proud of what a great job he did.
Palin? Not so much. Never mind Bristol’s pregnancy: Before that she was a truant and party-girl anyway. Apparently her older brother had quite a reputation for partying and drug use as well. For some reason, little Willow is trotted out at campaign stops instead of being sent to school - what the heck is THAT about? And passing an infant around during a speech? Awful.
A lot of the folks who defend Sarah Palin are all about “she’s a regular mom.” Well, Joe Biden just needs to introduce his history as an AMAZING dad, as well as a competent Senator…and Gov. Palin will be toast.
8. bryon bowers | 10.02.08
Biden might have to worry about misspeaking, but Palin has to worry about thinking. At least Biden is thinking the correct thing instead of saying and thinking the wrong thing.
9. TimL | 10.02.08
Try to find an example of Joe in a debate making one of his trademark gaffes. I don’t think he has ever F’ed up a debate.
When Joe has the mic and can stand around rambling non-stop for a lengthy period of time he makes some pretty hilarious gaffes. However in the time constrained debates he stays on task and gets his point across.
My only fear is that Biden’s superior understanding of … just about everything may make him appear over bearing when in contrast to the moron (who shouldn’t even be there) sitting near him.
10. Jerry Ulibarri | 10.02.08
I’m guilty of Biden style gaffes on an at least weekly basis. They do not affect my productivity, my effectiveness, or the respect I receive from my associates and friends.
I dare say, if I suffered from a dearth of critical knowledge anywhere as severe as Sarah Palin’s, I would be forced to change careers and consider leaving town; out of a sense of honor, if nothing else.
11. Patrick J. | 10.02.08
Joe Biden has NOTHING to lose tonight, period. Tonight’s debate is all about Palin ! Joe Biden is smart and charismatic. So what if he has stumbled here and there. Joe has nothing to worry about.
The above article was one-sideing and a waste of time. Sarah Palin will, of course, lay out the one-line zingers. If this were a stand-up comedy routine, she’d do quite well. But guess what? It’s not. We’re electing a president and vice president, not comedieannes with funny one-liners. I’m sure she’ll be quite entertaining. Perhaps, unlike McCain, she will WIN the Miss Congeliality contest — because after all, that’s all that she’s good for.
12. Altec Lansing | 10.02.08
Maybe Palin will come off better than expected, using Bush’s old trick: Have someone else do the thinking. See http://www.visualfuturist.com/bushiswired/
13. Donna Hughes | 10.02.08
Hmmmmm….If you are in a building, shaving or whatever, and someone lobs a shell in there which hits not far away, are you not being shot at? Perhaps not personally, but if it happened to make a direct hit to the spot you where you were located and you were hit, demolished, killed, is that not being shot at?
I can’t comment on the helicopter event because I haven’y heard Joe say anything about it recently, and I certainly wouldn’t trust anything said, coming from the other side. I knew when it happened that it was a snowstorm that forced them down. They were there for several hours. What sort of peril they may or may not have been in on the ground until they were picked up I have never heard, though somewhere I read that John Kerry said they were thinking about sending Joe out to fight the Taliban with snowballs. ;o)
14. Jon Peterson | 10.02.08
Who does not gaffe??? I guess it only happens that these people are in public life and that is the reason people know about them. Just think of your own gaffes, too. Everybody says something stupid most times.
I think the problem with Joe is that he tends to talk faster than he thinks. Sarah is outright uninformed. I cannot imagine anyone who would not name a newspaper they read on daily basis!!!?? Or any other supreme court decision that they did not agree with, especially if you are in politics.
15. george | 10.02.08
I was with McCain until he picked someone that is contrary to the principles of the founding signers of the Constitution. Everyone should read and understand the Constitution as if they were there at the time of final signing. Today the original expectations are in fact marginalized by ignoring the original expectations so that, today’s minimized expectations are accepted as the original intentions.
Just like in the past when people were kept ignorant so that the ignorant would follow directives. Today people are enticed to follow a road where they do not have to pay for their entitlements, because someone else has or will pay, all they have to do is to follow the shining path and ignore the Constitution and the work and turmoil of the original signers.
16. Adrian | 10.02.08
SueP, I’m glad to read what you wrote. The elitist label gets thrown around so much that people seem to forget that we’ve got more than just a bad year for republicans on the democratic side: we’ve got two incredibly competent candidates who have really amazing stories of how they got there. I’m SOOOO excited to vote this year.
17. tiredofdoublestandard | 10.02.08
A few questions:
1. Please explain to me what Joe’s mistake about the parpalegic audience member says about anything?
2. Did Joe say that he was shot at in the helicopter ride? No. So you have to make it sound like he did.
3. Did Roosevelt reassure the nation after the stock market crash? Where is the error in that statement?
Do you believe Biden is smart, well-informed and has spent his political career trying to help the middle class, not the rich republican elites? Isn’t this whole gaffe issue the “gotcha journalism” so derided by Republicans because Palin can’t respond to questions by audience members or by someone as unintimidating as Couric?
I think the independents and thinking middle class Republicans are finally seeing who supports them and who supports (90% of the time), tax cut for the rich, tax dollars to Haliburton etc. Bush. Its time to support people and small businesses - not Enron, Exxon, Haliburton etc. I think that there is now a lot more common ground between the Republicans who voted against the bailout and the Democrats than there is between them and the loot the treasury to protect my $60 Billion in executive bonuses for people who ran this economy into the ground.
18. ben | 10.02.08
Why is everyone tying Biden’s hands behind his back? I happen to find Palin quite arrogant and am turned off by her brand of elitism. From the beginning in her extremely partisan and condescending convention speech, she claimed to speak for all small town folk, belittled people trying to make their communities better, and suggested she is holier than thou. That attitude comes across every time I see her vapid smile and hear her almost-laugh as she tries to score political points. And she says the Left is elitist!!???
In her bumbling over-confidence, she reminds of the general in Pirates of Penzance…
I am the very model of a modern VP candidate
I know the holy plan–to nominate me head of state
I know the doctrines scriptural I can quote the laws–if biblical
From stem-cells, gays to pro-life, guns, in order evangelical.
I am very well acquainted with policies political
I understand affairs, both domestic and the spiritual
When it comes to banning books, I’m teaming with a lot of news
With many cheerful facts that I cannot share with you.
I am very well acquainted with creationist biology
We should supplement its teaching with biological mythology
In short, I know the holy plan–to nominate me head of state
I am the very model of a modern VP candidate.
I know where baby’s come from and how to lobby on the Hill
Though when it comes to teenage sex, I’m still against the godless pill.
I agree with Bush’s Doctrine, though not sure just what it’s for
And talked with Russia from my house with binoculars and semaphore.
I can build a bridge of funds from Washington to East Fork,
And know how to say “no thanks” but please set aside our rack of pork.
I can lift myself by bootstraps—be they John’s or Hillary’s
Then stand on shattered glass with shoes that are way too big for me.
In short, I know the holy plan–to nominate me head of state
I am the very model of a modern VP candidate.
19. bman | 10.02.08
What is sad is that all the GOP faithful seem to want from Palin tonight is to avoid making a complete fool of herself. Anything else will be seen as a “victory.” When did Republicans start requiring so little of their candidates? Has W. permanently lowered the bar?
20. Bruce | 10.02.08
Sarah has proven that she can do herself in. All Biden needs to do (and this may be a tough thing for him) is to shut his mouth and let her!
21. mike | 10.02.08
For all those who say Sarah has enough experience because Obama has so little I’d like to point out that experience is a neccesary but not a sufficient condition to represent a world power at a very difficult time either as VP or Prez.
The reason Palin makes the GOP ticket look like amateur nite at the improv is because she is poorly informed with apparently has little doubt that being better informed might matter. She assumes that Americans from the lower 48 will buy into her because of her evangelical credentials and homespun folksiness….Eight years ago it worked with “W” but I am betting that all but the most ardent evangelical conservatives wont fall for that again.
In spite of Obama’s inexperience he has demonstrated a depth of understanding of the issues nand created the appearance that he would act with a measured approach rather than the quick on the trigger approach reprise.. Issues and understanding of them actually do matter for our leaders after all it seems.
22. JustBeWatchin | 10.02.08
Hopefully Joe Biden WILL throw out a few zingers! At least he’s quick-witted enough to be able to do that. Sarah Palin on the other hand, has demonstrated time and again that she hasn’t got an independent thought in her head. She can mouth the party line, she can parrot the party talking points, but clearly she is not particularly bright. Personally, I would prefer a few more intelligent people in DC - we’ve had more than our share of twits.
Unfortunately, to paraphrase H.L. Mencken, ‘never overestimate the stupidity of the American Voter’.
23. D. Grant Haynes | 10.02.08
Mr. Orr:
You dismiss the embarrassing disaster that is Sarah Palin with one paragraph and then spend almost 1000 words reviewing all of Joe Biden’s alleged “gaffes”.
I find this unequal treatment of expectations about the vice presidential debate tonight to be most annoying, but as a long-time Monitor reader I do not find the story treatment surprising.
Monitor editors seem to belabor the issue in their attempt to always be “fair”, as well as always placate the Republican base (albeit it a Henry Cabot Lodge liberal one at heart) to which The Christian Science Monitor must play.
Any fair and objective observer, regardless of his or her party predisposition, knows after viewing Sarah Palin’s recent interviews that she is woefully unprepared to become vice president of this nation. She possesses less knowledge of current political affairs than most high school civics class whiz kids. Sarah Palin is embarrassingly ignorant in all things.
Sarah Palin is not in the same league even with Senator Joseph Biden, whatever his gaffes, and you know that.
Yet, you penned this piece of drivel on the eve of the vice presidential debate. To what end, Jimmy Orr?
You have annoyed me in this.
D. Grant Haynes
24. sofiko | 10.02.08
I cannot imagine any sane person who does not see McCain’s choice of Palin as an insult to American voters. Her shallow-mindedness and ignorance have already been fully exposed, no matter how the strictly orchestrated debate goes. And there is another reason why it’s ridiculous to call this debate historic as the author does: It will change nothing, the real question is whether America is ready to make the next step to self-destruction by electing John McCain, the Puppet of War, who will make us remember Bush with warm feelings. In addition, together with Palin, he will make America the laughingstock for the rest of the world: He thinks and behaves exactly like elderly Soviet rulers, ignorant, bad-tempered, and aggressive. If elected, McCain will be the American Leonid Brezhnev.
25. Patrick | 10.02.08
hey, Biden gaffs have this over Palin gaffs: his are entertaining. Her gaffs are just painful. I wince at about every 4th sentence that comes out of her mouth
26. J. Orr | 10.02.08
Hi Grant
Thanks for stopping by. I’ve also had complaints that I’ve been too hyper-critical of Sarah Palin..
Perhaps you should check these links out.
Cheers
http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/09/30/gotcha-palins-encore-performance-with-couric/
http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/09/29/palin-to-biden-bring-it-on/
http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/09/28/mccain-palin-letterman-and-snl-what-a-week/
http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/09/28/can-sarah-palin-survive-in-the-age-of-youtube/
http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/09/26/sarah-palin-still-not-ready-for-prime-time/
27. Alexandra | 10.02.08
For me, Palin is an aging “high school popular girl.” Lots of looks and perkiness, plus enough intelligence to maybe be elected President of the Pep Club or even Student Council. Uses her charm, and a quick wit to make up for lack of knowledge (remember, intelligence and knowledge are not the same thing). However, once out of the small pond (and governing a state of a mere 700,000 is, realistically, a small pond on a national level) those same tools are too dull to be effective. You have to have enough intelligence to acquire the necessary knowledge. Palin clearly is not interested in working that hard. She has made no personal attempt to expand her knowledge of national or international issues. I don’t know about you, but that’s not the kind of person into whose hands I’ll willingly put the future of my kids.
28. Dennis B. | 10.02.08
Wow. Talk about a bunch of Left-Wing Liberals here. This is the first time in my 70 years that I’ve ever heard so much concern about someones ability to be our president, and what a coincidence that all this criticism, sniping and outright vituperation should happen to be directed at a woman. So much for being liberal, eh? She clearly scares all of you to death.
Joe Biden is a worn-down political hack and professional debater. Nothing more. Unlike Sarah Palin, who has actually had the courage and character to run for and win administrative positions in government. She has more executive experience than the other three candidates combined and yet not one of you has a single kind word for this very talented and capable person.
No wonder I don’t have a single kind word for any one of you.
29. Scotty | 10.02.08
Ben @ 18 said: “…And talked with Russia from my house with binoculars and semaphore….”
That one just about killed me Ben 
I take my hat off to you.
30. Bobby | 10.02.08
Dennis B. @ 28:
This is the first time in 70 years that you’ve heard this? What about in ‘88? Remember Dan Quayle?
You know, 1988, a year after McCain, as one of the Keating 5, helped crash the stock market by letting the S&Ls make bad loan after bad loan.
31. J. Glass | 10.02.08
McCain packed up his tent and pulled out of Michigan today. His campaign is in chaos and our country is in financial chaos. Tonight’s debate is “Sarah entertainment” only. Perhaps Obama and his team of financial advisors (including the Oracle of Omaha) may be able to save us. Tonight the future seems bleak–and McCain simply is not up to the challenge. God help us.
32. JPM | 10.03.08
Dennis @ 28
“She clearly scares all of you to death”
You got that right! But for you to boil this down to sexism is just a convenient way for you to avoid addressing the criticism.
33. Martin Willis | 10.03.08
Biden did make a major gaffe last night– he doesn’t know where in the Constitution the vice-president gets her powers from. He must have missed that day in Con Law.
34. Will | 10.04.08
After watching the debate all I can say is… HECK. What a Gosh Darn debate. Ya know… you can betcha fer sure that all those Joe Six Packs and Hockey Moms watchin’ across the nation must feel Darn Right good about that performance up there. Heck, I’ve decided that goin’ to a game or maybe just kickin’ back with a sixer and Sarah is WAAAY better than just havin’ a beer with Dubya.
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. J,Jay | 10.02.08
The best Obama campaign can do is give Joe some milk of magnesia so he can excuse himself from debate.