Barack Obama is viewed by many people, including me, as being short on experience. He likes to point out that he was wise enough to say the Iraq War is a mistake. That alone is not enough for me to expect he will be more than adequate for the job of president. To reassure me and all of us Independents, he selected Joe Biden as his running mate. It was a very good choice. Biden has the experience and wisdom that Obama lacks. I thought that Hillary Clinton would have been a better choice but the Bill Clinton issue apparently could not be overcome.
George W. Bush was viewed as a candidate with limited experience when he ran for office in 2000. John F. Kennedy faced the same challenge in 1960. So Bush selected Dick Cheney as his running mate because of Cheney’s federal government experience. Similarly Kennedy selected Lyndon Johnson in part because of his significant experience in the Senate. Of course there were other factors that motivated those VP choices.
The selection of Joe Biden to the VP slot on the Obama ticket was most certainly motivated by Biden’s significant senatorial and foreign affairs experience. The third reason must have been Biden’s speaking skills that will help in connecting with Blue Collar voters. Biden’s connection with “regular” people in the mid-Atlantic states will help Obama in winning votes there and throughout the mid-west and along the entire east coast. Perhaps the most important reason for adding Joe Biden to the ticket is he impresses me as someone who will say “no” to a President Obama.
I am almost sold on Barack Obama but I still need to hear more detail. Hope and Change are wonderful themes. It’s action that we need. Neither candidate has defined a vision or set of goals for this nation. As an example I want a president that will say he will work for energy independence within a specified time (the dreaded time line). Perhaps the debates will provide more clarity. I really don’t want to hold my nose when voting. I really would like to be whole heartedly behind one candidate.
Coast Contact 