January 31, 2007
Biden Calls Obama To Clarify
Joe Biden called Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) to clarify his "clean" comment to the New York Observer, Biden told reporters in a conference call this afternoon. Biden said Obama told him: "You don't have to explain anything to me. I know exactly what you meant." Asked to clarify his comments, where he said Obama was "articulate and bright and clean," Biden said he "really" regretted the word "clean" was taken out of context. Biden: "My mother has an expression clean as a whistle sharp as a tack, that was the context." As to the effect it might have on the African-American vote, Biden: "I have no doubt that Jesse Jackson and other black leaders ... knew exactly what I meant. We have a very, very long relationship. ... There will be no misunderstanding."
Biden said of the Observer piece: "I believe I was quoted accurately but they weren't meant to take shots." As for his Democratic competition, Biden: "I think they're all great. I think I'm better."
When it comes to fundraising, Biden said he came up with his goal by looking at the situation backwards. Biden: "You have to get through those first four primaries. It's clear not all of us are going to be standing after South Carolina. So I went backwards. .. I believe that all I need is $20 million to make my case in Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina." He added that if he wasn't standing after those four primaries it wouldn't matter if he'd raised $70M. He was also asked about Iraq: "I am the only person with a plan that can get us out of Iraq without our interests in the region falling apart."
Biden spoke to reporters for about 20 minutes before he had to leave to vote in the Senate. Most of the questions focused on the Observer piece. There were a few on Iraq and the upcoming campaign. As for his tendency to talk, Biden was asked if that could be a problem: "That will be for the voters to decide. I don't see it as a problem. You apparently see it." [EMILY GOODIN]
Posted at 02:41 PM
Comments
Could have been worse. Trent Lott praised an old man at a birthday party and...... Oh. Nevermind. that's a REPUBLICAN. Whole different set of standards.
Steven | 01.31.07 03:56 PM
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Wow this is so much better than saying an obscure word that can barely be construed as offense...Macaca anyone?
What a lovely double double standard. If Biden was a Republican he be in the proccess of crucifixation by the liberal media.
Joe | 01.31.07 05:20 PM
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Please give me a break. At least Biden says what he means. If he were Republican, all of these conservatives would be crying about the big, bad media being all over him.
Biden was complimenting Obama. Please, can we accept a compliment? Please??
Dan | 01.31.07 06:47 PM
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There is no controversy. The Right Wing neocons are manipulating the Right Wing Media in trying to CREATE a controversy because they assume everyone is as judgmental as they are! They also have fewer reasons to us the term, " Clean as a Whistle" since republicans are anything but!
E. Skyhawk | 01.31.07 11:02 PM
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If someone said I was articulate, I would take it as a compliment.
Jane | 02.11.07 07:26 PM
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Isn't this interesting? On April 26th, on an edition of Larry King live, Amy Holmes, A Republican strategist who also happens to be African-American refeerd to Dennis Kucinich as "suprisingly articulate". Wow, now that was an insult. But, it was okay apparently because she insulted a short man, not a black man.
Chris H | 06.02.07 03:45 PM
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Sorry, but what is kimerikas?
Jane.
sweeta-eb | 03.27.08 12:26 AM
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Sorry, but what is kimerikas?
Jane.
sweeta-eb | 03.27.08 12:26 AM
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Sorry, but what is kimerikas?
Jane.
sweeta-eb | 03.27.08 12:26 AM
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