How Neil Kinnock is affecting the Obama VP choice
Joe Biden, one of the early Democrat contenders for the Presdiency, is apparently under consideration for the VP spot. But according to Washington Post Online's The Fix blog, his chances are being hampered by his "tribute" to Neil Kinnock from over 20 years ago.
Plagiarizer In Chief
Way back in 1987, Biden was riding high in the presidential race -- widely regarded as a serious contenders for the Democratic party's nod.
Then Neil Kinnock happened. Biden borrowed passages of a speech given by Kinnock, a leader in Britain's Labour Party, without attribution -- a mistake that led to a detailed examination of Biden's public statements that turned up several more examples of potential plagiarism and resume inflation. The feeding frenzy eventually chased the Delaware senator from the race.
The incident has become the stuff of political lore -- type "Joe Biden and Neil Kinnock" into Google and more than 37,000 hits are returned -- even though those close to Biden insist that the actual facts surrounding the incidents are largely overblown.
Maybe. But, while any political junkie worth his (or her) name knows all about the Kinnock incident, it's a mistake to assume the average voter knows about it. In the words of one Republican strategist: "Old news inside the Beltway, new news outside."
That reality means that in every story about Biden done in the aftermath of his selection, Kinnock's name and the allegations of plagiarism would come up. It would complicate the desired flawless roll-out of the new ticket and could even raise questions about Obama's commitment to a new kind of politics.
Joe Biden, an inspiration to a whole class of youngsters taking exams. Perhaps Joe Biden is just another way of saying 'I need job'.
Posted by: Mad Max | 15 Aug 2008 19:14:51
What a coincident.
Why did Obama choose Biden to be his running mate? Is it just to square off with Afganistan.
They have Osama Bin Laden there. Now America must have Obama And Biden to take on Osama Bin Laden...
Great American
Posted by: Lei | 31 Aug 2008 10:18:01