Right-wing reacts to Biden’s comments on Obama.
By on Feb 1st, 2007 at 11:45 am
Right-wing reacts to Biden’s comments on Obama.
Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh: “He says Obama is a clean black guy. I look at Obama and I see a clean black guy. What’s so bad, what’s so wrong about what he said?” Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol: “I think it’s a very clever move by Senator Biden.”
View Most Popular
Advertisement
What We're About
What We're Fighting For
What We're Fighting Against
Featured
Subscribe to the Progress Report
Topic CloudView topics sorted by popularity
Afghanistan
Bachmann
Beck
Boehner
Bush
Cheney
Civil Rights
Congress
Corporate Ethics
Dobbs
Economy
Election
Energy
Environment
Ethics
Fox News
Gingrich
Global Warming
Hannity
Health Care
Immigration
International Relations
Iraq
Justice
Kristol
LGBT
Lieberman
Limbaugh
Maddow
McCain
Media
Military
Obama
Palin
Pelosi
Public Plan
Race
Radical Right
Religion
Sports
Steele
Stimulus
Tea Parties
Technology
Women's Rights
Visit Our Affiliated Sites
Reports
In-depth studies on select topics
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.
ArchivesBlog Roll
Although I think Biden will not make it to be the right president,he is still more experienced than all of the candidates seeking the office of presidency. He talks too much sometimes,but I don’t think he is racist…he just didn’t put it right. His record for voting for women and minorities is solid. If he just quit running his mouth a little, he will be fine…
February 1st, 2007 at 11:52 amA water-carrier and a warmonger.
Seriously, Bush and Kristol? Why do people think their opinion is even worth listening to?
I hold no real opinion either way re: Mr. Biden’s comments, but can see how what he said would offend some… He has said some dumb things in the past, too… but having these two run to your defense??? Talk about “With friends like these…”
If I were Biden (and I’m not) I’d be telling these two to “STFU, I don’t need help ruining my campaign…”
But that’s what they (Rush, Kristol, etc) want now, isn’t it?
February 1st, 2007 at 11:55 amI look at Obama and I see a clean black guy.
Can’t get more racist than that!
I look at Rush Limbaugh, I see a dirty Oxycontin addict who illegally obtained hundreds, if not thousands, of his back pain reliever.
I see a lonely man who must go out of the country to aid in his ongoing erectile dysfunction.
As for Obama, I see a great presidential candidate. (what, Obama’s black? Huh, never noticed. And he has good hygiene? Well, good for him)
Biden, sorry dude, you won’t be getting my vote with your racial overtones
February 1st, 2007 at 11:56 amMy interest in Kristol’s assessment of campaign tactics by a Democratic candidate is as low as my interest in what our own troll, Urban Heat, has to offer about the same.
Rush’s kiss of Biden is a kiss of death.
February 1st, 2007 at 11:58 amWell, since Bill Kristol is ALWAYS wrong, Biden can’t have made a clever move.
Biden has the wrong kind of experience (sell out, weasel) to be President.
February 1st, 2007 at 12:01 pmI look at you, Rush, and see a clean, big, FAT guy. What’s so wrong about saying that?
February 1st, 2007 at 12:01 pmWhile I don’t think Biden’s comments about Obama were meant to be racist, nor that Biden is racist, it’s obvious that Biden has a tendency to shoot his mouth off at the hip. He does not consider the implications or cultural meaning that might be given to his comments. We’ve had 6 years of a POTUS mangling the English language and being culturally insensitive to what he says. I cannot, then, support Biden’s bid for the presidency. I can, however, continue to support him right where he is.
February 1st, 2007 at 12:06 pmTP – Amanda – the “I know Biden is but what are they?” isn’t working. Why are you persisting? Is there some agenda here?
How about some posts that fit the moniker “Think” and “Progress”?
1. How about Chavez and the Enabling law? Nothing progressive about incipient dictatorship.
2. How about the big Najaf gunbattle? Were the victims Shia pilgrims? Oops.
3. Rogue US A-10 pilots bombing British troops?
4. Wow isn’t Iraq crawling with Iranians all of a sudden – so they say? How far away is that second carrier group?
5. In Germany they would like to arrest the rendition-happy CIA
Hey five minutes on Buzzflash – hey they have comments pages too…hmmm
February 1st, 2007 at 12:11 pmThe GOP is filled with crazy bigots like Rush Limbaugh. Shame on all of them!
February 1st, 2007 at 12:11 pmPost 6 Liberal > lol I look at Rush and see his unclean mouth and a guy who probably has crab lice.
February 1st, 2007 at 12:14 pmWhen you take it in context, Rush, is pointing out the selective outrage of progressives. He made the comment in order to prove a point. Here’s a couple of quotes.
“Well, let anybody else say that, let me say that Barack Obama is a ‘clean black guy’, and watch how few seconds it takes for this to reverberate all over the place.”
“I knew that if I did it that way, I would become the story, “Limbaugh agrees with Biden,†and I would become the villain while Biden would get the pass.”
It looks like TP has gratiously made Mr. Limbaugh’s point.
February 1st, 2007 at 12:35 pmTerrytheTurtle. When you are right, I have to agree. Thank you.
February 1st, 2007 at 12:37 pmwhen i look at rush i see, “10 pounds of shit in a 5 pound bag.”
February 1st, 2007 at 12:41 pmWell DRxJ, you make a little sense for once. Yes Biden is racist, but when he said clean he might mean politically clean. As opposed to Jackson and Sharpton who ooze corruption like most Democrats.
I think the “illiterate†comment was even worse. While the Republicans have Rice and Powell (clean and literate), biden has not seen the same from African American Democrats.
ROTFL
February 1st, 2007 at 12:42 pmDang it Rush, now I’ve got that stupid song from the ’80’s running thru my head, can’t remember who did it….
February 1st, 2007 at 12:45 pm“I’m just a dirty white boy, white boy, dirty white boy……………”
I think the “illiterate†comment was even worse. While the Republicans have Rice and Powell (clean and literate), biden has not seen the same from African American Democrats.
ROTFL
Comment by Happy Guy — February 1, 2007 @ 12:42 pm
Thank you for pointing out your bigotry and racism.
February 1st, 2007 at 12:51 pmat least you don’t pretend to hide it.
Here is an Idea, Rush and Biden can both go to the local donut shop and discuss clean, attracive, articulate, black guys. That is if Biden remembers to bring along his “slight Indian accent” (Biden’s words “You can’t even go to a Dunkin Donuts or conveniance store in this area unless you have a slight Indian accent.”)
Face it folks, no matter how you paint the pig, this is not the first time Biden has made what could be called racially insensative comments.
If Rush is an idiot for possabily echoing Biden, what does that make Biden?
I think the term is “Selective outrage”
February 1st, 2007 at 1:00 pmI wonder what Rush would say if he were called a clean child sex offender who uses illegal drugs. Most of American gets that Biden has an old touch of the past when it comes to minorities. Why can’t Obama and all of us just be Americans for once. What an example to other countries when the US hangs on to the teachings of the KKK. I like just being called an American as all Americans are different races. Boy heavens looking better everyday. At least race wont matter what there and all the hater will be down below.
February 1st, 2007 at 1:03 pmBiden has admitted he mistated and did not intend the comment the way it was taken.
He was on the Daily show last night and Jon ribbed him over it. Took a lot of guts for Biden to appear on a show. Bidden said on the show, when he said clean, he meant as in fresh perspective, new ideas, etc.
From his voting record, he has a very good record on civil rights.
February 1st, 2007 at 1:08 pmLike the Kerry mistatement I think this is a bit exagerated.
old touch of the past when it comes to minorities
Strom Thurmond had an old touch of the past, too. Look what he was put through.
February 1st, 2007 at 1:09 pmRush sure is animated for a morbidly obese drug addict. That’s not fattist is it?
February 1st, 2007 at 1:20 pmComment by Wayne
I agree that I personally do not think that Biden was making a racist statement. The “fresh perspective” is exactally what I figured he meant by “clean”. Or maybe it was “Obama does not have a negative trackrecord that will come back and bte him in the ass.” And Obama is an attractive and articulate guy.
But Biden made the statement and there was silence. Bush and Rush echo the statement and there is outrage.
Think about it people.
February 1st, 2007 at 1:23 pmJoe, looks like Rush has your back. Lucky you.
February 1st, 2007 at 1:27 pm#15 Comment by Raven
That would be Foreigner
February 1st, 2007 at 1:50 pmhacker bob.
If Rush is an idiot for possabily echoing Biden, what does that make Biden?
You probably need to click on the Rush Limbaugh link at the top of the story before you call him an idiot. His whole purpose for repeating the Biden comment was to expose the selective outrage from progressives that you talk about. The more people blast Rush for his supposed bigotry on this topic, the more his point is being made.
People here are so entrenched in their ideology they won’t do it, but I would recommend that you actually read the Rush link before you comment. It’s pretty funny how predictable liberals are. When progressives begin to realize what’s happening, I imagine the posts on Biden’s comments will become as rare as an objective assessment of Rush’s program.
February 1st, 2007 at 1:55 pmFor once kristal is right about something. the senator from MBNA has been playing to the confederates for a while he clearly plans to run as a white southerner.
February 1st, 2007 at 2:02 pmtroll alert=escaped mental patient
sarcasm/OFF
February 1st, 2007 at 2:10 pmpaul, I read the link. I know what Rush was trying to do.
It worked, too.
February 1st, 2007 at 2:17 pmC’mon, Biden thought they was asking him about “Osama”.
February 1st, 2007 at 2:25 pmI don’t think there is a person on this post that wouldn’t agree the statements he made were at least inconsiderate and naive, at worst racist.
I’m sure that you are right, there is noone here with the objectivity to consider it. I listened to the show yesterday. Rush started the show by saying that he was going to repeat Biden’s comments in order to show how Biden will get a relative pass by the liberal media (and of course here) while he would be made the story as a bigot. Rush doesn’t agree with the Biden comment, before he repeated it, he acknowledged that it was an ignorant thing to say. Read the link. It is all there. By continuing to focus on Rush’s supposed bigotry, only proves you aren’t willing to consider what I’m saying. Image that every comment condemning his racism on this point (which was fabricated to make a point about progressives) makes Rush more credible. I challenge you to find the quotes (in context) and then convince me that I’m wrong. (I’m not, because I heard it all first hand). Is there one reasonable prog here that will read Rush’s comments and concede the point? (I would, if the roles were reversed).
February 1st, 2007 at 2:25 pmhacker bob. It will be fun to watch how quickly this thread dries up never to return. Thanks.
February 1st, 2007 at 2:28 pmYee-haw!
You all just keep posting all the hate and lies about my Democratic opponents.
I need’s all the helps I can git!
February 1st, 2007 at 2:30 pmFascism,
Your statement #40 makes the point for me. I am talking about the selective outrage HERE. This is the forum I am talking about. TPs selective outrage has been pointed out by their own actions. As well as some of the posters here.
February 1st, 2007 at 2:42 pmWel… I gotta admit that any praise from Rush is indeed faint praise at best. But, I’d like to at least share some of what I feel about the original comment by Senator Biden. One of the points he made which got lost in all the hoopla is that Senator Obama is “mainstream”. That is, he happens to be “black”, and he’s a fantastic “leader”, but he doesn’t fall in the typical “black leader” trap. Jackson, Sharpton, etc. are all “black leaders”. They really have no interest in the rest of the country, but only act as beacons for the community they support. To call Senator Obama “mainstream” is to acknowledge that his goals, vision and appeal are intended for everyone, and not just a portion of society. To my mind, Senator Obama is a everything that Senator Biden said, and he just happens to be black.
February 1st, 2007 at 4:37 pmit’s simple math-
appearance > the record
politics=middle school
sad-
can we talk about the issues now?
February 1st, 2007 at 4:44 pmI have been listening to Rush for awhile. I don’t agree with everything he says, just like I don’t agree with everything that is posted here. But I believe that liberals have successfully (although, unfairly) painted Rush Limbaugh as a racist, bigot, sexiest, and a homophobe. Rush is an admitted conservative, but as far as the bigotry; I haven’t seen it.
Think about this: Rush talks in front of an open mike (live) for three hours a day, 5 days a week. 15 hours X 50 weeks; 750 hours of live conversation a year for nearly 20 years. In all that time, think of all the controversy. Donovan McNabb, Michael J. Fox, Oxycontin addiction. I’m sure there are others, but the point I’m trying to make is this: Take any public figure and scrutinize 750 hours of live comments on contentious issues every year. There will be some comments that raise some eyebrows. I’m sure there are many in public life (Kerry, Biden) that would envy the relative freedom from the foot-in-mouth comments.
I have listened as Rush responds to callers that are minorities, homosexuals and, yes, liberals; Rush treats the callers with respect. He does not have much patience with liberal callers that are antagonistic, but I would submit that he treats those callers with more respect than conservatives get treated on this site.
If you insist on proclaiming Rush a bigot, you should probably listen to the show once. As a progressive, you probably won’t like what you hear, but just because someone disagrees with you politically, doesn’t make them a bigot. I am a conservative. I’ve never been to a conservative blog, just because I know how conservatives think and I’m not that interested. I have seen alot hear that causes me to rethink my positions. If you seek the truth, and you’re confident in your positions, you should tune in. If you’re afraid that Limbaugh is not the devil you think he is (and that gives you comfort), continue to insulate yourself with likeminded people here. But please consider; if it doesn’t kill you, it makes you stronger.
February 1st, 2007 at 4:59 pm(jeez, is paul finished worshiping his idol?)
Remember, he’s a wuss for his military deferment due to a polyp on his sphincter.
I’d give him the deferment just for his tremendously unhealthy body size and uncontrollable mouth!
February 1st, 2007 at 5:05 pmIts ok that Biden made a racist statement, after all he supports the blacks’ (and everyone else’s) right to choose.
February 1st, 2007 at 10:05 pmBiden did not say “Obama is a clean black guy.” If you are trying to do an accurate honest story, you don’t start out by mischaracterizing what someone said.
His quote was “I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American (pause) who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.”
Biden says, and it is not unreasonable to interpret, that the second part of the run on sentence was complimenting a worthy candidate, and were not race-related.
I’m sure this is much more fun for the right wing to whine about than the latest lies from the administration.
February 2nd, 2007 at 12:07 am“who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy”
That part of the statement is a subordinate clause. In English grammar that means the statement cannot stand on its own and must relate to the subject of the relative pronoun. The subject was described as “the first mainstream African-American”
It’s clear what he meant. he should think more carefully before patronizing his consitutuency.
February 2nd, 2007 at 12:15 am