Biden: ‘Average Americans Don’t Want An Average American President’
Biden: ‘Average Americans Don’t Want An Average American President’
Blasting Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) in a speech Monday, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said negotiating with Iran would make President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad “unlikely to abandon the dangerous ambitions that will have given him a prominent role on the world stage.” When Time’s Joe Klein pointed out that Ayatollah Kahmenei and the National Security Council — not Ahmadinejad — set Iranian foreign policy, McCain dismissed the important distinction, arguing that “any average American” thought of Ahmadinejad as the Iranian leader, and so he would, too.
Speaking with ThinkProgress yesterday afternoon, Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) blasted McCain for his “overwhelming lack of sophistication” when it comes to foreign policy, and said McCain, as a presidential candidate, should know more than “average Americans” when it comes to Iran:
I just think that it’s a reflection. I don’t want an average American as president. I have great respect for average — average Americans don’t want an average American president of the United States of America. I want someone above average. I want someone who knows what they’re dealing with. And it surprises me that John didn’t understand the complexities of the power struggle going on in Iran right now.
Watch it:
Biden argued the U.S. should exploit the rift in the Iranian leadership between Ahmadinejad and the theocracy, saying “a sophisticated foreign policy” would “take advantage of that division.”
McCain likes to claim that he has “the most experience” when it comes to foreign policy. But time after time after time, McCain has shown — in his own words — “a fundamental misunderstanding of the issues we face, particularly in the Middle East.”
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Oh, John McCain. *Sigh*
May 21st, 2008 at 10:58 amI don’t want an average American as president. I have great respect for average — average Americans don’t want an average American president of the United States of America. I want someone above average. I want someone who knows what they’re dealing with.
You got it right, Joe! We have been saying that for eight years!
May 21st, 2008 at 10:59 amI always thought that the President was something that we should aspire to, not settle for….
May 21st, 2008 at 11:01 amI want an elitist, principled, egghead for my President. And if he HAS to drink beer, let it be foreign. I abhor smoking but if that’s what he needs to get him through his day, then puff away.
Oh, and if he’s a left-handed basketball gym rat with a good crossover dribble, I’ll take that too.
May 21st, 2008 at 11:06 amGee….what a far flung concept. A POTUS with an above average intelligence. As we have found out, it is no job for a chimp!
May 21st, 2008 at 11:08 am**That’s right, the more “average” the better. They are much easier to manipulate and control. That makes it much easier to ram their neocon agenda down our throats. Looks like it has been working!
May 21st, 2008 at 11:08 amThis is not really even an issue concerning whether one is average or not. This is just a basic factual question that anyone with experience and responsibility for foreign policy should know.
The McCain statement really should be the basis for an attack on his qualifications. The response should be: Senator McCain, you are running on your knowledge and experience with defense and foreign policy. Are you honestly stating that you are ignorant as to how or foreign policy is set in Iran? Or was your statement to convey that you would ignore facts and instead base your decision making upon what you believe an average American believes whether they are correct or mistaken?
May 21st, 2008 at 11:10 amI want the guy who was first in his class at Harvard Law, not last in his class at the Naval Academy. I want the even keel, not the wife-abusing hot head. Think about it, you’re hiring whose resume says leader?
May 21st, 2008 at 11:11 amAt least the Democrats aren’t rolling over for the right wing lies this time around. Kerry’s vacillating before those odious swiftboaters did the party, and his candidacy, no good.
May 21st, 2008 at 11:12 ammoondancer:
Love your post.
May 21st, 2008 at 11:13 amI can’t understand why people would want the best surgeon available when they need open heart surgery, the best lawyer available if they’ve been arrested, the best players on the roster of their favorite sports team, but want just an average president.
I want my president to be the best, smartest, most talented person for the job. This means I want him to understand the issues that affect our way of life and the issues that affect the world better than anyone else. And I want him to be smart enough to come up with solutions to our problems while understanding their ramifications. I don’t want him to just be an “average” guy I could have a beer with (although if he enjoys a beer once in awhile, this is fine). Is this asking too much?
May 21st, 2008 at 11:14 am“… average Americans don’t want an average American president of the United States of America.”
unfortunately, they DID… hopefully they’ve learned that lesson…
May 21st, 2008 at 11:17 amBadmoodman Says
May 21st, 2008 at 11:06 am
And if he HAS to drink beer, let it be foreign. I abhor smoking but if that’s what he needs to get him through his day, then puff away.
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Nah, I’d still prefer he consume American-made goods whenever possible. There are a ton of microbreweries around this country that put out a decent product, and you can get anything from a light lager to a robust stout.
We don’t have any candidates who smoke that I know of. Obama is an ex-smoker who quit well over a year ago (a promise he made to Michelle when he decided to run for president). It’s my understanding that Michelle is offering some kind of bounty to anyone who catches Barack lighting up.
May 21st, 2008 at 11:20 ammisshusseinmolly Says:
I don’t want him to just be an “average” guy I could have a beer with (although if he enjoys a beer once in awhile, this is fine). Is this asking too much?
Well you did get a President who drives you into drinking… is that close enough?
May 21st, 2008 at 11:21 amOn average, Bush is well below.
On average, McIIIrd is far below.
On average, Obama is far above.
Thanks, Sen. Biden, for articulating above average.
May 21st, 2008 at 11:24 am#12: Obama is an ex-smoker who quit well over a year ago (a promise he made to Michelle when he decided to run for president).
– - I’ve read in the past that Obama sneaks smokes like Jed Bartlet used to.
May 21st, 2008 at 11:25 ammisshusseinmolly Says:
It’s my understanding that Michelle is offering some kind of bounty to anyone who catches Barack lighting up.
Interesting. I had not heard that. ‘Obama Mama’ is not someone whose wrath I would care to face. You just get this feeling that Michelle can take care of herself quite well…
May 21st, 2008 at 11:28 amMcCain dismissed the important distinction, arguing that “any average American” thought of Ahmadinejad as the Iranian leader, and so he would, too.
This is classic conservative smoke and mirrors where reality never enters the picture, only perseption. Sound like anyone we already know?
http://progressiveworldreview.com
May 21st, 2008 at 11:32 amI think most Americans are suckers for a candidate who they think they could sit down and talk to without feeling like they’re being looked down upon.
One would certainly hope though that along with a candidate being approachable that they would also be smart, educated and well-versed in foreign affairs. None of which Bush is.
May 21st, 2008 at 11:42 amTake 911 from Bush and what do you have? A one-term President whose approval ratings tanked and disapproval ratings soared. We’ve gotten there as 911 is further away in time.
Take his prisoner of war status from MCain and what do you have? A Senator who sold his principles to run for and will fail to achieve the presidency. We will get there as the campaign progresses.
May 21st, 2008 at 11:49 amGrampy McSame says – My friends back in the day everybody was average, yep, none of this elite above average stuff, if we found one of them we would throw lemons at them, yes sir, lemons, then when the lemons got hot in the sun we would step on them to make lemon pies, foreigners didn’t like lemon pies, so we would throw them at them, that was our foreign policy back then…I hope that is creamed corn and potatoes in my pants.
Grampy you should stick to shuffle board, not foreign policy.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:02 pmmary Says:
I think most Americans are suckers for a candidate who they think they could sit down and talk to without feeling like they’re being looked down upon.
One would certainly hope though that along with a candidate being approachable that they would also be smart, educated and well-versed in foreign affairs. None of which Bush is.
I think there is, unfortunately, a lot to this. My personal opinion is that a lot of people (or at least a lot of Americans) are not comfortable with people who are smarter than they are and for some bizarre reason prefer the idea of a president that they’d be comfortable hanging out with rather than one who is prepared to think through and deal with the complexity of governing.
How else to explain the popularity of a lunkhead like Reagan? Or the country’s rejection, years back, of a real egghead like Adlai Stevenson? Or, really, how else to explain the parade of real idiots sent to Congress every year?
May 21st, 2008 at 12:06 pmGunmitch says: My personal opinion is that a lot of people (or at least a lot of Americans) are not comfortable with people who are smarter than they are
Close…but I think it is much more complex. I think that there has been a focused pattern of propaganda fed to the American public by the right that equates intelligence to being a sissy…unable to act; unable to act forcefully.
It is a wedge issue of sorts and being used like religion to derail the American public from voting in their own best interests.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:20 pmHowever, the idiot 28%ers do enjoy having an idiot chympident.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:20 pmJoe Biden has never made a very good presidential candidate, but he’s a fine leader and a smart man.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:20 pmZimzone Says:
Thanks, Sen. Biden, for articulating above average.
May 21st, 2008 at 11:24 am
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Pun…. intended?
May 21st, 2008 at 12:26 pmGood point. There’s a real resentment among many conservatives against “intellectual elitism” (read: intelligence and contemplation). It ties into that “attack the strength” mantra they embrace. If someone’s intelligent, mock them for it. The logical extension of that is that you make stupidity a virtue. Hence, the Chimp.
Part of it is that, in general, the more educated one becomes, the more liberal their politics. Puts the Right wing in a real quandary — they can’t disparage the concept of “education” since that’s long been accepted as a cornerstone of a civilized people. So they do the next best thing: claim that “too much” education is bad for you.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:27 pmralph the wonder llama Says:
Good point. There’s a real resentment among many conservatives against “intellectual elitism” (read: intelligence and contemplation). It ties into that “attack the strength” mantra they embrace. If someone’s intelligent, mock them for it. The logical extension of that is that you make stupidity a virtue. Hence, the Chimp.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:27 pm
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In schoolyard terms, conservatives are the bullies who beat up the smart kids and take their lunch money.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:28 pmAmerica has been dumbed-down. They don’t know any better, and are uncomfortable with someone smarter than they are.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:41 pmMcCain is really emerging as a lightweight in the mold of fellow college legacy and under performer George W. Bush. This is indeed shaping up as a Bush third term run.
May 21st, 2008 at 1:03 pmDallasNE at 1:03pm
May 21st, 2008 at 1:56 pmThat has been my biggest concern about McCain, that Admiral Daddy and Admiral Grandaddy got the boy into Annapolis, much as Daddy Bush got lil’ Bush into Yale. Then McCain joked and partied his way to 894 out of 899. Bet the five guys who ranked lower were legacy appointees also.
Well spoken Mr. Biden
Hope he steps in often this campaign to debunk McCains foreign policy nonsense
May 21st, 2008 at 2:43 pmConsidering what we have had the past 7 years…
May 21st, 2008 at 3:09 pmAverage would be a hugh step up.