Dear Editor,
Senator Joe Biden’s selection as Barack Obama’s running mate is a surprise pick for many Guyanese New Yorkers who have been following the presidential race. Because Biden is a left-leaning ultra-liberal and from a state that is expected to vote Democratic, it is not believed that he would add anything major to a presidential ticket.
They were expecting someone from the deep south or mid-west of the country to ‘balance’ the ticket to make it more electable. Nevertheless, Biden does add to Obama experience, intellect, reputation, and respect from the international diplomatic community, all of which Obama needed.
Biden at one time served as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. That could be reassuring to voters who worry about Obama’s inexperience in national (especially in selecting judges) and world affairs.
Biden is a blunt speaker and very sharp in his remarks on any issue. He has been an active legislator. I am not convinced, however, he well enable Obama to win the presidency.
Obama was struggling in Biden’s state of Delaware where Hillary Clinton crushed him in the primary (over two to one) even though Obama was endorsed by Biden who campaigned for him. With Biden’s selection as VP, the team will now win Delaware.
I think Obama would have won Delaware easily because it is a state that traditionally votes Democratic.
Obama needs someone who can enhance his standing in about ten battleground states like Iowa, Ohio, Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, etc. It was the general consensus among political analysts and Guyanese I spoke with that Biden was not going to be selected because of his poor showing in two failed presidential runs.
But surprisngly Biden was the choice among a near majority of voters who told pollsters they wanted someone with experience to be Obama’s running mate, so Obama’s strategists must have felt it wise to go with the voters’ preference.
It is unclear whether Biden can bring voters over to win the critical swing states in order to garner 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. Biden has good standing among white blue-collar workers – a major weakness of Obama. If Biden can deliver blue-collar workers as well as older white voters, then the Democratic ticket will win the presidency.
The ticket’s biggest weak point is Clinton supporters. A fifth of them are still holding out and told pollsters they will vote for Republican John McCain because of the way the party and Obama disrespected Clinton.
Biden will have to use his charm to make up with those voters in order to steal the thunder from McCain, who wisely has been praising Clinton everywhere he goes. In the end, Biden may help Obama in Pennsylvania and Ohio and Clintonites may come over.
But Biden has to be careful with his words. Biden had run into problems with his political gaffes offending voters with ethnic remarks.
Indo-Guyanese I spoke with are not angry with him for making a prejudicial remark about 7-11 stores and Indians ,suggesting that they come to America and take over those stores. A large number of 7-11s are owned by Indians. Biden clarified that he did not mean to stereotype Indians as belonging in any trade but was simply extolling the virtues of Indians for having a knack for hard work wherever they settle in America. He also praised Indians for their contributions to America in engineering, medicine and computer technology.
Most Guyanese I spoke with like Biden because of his pro-immigrant position, but many are not convinced he will be elected Vice-President.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
Joe Biden is a SAFE PICK because he brings that balance to the ticket that allows voters to see the well-like Obama is supported by the well-experienced Biden and allows youths to go for Obama and the middle-aged and elderly to go for Biden.
Biden is also a safe picke because one of the reards/risks of picking a VP is in event of the incapicitation of the President. Can the person chosen to be VP step up and perform? Biden can!
That said, Biden is a surprised pick for Vishnu Bisram because he was hoping Obama would have picked Hillary; the same way he was rooting for Hillary to be the Dems’ presidential candidate. Bisram needs help with his biases he just can’t do a good job hiding even as he balances between pollster and letter writer!
Andy, you are on the money!
Andy… well said. Bisram is out to lunch on the issues of what Democrats want.
He should stick to teaching.
Where have you being hiding Bisram, if you are a political polster as you claim you would have seen Biden a mile away, based upon what he has to bring to the ticket of Mr Obama.
…… my comment is not in anyway in support of the disgraced author !,,,, to which i must reply ,,
Biden is not only a surprise pick ! he is the WRONG choice,,,,, which clearly magnifies Barack’s weaknesses,, in both judgement and administration ! how does living all over the globe at various stages of childhood prepare anyone to become the most important person on the planet ? ,, how does being the editor of the law review of the harvard journal prepare one for the affairs of the “globe” in the prevailing nuclear cloud that hangs ominously over the planet ,, each day ,,,,,, is my head in the sand ? u figure !,, those who now support Abama ,, do so at the peril of all others including themselves ,, the 200 + years of the institution known as the congress and the senate r going to have a field day with his inexperience………
Wanna BET, bgsny? All the history you know, and this is all you can come up with. Jfk was a Senator and a soldier; what experience did he have? Most of America’s Presidents read Law and so did Barack Obama. Abe Lincoln (one of Americas greatest President) served one term in congress before he won the Republican nomination and became America’s 16th President. A black man being president of the Harvard law review, and you called it nothing?
With who this country has for President over the last seven years and the current Republican nominee, Barack is over qualified!
Speaking about judgement, Biden is the right guy, barring Hillary! Nonetheless, I cannot stand hypocrisy and people who don’t think for themselves!
Obama Bin La Den?
What bothers me greatly is the question of what people really looks for in a leader. What helps one to determine a good choice? Eight years ago, GW was given the Presidency because Al Gore (who the Republicans lured into distancing himself from Bill Clinton) could not win his home state. Had he won Tennessee, Florida (and its third world habit of rigging elections) would have been a non issue. Four years ago, GW was re elected for a second term. All he and the Republicans did was create two wars and drove fear in the hearts of most Americans after 9/11.
Today, the Republicans are bringing their A game (fear) against Barack Obama. I believe he will prevail. I supported Obama from day 1 despite the naysayers. Whether he will practise what he preaches is left to be seen, but this guy can think on his feet, and he has a vision.
However, where Guyanese in NY are concerned, it should have been Hillary! Well, it is not, GET OVER IT! Voting for McCain is a continuation of the failed Bush policies which will make no sense to the Guyanese or Caribbean Community.
McCain is already forgetting his lines, for crying out loud! Why would we elect a President who may be another Reagan. In addition, Russia is asking for another war monger.
…. salient points ,, none of which is in support of the experiences that Barack has or lack of ,, to support his and,, sadly,, ur ego for a blackman to be president of these UNITED STATES ! 8 years from now would have given him a robust war chest with loads of experience,, to manage a global economy ,, along with the removal of fears abt global “peace,, stability,, and a lessening of the ” divide “,,
Reagan ,,, if u did not know,,, was the architect of a now united europe ! conversely ,, russia ,, is sending a message ,, to the US,,, for them to be sure of who they choose as the next president ,, think Biden can deliver the shrewd ” advice ” needed to keep Russia from expansion ?,, strong leadership in global affairs is mandatory for sitting at the top of the heap ,, not dependant on the advise for others ,, who will cloak their agenda when given or asked for….
the Barack “bubble” will burst as a result of variables that r not his to control ,,,,
and when they do we will b nowhere closer to the light at the end of the corridor ,,
i think it would be a stupendous achievement to have a blackman as president of the most important country on the block ,, be it Barack ,, or any of the many who are better qualified ,, than he is to be the man at the top of the hill ,, all people of colour ,, when a balckman is voted to be President of America will have found their place in the sun ,,, but don’t open a front for mediocrity ,, for the sake of the “prize”,,, perhaps you can make sense of this ………
” the delphic oracle said i was the wisest of all the Greeks,,, and that was because that i alone ,, of all the Greeks know that i know nothing.—- Socrates
Bisram. your information on the result of the Delaware primary is incorrect. Barack whipped her convincingly, he received fifty three percent of the votes while she received forty two percent. You can check it out on Barack”s website.
Another point of information Vice Presidential candidates do not always win their home states; Al Gore and JOHN Edwards did not win their states.
bgsbny, YOU ARE AN OLD STUDENT FROM CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL.
“COGITO ERGO SUM” LONG TIME NO HEAR ..I THINK THEREFORE I EXIST…
As wise as he pretends to be, Bgsbny is totally irrelevant!!!
He has no currency!
No clue!
BARACK WILL BE A BETTER PRESIDENT THAN GW BUSH..WHY NOT UNITE..
AND KICK THOSE CRAZY WARMONGERS OUT OF TOWN..
….Barack ! as a person hold my attn,, Barack as the next president ,, has my fears ! any fool can rationalise he will be a better President than l’il bush ,, what is not clear is his agenda ,, knowing he will b dependent on advisors ! which is the issue now ,, i say a silent prayer for him ,, when the likes of kennedy and the others ,, begin to play their music ! u think Kennedy left his bed at the hospital ,, where he was hooked up to tubes with needles ,, to come and tell the voters to vote Barack ,, cos he likes Barack that much ??????????????? wake up !
this is a country where a man ( jimmy hoffa ) went into a restuarant for lunch and never came back out ,, and has never been seen since ,, more to the point ,, we’re still looking for jimmy ,,
this country leads,, all others follow ……
bgsbny, how do you judge experience? Is age or intellect? Is it years on the job or is it leadership? Leaders do not need to have job experience to lead. If you needs an economist your employ one, if you need a soldier you recruit one. As a leader you need vision not experience. I can run a construction company and do not know how to operate a concrete mixer. Vision tops experience every day. Experience requires age, vision does not. Ask Bill Gates.
You sound like the Republicans, flip flopping on where you want to go on the issue. ” those who now support Abama ,, do so at the peril of all others including themselves ,, the 200 + years of the institution known as the congress and the senate r going to have a field day with his inexperience………”
Here is another line, “i think it would be a stupendous achievement to have a blackman as president of the most important country on the block ,, be it Barack ,, or any of the many who are better qualified ,, than he is to be the man at the top of the hill ,, all people of colour ,, when a balckman is voted to be President of America will have found their place in the sun ,,, but don’t open a front for mediocrity ,, for the sake of the “prize”,,,
And another, “Barack as the next president ,, has my fears ! any fool can rationalise he will be a better President than l’il bush ,, what is not clear is his agenda ,, knowing he will b dependent on advisors!” Which President don’t have advisors?
My understanding, though limited, is that you have a problem with a blackman being President of the most powerful country, experienced or not!
But then you posited that ” 8 years from now would have given him a robust war chest with loads of experience,, to manage a global economy ,, along with the removal of fears abt global “peace,, stability,, and a lessening of the ” divide “
Now, where do you really stand?
Surprising? To who? Thanks for being surprised for me Vishie Bhai. I was not surprised.