Biden bides his time.

Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) had a rather inauspicious beginning to his quest for the Democratic presidential nomination.


In a critique of the Democratic field, he said of Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois: "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," he told the New York Observer, a weekly. "I mean, that's a storybook, man."


Just reading that excerpt would lead one to believe Biden was implying that it’s a first for a mainstream black man to be so polished. However, I had an opportunity to hear the audio of his comments. It was obvious to me that Biden DID NOT mean anything derogatory. Naturally, the liberal spin machine mainstream media was quick to leap to Biden’s defense. The overwhelming theme was that he should be given the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, Senators Trent Lott and George Allen (both Republicans) were not afforded that same courtesy.

But I digress.

To me, the biggest issue is the fact Obama being black is even an issue at all. It was obvious that Biden thinks very highly of his fellow Democrat senator. But couldn’t he have conveyed that without the phrase “first mainstream African-American”?

In his six years as Commander-in Chief, President Bush has appointed two African-Americans to his cabinet with very little fanfare. Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice were given the nod for cabinet posts based solely on their impressive qualifications.

If Obama is elected President in 2008, I would hope it’s because people believe he is qualified for the job.

But him not receiving my vote would be the same reason Biden would not – strictly political.