From The Associated Press:
“I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,†he said. “I mean, that’s a storybook, man.â€ÂÂ
Sen. Joe Biden describing Sen. Barack Obama
These words have unleashed a whirlwind of controversy, but I believe it’s a tempest in a teapot.
Sen. Biden may have a long and undistinguished history of putting his foot in his mouth, but I find his latest controversial remarks innocuous and truthful.
If someone, especially a rival, described me as “articulate, bright , clean and a nice-looking guy”, I would be flattered. I would send a thank you note, along with a referral to an optometrist, to my rival.
These are the words that stand out, and the ones that got Biden in hot water: “THE FIRST MAINSTREAM AFRICAN-AMERICAN.”
Is Sen. Obama the first mainstream African American presidential candidate who has all of these sterling attributes?
I would have to agree with Biden, what other black presidential candidate has possessed all those fine qualities?
The Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton are often described as eloquent, but it would be more accurate to say that these gentlemen are blessed with the silver-tongue of a carnival barker. Jackson and Sharpton butcher the English language; they make George Bush look like an English professor.
Who is his right mind would describe Sharpton or Jackson as “clean?” The womanizing Jackson and the Tawana Brawley-defending Sharpton are buffoons and opportunists.
Shirley Chisholm is the only other mainstream black candidate that I can think of, and she was articulate, bright and clean, but she was no beauty.
Give Joe Biden a break, he was only speaking the truth. But of course, being a politician, Biden will now apologize, explaining that he didn’t mean to diss Sharpton and Jackson.
