Tuesday, September 23, 2008

The Democrats' Joe Biden problem

And this is the issue I figured they'd have with him when they nominated him for vice president: he goes off the reservation and says things the campaign doesn't want him to say:

"Another case of Joe being Joe. The Delaware Senator took issue with an attack ad from his own side in an interview with CBS, telling Katie Couric that the Obama hit on McCain’s ignorance of computers and technology was “terrible.” The ad paints McCain as out of touch — and all but calls him ancient — but doesn’t mention that the Arizona Senator’s war injuries actually prevent him from using computers for an extended period. Asked whether he’s disappointed with the tone of the campaign, including the ad that Couric characterized as “making fun of John mcCain’s inability to use a computer,” Biden said “I thought that was terrible by the way. “I didn’t know we did it and if I had anything to do with it, we would have never done it.”

He tried to go back and spin the whole thing in a way to benefit Obama, but I don't think it will work. Naturally the McCain camp has jumped on these comments. It's a gift for any campaign--the Democrats' vice-presidential nominee criticizes his own running mate's ads! What a break for McCain.

And think of this, too: this is a mistake that Sarah Palin has not made, and would not make.
Discipline and focus are two important traits for any candidate for national office. Sarah Palin has them. Joe Biden doesn't.

UPDATE: Biden today is trying to backtrack from his comments.
I doubt it will help him much. Note that his defense is that he was "asked about an ad I'd never seen." Ah--so you'd never seen it. But you chose to shoot your mouth off about it anyway. Real good judgment there, Joe.