Joe Biden Rips Rudy For Having "Zero National Security And Foreign Policy Experience"
Last fall, Joe Biden famously dismissed Rudy Giuliani's campaign rhetoric as little more than "a noun, a verb, and 9/11."
So I thought it would be a good idea to check in with Biden again, now that Rudy's emerged as John McCain's lead attack dog against Obama's alleged weakness on terror.
Here's the best part of what Biden's office sent me, from Biden himself:
"It's no surprise that it takes a man with zero national security and foreign policy experience to defend the policies of John McCain and President Bush," Biden said.
"Sen. McCain insists that Americans must choose between our values and our security. That's exactly wrong. Our values reinforce our security. Our failure to live up to them has been Al Qaeda's biggest recruiting tool."
That first line is a good one that pithily gets at the heart of the matter here. To restate the obvious, the McCain campaign has made Rudy their lead communicator on matters relating to terrorism, but Rudy has no authority whatsoever on this topic.
Rudy has no foreign policy experience. His aura of national security experience comes solely from the fact that he hit the political jackpot by being mayor of New York on 9/11. The notion that he has any kind of counter-terrorism expertise is an illusion that flows from the countless pictures and video clips of him striding through the smoke and dust after the attacks.
Biden's full quote after the jump.
Late Update: Biden's statement was sent to others, too, it turns out. I wasn't the only person who came up with the idea of contacting Biden for comment, apparently.
"It's no surprise that it takes a man with zero national security and foreign policy experience to defend the policies of John McCain and President Bush. The facts are that the policies President Bush has pursued and Senator McCain would continue have not made us safer. We're bogged down in Iraq with no end in sight and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan -- the people who actually attacked us on 9/11 -- have regrouped and are plotting new attacks. In fact, terrorist attacks around the world have increased since 9-11."When it comes to Guantanamo detainees, Senator McCain has been all over the map. A year ago, he recognized that Guantanamo was a stain on this country and joined me in advocating that it be closed down and recommending that the detainees be sent to Fort Leavenworth -- where there has never been a question that they would have Habeas Corpus rights. Now, Sen. McCain insists that Americans must choose between our values and our security. That's exactly wrong. Our values reinforce our security. Our failure to live up to them has been Al Qaeda's biggest recruiting tool."
Comments (61)
nail his ass, Joe. is the McCain campaign really this tone-deaf?
June 18, 2008 1:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
yeah i never understood why rudy would even be considered as a serious opinion on foreign policy or the war on terror. rudy spent most of his time in office wear womens clothing.
http://sensico.wordpress.com/
June 18, 2008 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Biden's a bit of a loaded gun and dangerous for his misspeak potential - but I love that his no holds barred style. We need this aggression, particularly at this point in the campaign. Get 'em, Joe!
June 18, 2008 1:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent choice when you're doing things The Chicago Way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g0RLyxP13o
June 18, 2008 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
The more Rudy is the McCain spokesperson the better for us.
June 18, 2008 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now if only we could get a picture of McCain snorting meth off Rudy's ass.. Hmm..
June 18, 2008 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sometimes Biden sends a thrill up my leg :P
June 18, 2008 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
He'd make a good VP.
June 18, 2008 1:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great VP. Obama/Biden '08!
Anyone that Dick Cheney tells to "go fuck yourself" on the senate floor is a helluva guy.
June 18, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought that was Patrick Leahy, not Joe Biden.
June 18, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are correct. It was Leahy.
June 18, 2008 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd have a tough time forgiving Joe Biden for supporting Clarence Thomas. The final confirmation vote was a squeaker. A good case can be made that Biden's opposition could have swung the tide.
What an embarrassment and a destructive force CT is on the bench.
Oh, and as if you couldn't tell, yes, I do believe Anita Hill.
June 18, 2008 2:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I did also, but I think that whole thing backfired big time. No anita hill saga and I bet clarence "what's a constitution" thomas would not have been confirmed. THe hill saga wound up generating some sympathy for the putz, amazingly, and looked too much like a hit job.
June 18, 2008 2:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Doesn't Rudy's zero national security and foreign policy experience match Obama's?
If not, please let me know.
It seems an unwise line of attack.
June 18, 2008 1:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
No. Obama has served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee since his entry into Congress, and has chaired the Europe Subcommittee of the SFRC.
June 18, 2008 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
thanks!
June 18, 2008 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's my immediate reaction as well. Biden and any other surrogate should keep attacking Rudy on 9/11.
Biden's "verb, noun and a 9/11" was one of the most brilliant lines this season, keep the focus.
I, as someone who spent years of my childhood abroad, strongly believe Obama's life experiences contribute immensely in shaping his worldview, but experience is a pandora box. Also, it's stupid to make this election experience election. Obama has mastered the idea of change and surrogates have to be on the message.
Al Gore brilliantly pointed out the other day in his endorsement, why conventional experience is not a factor this time around.
Bad job Biden, but good intentions nevertheless.
June 18, 2008 1:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm right there with you.
But since TPM EC contacted Biden on their own idea, I guess it is fair to say that Biden isn't representing the Obama campaign, so to speak, and may be off message.
June 18, 2008 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I kind of see what you guys are getting at, but I think you're misunderstanding what he's saying. The way I read it, Biden was making the generally accepted point that when you formulate an idea/policy it's probably a good idea to have individuals with expertise and authority on the matter to back you up.
Remember McCain's/Clinton's gas tax proposal... when opposing (or supporting) such an idea, it's probably a good idea to have leading economists agree that your proposal actually makes sense.
In this instance, Obama has people like General Wesley Clark, Richard Clarke, Joe Biden, and others to back him. On the other hand, McCain has Rudy and Lieberman.
June 18, 2008 1:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with that.
That doesn't change the fact that when I read, "It's no surprise that it takes a man with zero national security and foreign policy experience..." I thought he might be talking about Obama, since that is the oft repeated declaration from the primary season, and now into the election.
But I understand.
June 18, 2008 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Greg, you're smoking hot today!
I love to listen to Joe Biden talk. But I never for a second forget that he is the senator from Bank of America.
;)
June 18, 2008 1:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I also love this memo the DNC sent out:
The DNC takes its shot at Giuliani with an e-mail with a title, parroting Joe Biden’s Greatest Debate Hits: “Rudy, ‘Noun, verb, 9/11’ Giuliani returns.”
“Democrats are not going to be lectured to on security by the mayor who failed to learn the lessons of the 1993 attacks, refused to prepare his own city’s first responders for the next attack, urged President Bush to put his corrupt crony in charge of our homeland security, and was too busy lobbying for his foreign clients to join the Iraq Study Group,” DNC spokeswoman Karen Finney said. “Rudy Giuliani, can echo the McCain campaign’s false and misleading attacks, but he can’t change the fact that John McCain is promising four more years of President Bush’s flawed and failed policies on everything from energy security and the economy to the war in Iraq.”
--------
HOT DAMN!!! we are not going to sit back and take any shyt in 08...lovin' it!!
June 18, 2008 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
thats why joe's my favorite pick for veep.
June 18, 2008 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
he hit the political jackpot by being mayor of New York on 9/11
Greg, that's ridiculously offensive. Giuliani didn't hit any "jackpot" when his city was attacked. It was a tremendously difficult time for him.
I won't, of course, say he handled it well. But jackpot it was not, political or otherwise.
June 18, 2008 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
needless to say, it was ironic -- it was a reference to the fact that the attacks made him politically
June 18, 2008 1:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I completely agree with Greg. Completely.
I haven't forgotten that Rudy contemplated actually doing away with the term rule and running for mayor again.
It did make his career - for about a year.
June 18, 2008 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
On a side note, Bloomberg actually commissioned a poll recently to gauge whether New Yorkers would be in favor of changing the term limits. It received a similarly negative reception.
June 18, 2008 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even now, when I look through the window as the 7 train whizzes past woodside Queens, or when I take the water taxi at South Street Seaport, or walk on the sidewalks near ground zero- I feel a thud in my heart. I love my city. I love New York.
But I agree, Rudy made sure he cashes on the tragedy, he found his own little diamond in the dirt. From subsequent inquiries (incl. 9/11 commission report) it's clear Rudy gets a F on his response. Also, ask 9/11 volunteers or firefighters their thoughts on Rudy.
Rudy shamelessly found treasure in the rubble. I agree and Greg 100%
June 18, 2008 1:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I mean Greg is 100% right.
June 18, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've got to stand up for Greg here, too. Wasn't Giuliani's political career pretty much in the toilet before being resurrected by 9/11? I don't live in NYC but I thought there was a lot of blowback about his divorce, etc.
June 18, 2008 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Greg's point is that it was the incident which catapaulted Rudy onto the National Stage...thus for HIM it was a political jackpot.
Greg is right...Rudy's sole claim to political fame was being Mayor when 9/11 happened.
June 18, 2008 1:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Had he not humped 9/11 on the campaign trail so often, I'd be more inclined to agree with you.
June 18, 2008 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
How's it offensive? Greg simply was being blunt. What if Giuliani was mayor of Philadelphia on 9/11?
June 18, 2008 1:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, hey! Watch it. Couldn't you pick another city and leave mine out of this? 3:15 in the afternoon and you just gave me a nightmare.
June 18, 2008 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joe Biden seems to genuinely dislike Rudy! Giuliani. It's awesome.
June 18, 2008 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
God, I love Joe Biden.
June 18, 2008 1:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
DOWN GOES Rotten Rudy!
June 18, 2008 1:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well Rudy is a terribly bad joke. All you have to do is run just one of the vids that are out there of Rudy in drag. My personal favorite is the ad he shot with the Donald.
June 18, 2008 1:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
I LOVE JOE BIDEN!!! VEEEEEEEEEEP!
June 18, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great job, Greg.
June 18, 2008 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Y'all are all wack calling for Biden to be veep. ;)
Obama needs a fresh face and a fresh name. Plus, as I keep saying - two senators on one ticket is a terrible idea.
As is a Republican- which I've also seen people post.
The veep thing mystifies me. I trust Obama to find the person he can work with the best and who will fill in his blank spots. Otherwise, I never think about it. I don't much care. I'm always surprised so many people do care so very much.
June 18, 2008 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agree on the biden vp point. I like biden, but he has major, major foot in mouth disease. Therefore, he would be dangerous for secretary of state. I say just keep him where he is so that he can pop off when he wants, with statements written by staffers to avoid foot in mouth.
June 18, 2008 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I think I'm so adament about Feingold because he was the first politician, and only until Obama, that I thought had real integrity, a message, was great to listen to, and admittedly, not too hard on the eyes. I guess Feingold was my first political crush, I'd love to mash 'em up with Obama, who's more of inspiration, but also a political crush of sorts. Of course I think the country would see the results of such a pairing as well.....
June 18, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Finally an election year where Dems are showing some backbone..... Somebody check Rudy's backside I think Biden's foot may still be lodged in his ass.....
June 18, 2008 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama/Biden '08
June 18, 2008 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rudi Giuliani did hit the jackpot on 9/11. It has made him a very wealthy man. Just look at the amount of personal wealth he has amassed since 9/11. Also, never forget, Rudi tried his best not to leave office when his term was up.
June 18, 2008 1:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly - said it myself upthread. He really contemplated asking the voters to overturn the term rule so he could run again.
All the Republicans got what they wanted from 9/11. It's hardly difficult to see why some people think they had a hand in it cause they have all made out like bandits from it - politically and many financially.
June 18, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Biden is often fascinating, but he does come across as a bit of a blowhard . . .
June 18, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
You can say that again - you can't shut the guy up once he gets started. And us older types also remember the fact that his presidential aspirations in 1988 ended when it was revealed that a campaign speech he gave was plagiarized from a British politician (I mean pretty much the entire speech). It left the impression that he was something of a phony.
All that aside, I do like his passion.
June 18, 2008 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oohh, embarrassing. We can probably assume that snafu was committed by a staffer who was promptly fired. But, you'd think Joe might've personalized it just a bit.
June 18, 2008 7:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
What I love is how profoundly deep the desperation must be in the McCaon camp to trot out Rudy as if anyone's going to listen to him seriously.
After witnessing the GOP "machine" the past 10-20 years or so, it's really amazing to watch it all come crumbling apart.
June 18, 2008 1:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dear American Voters, reporters and political professionals,
Hon. Senator McCain and Obama, besides each having many attributes and characteristics. The critical differences between the two of these presidential presumptive nominees are as under:
1. Presidential "Temperament and Composer".
2. Little Washington "insider Versus outsider" experience.
3. "Vision and mission" for our nation future rather than past.
4. American policies, " first U.S.A Centric" than any other country [ ies ] centric.
In my professional opinion Senator Obama leads in all above qualities.
Senator Obama and his administration along with congress will address all the critical current and future domestic and foreign issues, challenges, and opportunities in coming years.
Let us remember and recite following concepts:
" Family, Friends, Fellows, Faith, Funds, Foundation [s], Fun, with Freedom & Fairness and without Fear, Favor, & Failure" . It applies to every citizen of our Greatgrand Nation.
Please stay involved, stay engaged, and stay informed. Please do not allow any seduction, deception, and or confusion by some partisan media and leaders effect your vote [ Psychological Terrorism ]..
Yours truly,
COL. [retd] A.M.Khajawall
Disabled American Veteran
Forensic psychiatrist, Las Vegas
PS: Please talk about the " Presidential Temperament And Caliber " of our presumptive presidential Nominees.
Thanks.
June 18, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Akhajawall, great post. Every bit helps.
June 18, 2008 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Akhajawall, great post. Every bit helps.
June 18, 2008 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
A second Florida poll (ARG) has Obama up by 5 points.
June 18, 2008 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely brilliant, on-point, devastating line.
Makes me get a hell of a lot warmer to the idea of Biden being his running mate.
(I've never been against it, just thought others would be better, especially with Biden's tendency to talk before thinking. But lately, his counterattacks on McSame have been brilliant.)
June 18, 2008 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
For vintage Rudy (back in his US Attorney for the Southern District days, whereby he became mayor), you should have seen the stunt he pulled in '85 with Al D'Amato (another NY pol among the few who could give Rudy a run for his money as biggest jackass in town), with the two of them posing as crack buyers in Harlem. What a pair. There was news footage - it was back in the Permian Era, in terms of computer evolution (I mean, crack dealers communicated with beepers back then), but I wonder if there's video on You Tube or elsewhere...two fuckin idiots indeed. The only good thing you could say about either of them was that one of them was at least not the other.
June 18, 2008 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even though I agree with everything Biden says in this piece, he is a bit of loose cannon. I'm not sure it's such a hot idea to make personal attacks that might get the Republican base all riled up.
He's got a strong CV; judiciary committee, foreign policy, experience, knows the ropes in DC, etc. But his comments may be just a wee bit over the top, tactic wise. But then, that's Biden. Great resume, w/ personality issues.
June 18, 2008 2:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Biden once again hits the nail on the head.
June 18, 2008 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
absent Anita Hill, Thomas easily get 60 votes. Where Biden goofed was in not allowing the additional woman, Angela Wright, to testify. Absent her testimony - and she was in DC prepared to testify - Republicans were able to argue that the pattern one sees in sexual harrassers was not present, that it was just Anita Hill v Clarence Thomas.
Had Wright testified, even if the Republicans had tried to discredit her, it is quite probable that the three vote switch necessary to kill the nomination could have been achieved
June 18, 2008 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Somebody has to be Veep, and it isn't going to be Feingold or some big liberal, and it isn't going to be your favorite local politician who you think is really neat, and no, I beg to differ, they don't need a fresh new face. They have one very fresh face, what they need is gravitas. Biden is near the top of the heap.
You can't do this by finding a single down side, and then panicking, "Oops, he has this one imperfection so it definitely can't be him!"
June 19, 2008 8:28 AM | Reply | Permalink