Screaming about another gaffe by VP Biden does not shake his supporters up one iota

[Peacetrain]

You might think it does.. and wait for someone to say we cannot support him anymore because he says turns a date around etc etc etc.. I know, I know..

"Its Disqualifying"..

He has turned things around all his life.. and he will in the future if he is President.. it is what he does.. guess what ..most of us do the same thing.. we just do not have someone having a full blown hissy fit about it .. it just passes

[doc03]

1. I like Biden but he makes me nervous

about running for president. He already failed twice. I hope he doesn't turn out to be our Bob Dole.

[monmouth4]

2. I feel the same way, I will be very disappointed if he gets the nom. Nice guy and all, but..... n/t

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

64. No worries, Joe will not be the nominee... the writing's on the wall.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!! or
Elizabeth & Bernie 2020!!
Either way, welcome to the revolution!!!

[doc03]

105. They can't win the EC IMO. nt

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

108. But they can!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!! or
Elizabeth & Bernie 2020!!
Either way, welcome to the revolution!!!

[doc03]

121. You really think people in PA, MI or Wisconsin will

vote for them, good luck.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

122. Abso-fuckin-lutely!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!! or
Elizabeth & Bernie 2020!!
Either way, welcome to the revolution!!!

[doc03]

123. I certainly hope you are right. nt

[Gothmog]

125. I trust President Obama's judgment

Link to tweet

[Peacetrain]

5. Not a bit worried.. he will either get the nod or he will not..

I hope to GOD he does, because he has the experience we are going to so sorely need to bring the government back together..and honestly doc3 he has always been like this.. he is who he is.. the crazy thing is everyone is gaffing but people are obsessing on VP Biden.. so be it..

[doc03]

13. I will vote for whoever the Democratic mominee

is but to be honest the others are too far left for me.

[DUar17]

49. What? "others are too far left for me"

IMO Their are too many Republicanlites around as it is.

[LakeArenal]

126. Lots of Democrats are more centrist.

[Thekaspervote]

68. +1000

[treestar]

84. When he is running against Orange Himmler gaffes won't be

a big deal as the Dotard makes far worse and far more.

[gldstwmn]

93. How will he do against Romney?

People need to seriously consider what happens if Trump isn't the nominee.

[Ferrets are Cool]

42. This

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

56. Very nervous... just a little too shakey, we can do better.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!! or
Elizabeth & Bernie 2020!!
Either way, welcome to the revolution!!!

[Sugarcoated]

119. Well, crooked Don is no Bill Clinton

Joe was VP and is very popular, and now that Americans have watched witnessed the horrific mess, Joe's even more popular. He can win and will win Pennsylvania, and very likely other rust belt blue wall states.

[doc03]

3. He makes mistakes but Trump just blatently

lies about everything even if it doesn't matter.

[DrFunkenstein]

4. Silencing Dissent Before The Iraq Invasion Wasn't a Gaffe

Cozying up to the credit card industry and their lobbying efforts to grant them their wish list on bankruptcy wasn't a gaffe.

I could go on, but I like Sen. Biden. It is just that his establishment politics have outlived their shelf date. I hope he retires with dignity and his reputation in tact.

[Peacetrain]

11. Go forth and go on.. his reputation intact??

please.. his reputation is just fine.. he has the great gift of a long career.. and in that long career people can see how he has moved along and made changes.. why do you think people support him.. its for his experience .. what he has learned and the differences he has made..

[griffi94]

18. I think a lot of his support

is simply name recognition and that he's associated with the Obama administration.

[Peacetrain]

20. It is past labor day.. name recognition is nothing now.. it is when

the campaigns first start up.. but once you hit labor day before the primaries and caucuses.. people pretty much know who the candidates are.. since there are so many this time.. even I cannot keep up with all of them.. but the top 8 everyone knows.. people are starting to stick their flags in the ground for who they plan to support..

[griffi94]

25. Yep, Labor Day was last Monday.

I won't be wearing White again til next Spring.

[maddiemom]

45. Then you'll be safe if you run into "Serial Mom,"

[lunasun]

51. ++Yep better not be wearing white again til next spring just in case

https://m.

[maddiemom]

109. Thanks...for the great catch!

[Thekaspervote]

69. EW & BS both have excellent name recognition

[griffi94]

75. Bernie Sanders does

Elizabeth Warren is starting to. Her debate performances have really helped. She's been gaining momentum since
the first debate.

[YOHABLO]

102. Exactly, people think they'll get 'Obama 2.0' and that's ridiculous.

[griffi94]

107. Agreed

Time only goes one direction. I'm all for moving forward. That's why I'm supporting Warren in the primary.
I think a solid progressive is the best option.

[DrFunkenstein]

23. Learned? He Learned That He Should Have Opposed Bush!

And, rather than admit a mistake, simply pretends now that he was "immediately" against the war.

At the start of hearings before his committee on July 31, 2002, Biden stated, “One thing is clear: These weapons must be dislodged from Saddam, or Saddam must be dislodged from power. If we wait for the danger from Saddam to become clear, it could be too late.”

And a full year after it became apparent that Iraq didn’t actually have these weapons or weapons systems, Biden insisted that he still didn’t regret voting “to give the President the authority to use force in Iraq. I still believe my vote was just.”

Despite arms control analysts and former U.N. inspectors informing Biden that Iraq had achieved at least qualitative disarmament, Biden continued to falsely claim “everyone in the world thought he had them.”

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

65. Joe can try to rewrite history, but he's not gonna fool anybody.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!! or
Elizabeth & Bernie 2020!!
Either way, welcome to the revolution!!!

[SMC22307]

72. *THIS* Funny how anti-Iraq War DU has shifted because of Hillary and Joe.

Wait, no it's not.

[DrFunkenstein]

76. Imagine What That $3 Trillion Could Have Paid For

Not funny haha.

[gldstwmn]

96. Health care, climate change,

Gun buybacks...

[SMC22307]

97. Healthcare, infrastructure, green energy, education...

it makes me ill to think what might have been.

[treestar]

104. You can never prove how Warren would have voted

had she been in the Senate then. That was much nearer 911. The entire country was obsessed with terrorism.

[griffi94]

17. His support of a bankruptcy bill

that favored credit card companies is hard to forget.
I don't really hold it against him, he's an old school centrist, corporate friendly Democrat.
There was a time when that worked. That time has passed.
That's why he didn't cancel the fundraiser with the gas company founder. He's not trying to pull a fast one,in Bidens heyday
all big donors were courted.

[Peacetrain]

24. Put up an op on your concerns... you will get feedback from all sides..

the credit card companies were housed in Delaware.. and he was the Senator .. and he and Warren went at it hammer and tongs. but he is not running for senator right now.. he is running for President and he has the experience to get us back up and running.. is he perfect.. hell no.. but he can do the job that needs to get done better than anyone running right now..

I am not looking for Jesus.. nor a saint.. I am looking for someone who can actually handle the mess they are going to be handed in 2021

[griffi94]

30. I'll happily vote for him

If he's our nominee then he has my vote.
In the primaries however, I'll support someone more progressive whose positions
are more in line with my views.

[Thekaspervote]

70. Great points!! Thx for posting

[Demsrule86]

27. Ancient history...and people still get bankruptcies pretty easily...my sis got one last year...

I would like to see student loans made easier to get rid of in a chapter 7...there is a way but very difficult. But we have to win the presidency, the Senate and hold the house to fix anything which is why I support Biden...like the guy. But I like all the candidates...he can win and help with the Senate IMHO.

[griffi94]

32. The fall of Rome was ancient history

The bankruptcy bill was less than 20 years ago.
On it's own, it's not a deal breaker, but I'm supporting a more progressive candidate in the primary.

[Demsrule86]

117. It is not a deal breaker...and people still get bankruptcies thanks to Sentors including Biden...who

put language in their that makes it possible ...online courses and that is it.

[Kahuna7]

50. Indeed they are still easy to get. I got one in 2014. I had to take

2 online counselling courses. No biggie. I've reestablished my credit since and have a decent credit score.

[Demsrule86]

116. Same with sis.

Hers wasn't medical either...pure running up credit card...over extended...paid of my debt and sis has better credit than me...go figure.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

66. That one REALLY burned me up!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!! or
Elizabeth & Bernie 2020!!
Either way, welcome to the revolution!!!

[treestar]

87. Who are your Senators?

What have they done for your state?

[treestar]

86. Aren't you mad at Elizabeth over the medical device industry then?

Do you think Senators are supposed to think of the entire country? They are specifically tasked with representing a state.

[griffi94]

95. I stated straight up, that on its own, it's not a deal breaker.

So no, I'm not mad. I'm not mad at any of our candidates.
Biden is a centrist, corporate friendly Democrat. If he's the candidate, I'll vote for him.
I'm supporting Warren in the primary because I prefer a candidate that's more progressive than
Biden. Biden is down near the bottom of my list of preferred nominees.

You're argument about senators not thinking about the entire country and being specifically tasked with
supporting the state is pretty weak.
People in Delaware file for bankruptcy just like people in all the other states.
If what you meant was he voted for a bill that favored a particular industry that happens to bring a lot of money
into his state, then shouldn't senators from fossil fuel producing Red states get a pass for being pro-fracking or pro-coal?

[treestar]

103. No it's very strong.

A bank employed many Delawareans. People care more about that and usually think they are not going to be the ones filing for Bankruptcy. They have a job and consider themselves to be living within their means. Not all people filing bankruptcy are sympathetic. It could be illness or accident but it can also be improvidence. And for the same reason, Elizabeth is no better for voting in favor of what benefited employment in her state.

And the centrist corporate stuff is getting really boring. Save that for Republicans. And corporations are not evil to most people. People want jobs and they know business has to thrive for that purpose.

[griffi94]

106. Oil companies employ a lot of people

in Texas and Oklahoma. That doesn't negate the negative impact of fossil fuel.
Who decides which people filing for bankruptcy are deserving of sympathy? You.

Biden is a centrist corporate friendly Democrat. It's not an insult. It reflects his career. In his heyday
that worked. Times have changed and in the primary I'm supporting Warren whose policy positions
I find more appealing.

[treestar]

110. So her position on medical device corporations

is not "corporate?" Is that "appealing?" Why isn't she getting the "Establishment" "corporate" treatment for representing a state's interests? And I do expect OK and TX senators would be "establishment" and "corporate" when it came to the oil and gas industry. People care about their livelihoods.

[griffi94]

111. Which part of "I prefer her more progressive policies" are you struggling with?

You seem to want to play some kind of "But What About" game.
Warren isn't getting painted as an "Establishment or Status Quo" Candidate because she hasn't been in
Washington since 1973.
I like Biden fine. He's too centrist to be my first choice.

[treestar]

112. You're changing the subject

The bankruptcy bill was so bad and so "corporate." That was the point you were making. If you just "prefer" her policies then you would not have to put Biden down for things she did too. Or at least if you are going to put other candidates you don't prefer down, don't use things your candidate has also done to do it.

[griffi94]

114. Go back and read it again

My point is He's too centrist and corporate-friendly for my tastes. The bankruptcy bill is an example of that.
I didn't put Biden down at all and in fact, have stated that if he's the nominee, then I will happily vote for him.

I've also said multiple times that being a centrist, corporate-friendly Democrat was not an insult. It's an accurate
description of his 30+ years in the senate.

You seem to not like being disagreed with, to the point of starting an argument where there isn't one. I haven't ripped on Joe at all.
You also seem to be having an argument with yourself on my behalf.

Joe is great. All of our candidates are great. My preferred candidate is Elizabeth Warren.

[Demsrule86]

22. Oh please...the Senate had no desire for dissent...we were crushed in the next

election...lost Max Cleland and other good people. The public supported the war ...Bush sold it. The Senate voted overwhelmingly to approve Iraq. Now I voted for Kerry and for Clinton both who voted for that war. At least Biden had the sense to realize it was a mistake pretty early. If that is all you got...and I hope it is because I don't think Sen. Warren can win a general, it will be President Biden.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

58. I agree with what you say about Joe's "establishment politics"... it's outgrown its usefulness..

if it ever had any. We need a progressive platform that shakes up the status quo, not moderate incrementalism... we need Bernie & Elizabeth, an unstoppable team that will guarantee victory over the Nazi-in-Chief.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!! or
Elizabeth & Bernie 2020!!
Either way, welcome to the revolution!!!

[treestar]

85. I don't understand where your first one comes from but

The Republicans are going to be a lot more for the CC industry than Biden and as President he would not have to cater to the State of Delaware. I live here and at the time Maryland Bank was a huge employer. Before that it was DuPont and he would have been justified in cozying up to the chemical industry. Elizabeth catered to the medical device industry. That's what their job is when they are Senators, so why should it be held against them - it just proves they are loyal to their constituency and as POTUS, that is the entire country.

[gldstwmn]

94. Don't forget the NRA...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. Gaffe.

A gaff is a stick with a hook or barbed spear, for landing large fish.



A gaffe is a French word meaning clumsy remark. The historical etymology of the two words is apparently the same ("hook" ), but the gaff/gaffe gaffe is starting to get on my nerves. Also getting on my nerves is belaboring the gaffe meme about Biden.

[Peacetrain]

12. I went back and forth about the spelling and then settled on gaff.. well that one was wrong

thanks

[griffi94]

7. I'm fine with Biden

I'd suggest that pointing out his gaffes isn't intended to shake his supporters huh?
It's to give all the people who are not already committed to him something to think about.

[wasupaloopa]

8. I have nothing but respect for Joe Biden. But he is not my choice.

The gaffs are controversial, but it could be his thing and some of us do not know him that well.

People talk about Kamala Harris seemingly with authority yet they only know her since she became a Senator

[Peacetrain]

16. You know if you have some good information

to share about Sen Harris, that we do not see generally.. you should do an op.. there are a number of Harris supporters in here.. I know I love it when I read stories about VP Biden that others post

[wasupaloopa]

26. I was a Hillary supporter in 2016. We were hunted here

and shit canned for months. I could not post on DU for 3 months during summer.

We had our own web site were we could talk to each other about Hillary. I am bitter toward Bernie and his supporters.

But that is the past yet I don’t want those feelings again. I am going to lay low this time except for Bernie. I am doing what ever I can to get him to drop out.

I told his campaign that directly when they texted me.

[Demsrule86]

28. I hear you...I remember it well...and you were not the only one who took a time out.

[Peacetrain]

31. Oh my god I know what you are talking about.. I was O'Malley and he did not make it out of Iowa

So I went to HRC.. and was literally chased out of here.. which is funny in a weird way, because 8 years before, I was an Obama supporter and the Clinton people gave me so much hell I left for a few months.. its just the way this place is..glad you came back!!

[treestar]

113. and the same old "corporate" "establishment" garbage

leading to "the parties are the same" crap which is clearly untrue.

[Demsrule86]

118. same old same old...and wanting candidates who will never win the electoral college...the map

is easy to understand...posted it many times.

[mn9driver]

9. But his emails!!!

Oh, wait. That was the last front runner democrat. My bad.

[Peacetrain]

15. yep.. I have thought about that more than once

rofl

[PoliticAverse]

10. You can tell when people really don't care about something - they don't post about it. n/t

[Peacetrain]

14. ha ha ha.. NT..

[Gothmog]

19. "Voters just don't care... they think that he's an honorable man..."

Link to tweet

[Peacetrain]

34. I was posting to someone earlier today, that VP Biden had been around so long

and a lot of people saw that as a down side, when it is actually his saving grace.. they can look at his total record. and see how he has moved along .. and he has made mistakes, and come back.. and it is that long record or what he has done, how he has grown that they feel secure in who they are voting for ..

[Kahuna7]

21. We don't have 45 years of what Joe has been doing. If we did, we

would get some facts wrong too.

[Peacetrain]

33. Hand to God.. I was in my mid 30's, and I forgot the name of my first cousin

I spent a week with her name completely blocked .. for whatever reason I could not bring her name up.. her husband, brother extended family.. their children's names.. no problem.. but my cousin.. nada.. nothing.. I was sitting and drinking a up of coffee after about a week and her name came to me like a lightening bolt.. so yeah I have a lot of empathy for VP Biden.. been there done that and got the t shirt..

[Kahuna7]

35. Bernie doesn't make gaffes because he limits what he will say...

to his narrow collection of policy positions (without much details). In other words, he's scripted. The minute he's asked to go off script, he blows a gasket. He only wants to talk about what HE wants to talk about.

[Cha]

37. ..

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

61. Thanks for the good laugh... Bernie consistently speaks eloquently on ALL subjects.

Bernie doesn't commit gaffes at an astounding rate because he knows who he is and what he believes.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!! or
Elizabeth & Bernie 2020!!
Either way, welcome to the revolution!!!

[Kurt V.]

36. yes. Psychologist have studied this for decades. jk. hehe

[Pepsidog]

38. Good post

[pnwmom]

39. No one thinks it will. But it could affect people who don't yet have a favorite. nt

[liberal N proud]

60. Yeah, yelling helped he eliminate one candidate

But that happened 4 years ago.

[cynatnite]

41. Biden has been gaffe prone for years...

Guess you could say I'm accustomed to it.

Doesn't bother me a bit.

[philly_bob]

43. Biden's not my #1 choice, but I ignore all the guff about gaffes.

It's snarky, petty.

[bigtree]

44. the fact that he hasn't nailed this down is why it's still a thing

...yelling at people reporting, or ridiculing them isn't the solution, does nothing.

The bravado is wonderful, but this is becoming a theme of his candidacy.

[radical noodle]

46. It's the same way they worked to tear down Hillary

Say something often enough and it starts to stick. It could be expected from Republicans, but it sickens me when it comes from Democrats.

[JoeOtterbein]

47. The same goes for the feelings of Bernie supporters.

I don't understand why supporters of other candidates are so negative about Bernie, when it just makes his supporters more positive about him.

In fact I'm sure the same applies to all our great Dem candidates.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

48. Gaffes are disqualifying

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

62. If not disqualifying, certainly concerning... imagine if Bernie was making several gaffes a day!

Then, oh boy, look out!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!! or
Elizabeth & Bernie 2020!!
Either way, welcome to the revolution!!!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

67. I'm sure if Bernie started speaking gibberish the Washington post would be fine with it

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

73. hahahaha!! yeah riiiight!! No doubt, everyone here would be fine with it too!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!! or
Elizabeth & Bernie 2020!!
Either way, welcome to the revolution!!!

[Thekaspervote]

100. But he does!!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/128725971

Video clip at the link

The Incredible Irony of Bernie's Attacks On Joe Biden

It is amazing to see the various threads attacking Joe and boosting Bernie by focusing on Joe Biden's age and alleged gaffes. Of course, the media narrative that is pushed is that Biden makes more gaffes than other candidates.

Of course, these attacks ignore that Bernie is older than Joe Biden. Moreover, Bernie makes just as many gaffes and mistatements as Biden, but they are ignored or explained away because they just don't fit the narrative. For example, can you imagine what would be running 24/7 if Biden did what Bernie did a day ago:



Yet, you see no mention of this while various threads on Joe's age or gaffes get repeatedly boosted.

I can understand if folks have disagreements with Biden's policies, but it is surprising the degree to which folks rely on attacks that simply repeat the false narrative that Biden is more gaffe prone than any other candidate.

[treestar]

88. Then Dotard would not be President

[brooklynite]

52. Point to an incident of "screaming"...

[Tipperary]

57. Ha!

Perfectly put.

[DrFunkenstein]

53. "Predators on the streets...without any conscience because they literally have not been socialized"

In 1993, Biden described a "cadre of young people, tens of thousands of them, born out of wedlock, without parents, without supervision, without any structure, without any conscience developing because they literally ... because they literally have not been socialized, they literally have not had an opportunity."

Biden defended the 1994 crime law as a whole in a 2016 interview with CNBC, saying, "By and large, what it really did, it restored American cities."

It was not his rhetoric that was an issue for me. It was his policies. The same with going to bat for credit cards giants against bankrupt families. And refusing to give allow dissenting voices to be heard before handing the invasion keys to George W. Bush. Biden's role in legitimizing the 2009 military coup in Honduras.

I could go on. I want Biden to retire in dignity, but he is not the way forward for the Democratic Party - not for the many gaffes his dignity, but precisely for the very "experience" he is touting.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

63. So true... Joe's moderate incrementalism is not the way forward for the Democratic Party...

We need a progressive agenda that will inspire the base to turn out... we need Elizabeth & Bernie to team up if we want to guarantee victory and whip the Traitor-in-Chief's ass!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!! or
Elizabeth & Bernie 2020!!
Either way, welcome to the revolution!!!

[crazytown]

54. But does it tire them out Peacetrain?

Almost every week, having to explain what the candidate was thinking? In the twitter/video bite age, musing about Candidate Obama being assassinated, creates a lot of extra work to the campaign.

[cwydro]

55. Did something else happen?

Been taking a break from news media.

[Joe941]

59. I like beden but he is concerning me.

[SMC22307]

71. No one is "screaming."

And while I'm at it, no one's "hair is on fire," either.

Try again.

[Gothmog]

74. Joe Biden still bests fellow Democrats on electability, polls show

Link to tweet

[DrFunkenstein]

79. In DECEMBER 2007, Clinton Bested Obama in Electability By 59% to 16%

https://abcnews.go.com/images/PollingUnit/1063a3The08Race.pdf

It is only September and I don't think Biden should start enumerating those chickens. I certainly wouldn't make it the central argument for my candidacy.

[aeromanKC]

77. The attack on Biden's so called gaffes by the Right, Left and Media has only increased my support

For Biden!! Go Joe!!

[EveHammond13]

78. yep. maybe they should focus on the positives of their own candidates

but they don't for some reason.

[awesomerwb1]

80. Not on the Biden train

But I can tell you it pushes me to him every time the bernie fanatics post something derogatory about him. It's the usual 4 or 5 all the time people as well. And their sources.....

[LonePirate]

81. This seems familiar - a politician with unwavering supporters no matter what.

[USALiberal]

98. +1000! nt

[treestar]

82. Hehe what's the latest?

Did I miss one or are we still talking about the soldier pin story?

[Thekaspervote]

99. Actually I think you're about 5 stories behind.... who can keep up??? Ridiculous isn't it??!!

[aikoaiko]

83. Sometimes these thing take a while to build up.

And Joe keeps on giving critics more ammunition by speaking.

[gldstwmn]

92. They should pay closer attention then.

Denial isn't pretty or productive no matter what side of the political aisle it's on.

[emmaverybo]

101. Amazing, this is all they have. Decades in politics, a high-profile and powerful

VP, and this is it. This, occasional gaffes, is the shining center-piece of their criticism.

Pathetic.

You go Joe.
The world needs you.

[elocs]

115. Congratulations on using "iota" because it's hard to work that into everyday conversation. n/t

[Act_of_Reparation]

120. I'm not worried about his supporters.

Supporters support. That's what they do.

I'm worried about his could-be supporters.

[Gothmog]

124. Joe Biden's appeal actually isn't a mystery

Link to tweet

Biden shows reverence for the most popular Democrat around, former president Barack Obama; others find fault in everything from the Affordable Care Act to immigration policy. Biden does not bombard voters with a torrent of multi-part plans; he gives them a few basic positions and defends them. Biden does not campaign from the neck up; he campaigns with his heart on his sleeve. Biden is deeply optimistic; his opponents think Americans are the problem, not Trump. (I don’t suggest that his opponents are wrong, merely that their stance apparently isn’t as popular as they thought.) Biden wants normalcy plus reform; his opponents want a peaceful revolution. Biden knows people want to be heard and seen; his opponents (with the exception of Sen. Kamala D. Harris) don’t fully grasp this. They want to “help," to pepper people with ideas and a to-do list, while Biden takes the time to listen to them. (Think of the well-meaning friend who has a thousand suggestions when you are grieving and you’d rather they just shut up and commiserate.)

This is the grouchy-white-guy-in-the-diner problem all over again. Reporters are blinded by their own age, background, education and geography. Instead of going to West Virginia diners to find the Trump voter, reporters should go talk to the residents of The Villages in Florida, the African American churchgoing ladies and the buttoned-down professionals in the affluent suburbs (the Romney-Clinton voters). These people have endured a noisy, offensive and intrusive presence in the White House. They don’t necessarily want a different noisy, intrusive presence — even one they agree with on substance.

Part of the “mystery” of Biden’s appeal would be solved if the moderators flipped their questions, as one smart Democrat not in the Biden camp put it. Instead of asking Biden or another moderate, “Why aren’t you going with the big, bold idea of Medicare-for-all?,” the moderators might consider asking Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) or Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), “Why blow up Obamacare, and why don’t you trust people to choose Medicare if given the option?” Instead of assuming that extreme proposals are the standard, requiring the moderates to explain why they are such wet blankets, the moderators should press the super-progressives on questions such as: What makes you think that voters want to go through another health-care makeover? Why should poorer people pay for richer people’s health care or subsidize their college debt?

Better yet, ask the candidates to relate the personal story from a voter who moved them the most, or the last voter whose phone number they took so that the candidate could call later, or the most insightful thing they have heard from a voter. It might reveal who is talking at voters and who is listening to them.

[LakeArenal]

127. Joe has a record that they pick apart and not look at the complete picture

The pickers will continue to peck away

Fine by me.

It’s trivial and inconsequential to Biden supporters.

For me personally, it’s petty and makes other candidates or supporters, or anti-Biden “undecideds” or anyone who continually picks and pecks at Joe, seem the same.

[Desert Dem]

128. I agree with OP.

Biden and Warren will be at bat on the same night and we’ll see if this is really an area of concern, at least in my opinionated opinion.

[Gothmog]

129. These alleged gaffes are eye-rolling examples of the absurdity of the press or the woke left

Link to tweet

To many Biden supporters, who polls consistently show are older, more working class, and more culturally conservative, these alleged gaffes are eye-rolling examples of the absurdity of the press or the woke left. They think the young activist in eastern Iowa should toughen up, that the throwaway line to the 13-year-old is endearing, and that Biden’s lack of precision when he speaks, about scooters or so many other things, is a sign of his authenticity. And they grouse that Biden is held to a standard President Donald Trump is not.

How Democrats see such episodes is at the heart of the Democratic primary. One side views these sorts of typical Biden campaign-trail moments as evidence of a politician well past his prime — casually sexist in a way that might have gone unremarked in, say, 1973 when he first joined the Senate. His supporters see them as good examples of why he’s the lovable Democrat best-suited to beat Trump. What is clear is that the critics, who are louder and more visible online and on cable TV, have had absolutely no impact on changing Biden’s status as the steady front-runner in the race.

This woke-working class divide is at the heart of the most salient fact about the Democratic primaries: Nothing has damaged Biden. Biden entered the race with about 30 percent support nationally and he has that same 30 percent today.