Biden settles the electability debate once and for all

[BeyondGeography]

Link to tweet

[DrToast]

1. LOL....is this a gaffe?

[bluewater]

2. A "gaffe": when a politician tells the truth

Last edited Fri Aug 30, 2019, 06:34 PM - Edit history (2)

Michael Kinsley: “It used to be, there was truth and there was falsehood. Now there is spin and there are gaffes. Spin is often thought to be synonymous with falsehood or lying, but more accurately it is indifference to the truth. A politician engaged in spin is saying what he or she wishes were true, and sometimes, by coincidence, it is. Meanwhile, a gaffe, it has been said, is when a politician tells the truth — or more precisely, when he or she accidentally reveals something truthful about what is going on in his or her head. A gaffe is what happens when the spin breaks down.”



It's an old political joke, that a gaffe is when a politician drops the spin and inadvertently tells the truth.

But seriously, this must have driven his Campaign Staff crazy when they heard he said this. Electability is supposed to be the cornerstone of Joe's entire campaign.

[Thekaspervote]

6. Meh

[bluewater]

9. It's not wishful thinking when Joe says just about anyone can beat Trump.

Since Joe Biden is the current front runner, no one can accuse him of wishful thinking when he says just about anyone of our candidates can beat Trump.

[Thekaspervote]

10. Meh

[TwilightZone]

7. That's an interesting assertion.

He's saying that anyone on the Democratic side can beat Trump.

You think that's a gaffe? It's reality.

You're trying waaaay too hard.

[bluewater]

11. It is an old political joke: ie a gaffe is when a politician tells the truth.

I believe Joe Biden was telling the truth when he said just about any of our candidates can beat Trump.



That undermines the electability argument his Campaign was making, but it is true never-the-less.

[Thekaspervote]

12. Meh

[treestar]

34. Then er, his mistakes are not gaffes

as they aren't the truth.

[bluewater]

38. more like verbal blunders and memory lapses

the media over uses the word "gaffe" when they should be more direct and honest at times.

But, you did catch the part that said it's an old political joke to call it a gaffe when a politician inadvertently tells the truth?

Gaffe is defined seriously as: an unintentional act or remark causing embarrassment to its originator; a blunder.

[Thekaspervote]

51. You should look at post #3, 23 & 28....still think your negative comments are convincing voters?

[bluewater]

63. You should look at post #20,24,55,60.. still think personal comments are convincing voters?

[Thekaspervote]

70. Looked.. no ...negative comments do not win over voters

[HeartlandProgressive]

84. then why not stop?

[TwilightZone]

71. Aggressive negativity isn't going to win anyone over.

I would have thought everyone figured that out in 2016. But, alas, no.

[OilemFirchen]

31. Is Senator Warren a gaffe machine?

Or is she generally "indifferent to the truth"?

Perhaps you should read your quotes more carefully.

[bluewater]

32. Non Sequitur?

Back to the topic of the OP....

Link to tweet

Let's all salute Joe Biden for stating the truth, that all our Democratic candidates can defeat Trump.

[OilemFirchen]

33. OMG!

[MrsCoffee]

81. No, his campaign staff isn't gonna sweat Joe being a decent human being.

Not gonna happen. He has proven he doesn’t need to take the low road.

[Cha]

40. LOL.. the truth.

Joe Biden is country and planet over ego.. one of the many reasons I support him.

[cwydro]

3. This is why I love Biden!

He’s no longer my first choice, but he’s a damn close second.

[Mr.Bill]

4. That comment is directed

to Trump more than other Democratic candidates.

[TwilightZone]

8. Agreed.

The interpretations of the claim in that thread are certainly...creative.

[Mr.Bill]

21. I would have stated it differently.

I would have said if Bullwinkle the moose were on the ballot he would beat Trump.

[Otto Lidenbrock]

48. People would say he was insulting Hillary if he did that

I can see the headlines now:

Biden slams Hillary Clinton by suggesting a moose would have been a better candidate in 2016

[Mr.Bill]

57. That would be incorrect.

We are talking about 2020 Trump, not 2016 Trump. A good number of people who voted for him then didn't realize what the next four years were going to be like.

I have to keep reminding myself that the vast majority of voters are and were far less informed than we are here. They are more informed about Trump now, though.

[Eliot Rosewater]

26. And his comment I hope would be said by ALL Of our candidates, because there is a very

real strategic reason for saying it.

Joe may forget dates and places sometimes but he wont forget that he worked for a great man and rump is a filthy fucking piece of shit traitor.

[Thekaspervote]

53. Indeed!!

[Thekaspervote]

5. Thx for posting! This shows mr. Biden's love of country and sense of duty. He's in it to win, but

Simply stating if it isn’t me then, one of our other fine candidates will.

Go Joe go!!! We’ve got your back!

[BeyondGeography]

13. My pleasure

I happen to agree with him. Literally.

[Thekaspervote]

16. Me too!

[bluewater]

30. Meh

[KPN]

45. ....

[Andy823]

20. I agree with him also

Even though I get told here on DU that Biden is the "only" one who can beat trump, and we are doomed if he isn't the nominee.

I wonder if that will change no that Joe has said himself others can beat trump also?

[BeyondGeography]

24. Highly doubtful

But this will serve as a handy rebuttal.

[bluewater]

27. bookmarked.

[Cha]

39. Well.. once again I don't tell you that and

I support Joe Biden. He's a Uniter.. he will support the nominee if it's not him and work hard for the Nom.

One of the many reasons I support him .. Country and Planet Over Ego.

[Thekaspervote]

41. This!! We need his leadership, focus and experience

[Cha]

43. Mahalo, kasper!

We do! But if it's not Biden he will ".. break his neck working for the nominee.." That's paraphrase from a Biden quote. Biden talk!

[Thekaspervote]

54. Hey Cha ... Maloha to you... "It's Biden speak" at its best

[Andy823]

61. I never said you did Cha

but others say it all the time. I like Joe and I will vote for him if he is the nominee, I will vote for whoever is the nominee. I have said many times that we have a great bunch of candidates, and that we have more the one who can beat trump.

I don't have any problems with supporters of other candidates and I never will.

The trolls I have a problem with. We had them with Hillary, trying to cause problems and we have them now trying to take down Biden, Harris, and Warren, and others if they gain momentum. It's going to be a long primary.

[Cha]

62. I know.. maybe I worded that wrong..

but logically no one knows who's going to be the Nom at this point.

I just know that if it's not Biden he will bow out gracefully and not keep running when he knows he can't win.

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=242764

Andy

[Andy823]

67. Yes I know he will

He is a great man and he would never be a sore loser. I also think that the three women in the top tier will also bow out gracefully, not really sure about Bernie, but I hope he does also. They all have to back the nominee and do everything they can to get trump out of office.

My son is 25, he likes Warren, but he said he would back any of our candidates because in the long run we can't let trump win! I totally agree with him.

Take care Cha.

[Cha]

68. You son is wicked smart!

You, too, Andy!:grouphhug:

[bluewater]

14. Biden deserves credit for stating the truth, our Democratic candidates can beat Trump.

[Chemisse]

19. That's what I love about Joe Biden.

He's a good and honorable man.

[Bradshaw3]

25. Meh

[Eliot Rosewater]

29. Exactly...Hey, I didnt want Joe to run. But I knew if he did he would DO THE RIGHT THING

when necessary.

And that may end up being to win or to do whatever, but I have NO DOUBT he wont FUCK with us to massage his ego!

[Thekaspervote]

42. Exactly!!

[progressoid]

15. Ha! They taped a Biden poster on the computer monitor.

[FakeNoose]

17. Yeah, many dead trees paid with their lives for that poster

[JI7]

18. Biden wants Democrats to win most of all unlike some people

[SCVDem]

22. Maybe you have heard this.

When they go low,

Joe stays high.

It sounds like some here really want ugly, divisive shit slinging type of a campaign.

Biden will not abide!

[Thekaspervote]

44. Showing a bit isn't it!! why don't they say + things about their candidate of choice instead of

Negatives about others. It doesn’t convince anyone to switch...or help their candidate.

[JI7]

23. Biden is higher on my list of choices than before

[SWBTATTReg]

28. This answer was really directed at rump, after all, what other answer would make rump mad?...

this one answer, all of the democratic nominees...

Ha ha heh...my opinion of Biden has gone up a lot after this answer of his...

[treestar]

35. Good for him not claiming to be the only one

who can beat Dotard and not dissing other Democrats in the form of saying they can't beat him.

This is supposed to be a bad thing?

[BeyondGeography]

55. Ask his staff

Think they sent him out there this morning to tell WaPo that just about any ole Dem can take Trump?

[bluewater]

56. His Campaign staff must be proud of his honesty and graciousness.

For former Vice President Joe Biden, the 2020 presidential campaign has been focused primarily on one question: Who is best to beat President Donald Trump?

His campaign's answer: Joe Biden is.

But, in an interview for a podcast with the Washington Post's Jonathan Capehart, Biden seemed on the verge of undermining his own camp's argument in favor of his electability relative to the rest of the 2020 Democratic primary field.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/08/30/joe-biden-i-think-almost-anybody-could-beat-donald-trump-2020/2168099001/

It takes a big man to contradict his own campaign's cornerstone argument.

[BeyondGeography]

60. There ya go

[treestar]

79. i think he decides what he is going to say

which explains the "gaffes." He speaks off the cuff, from the heart. Not over prepared or wooden or all that stuff.

[BeyondGeography]

80. I think he has no idea what he is going to say

If you read the transcript this was something he volunteered. Capehart asked a follow-up. So the week after Jill is sent out to deliver an eat-your-peas and vote for Joe because he’s the one who can win, Biden himself is saying most anyone can win. That’s the mark of a haphazard campaign which is what always happens with Biden.

[MrsCoffee]

82. It's the mark of a decent guy who isn't afraid of the competition.

The question was begging to be followed up by questions about why the other candidates can’t beat Trump. Why on earth put those sound bytes out there for Trump to use like he used Bernie’s sound bytes against Clinton?

[treestar]

83. How should he know what is going too be asked?

It would be said the DNC is rigging it for him if he was handed the questions before hand.

[BeyondGeography]

87. Hello, he wasn't directly asked if anyone else could beat Trump, he VOLUNTEERED it

This is the question he was responding to:

CAPEHART: Old school against old school. What do you think about that?

He went there all on his own and made it the headline of the interview because what he said was at odds with all of his campaign’s electability messaging to date. That what an undisciplined candidate does.

[treestar]

89. well so, what was wrong with his saying that?

He isn't a trained dog.

[HeartlandProgressive]

86. Joe did bring up who else was electable all on his own

It was not a direct question that he had to answer

[NYMinute]

36. Such a gracious guy .. he didn't put other Democrats down. nt

[Cha]

37. Biden is not one of those who says..

"..“I intend to be the Democratic nominee,.."

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=242764

Biden is a Uniter. If he's not winning he will support wholeheartedly whomever the winner is.

That's just one reason I support Joe Biden. Country and Planet over ego

[Thekaspervote]

46. Indeed he is a uniter...with that kind of public statement his message shines thru

It gives me hope that not all is lost.

Go Joe go!! We’ve got your back!!

[Cha]

49. Yes! I think this only

makes people want to support him more!

[AlexSFCA]

47. Does gaffe simply means speaking his mind unscripted?

If so, it could be the single most important quality against trump.

[Thekaspervote]

52. Could be.. interesting point!

[peggysue2]

50. An example of Joe Biden's graciousness

And his loyal support of all our Democratic candidates. This will be the fight of our lifetimes. Biden knows that and will not dismiss anyone for the 2020 election. Nor will he give Trump anything to hang his hat on.

AGO4JOE2020

[bluewater]

58. And honesty!

I believe Joe when he says almost any of our Democratic candidates would defeat Trump.

[Cha]

66. "Nor will he give Trump anything to hang his hat on."

Like some others have done.. very ungraciously.. but Joe Biden keeps on going Forward!

Mahalo, Peggysue!

[redstateblues]

59. Problem is you gotta win the nomination first. So far Joe is standing strong!

[highplainsdem]

64. Biden is very gracious. Another reason to admire him.

He's also a team player who will work his heart out for the nominee, if he doesn't get the nomination himself.

We need more people like him.

And we're very, very fortunate he's running.

[Thekaspervote]

65. Yes, we are fortunate.. his positive attitude and nature is contagious, as shown by most of the

Comments here!

[Cha]

74. Yes, Joe Biden is a Gracious TEAM Player.. just

what I want in a President! Country and Planet Over Ego

[DanTex]

69. Good for him! Is this supposed to reflect poorly on Biden?

[quickesst]

72. the funniest part of all this....

.... is that there are polls all over the media which clearly shows numerous candidates who on a head-to-head basis today would beat Trump. I think Joe's statement was a friendly overture to his fellow candidates, and reflects the positive and honest attitude of a gracious and caring person. For all of those people who continue to pretend they are aghast at every small criticism of Biden, it has steadily progressed from mildly entertaining to just plain tiresome.

[Cha]

73. Exactly, quickesst! Biden's just

verifying what the polls say.. and they do show Biden as the one who beats trump with the most % points!

[quickesst]

75. yeah Cha

I think some people believe they can take Joe Biden down by inflicting a thousand cuts. The problem is they are trying to do it using a butter knife.

[Cha]

76. Yeah, I've noticed that..

so excited.. here's another cut! But, it doesn't quite do the trick.. too dull.

[elocs]

77. BIDEN: "Well, I think almost anybody" (could beat Trump).

Why??? Why would he ever say that?
Yes, the mouth is faster than the brain.

[HeartlandProgressive]

85. In the long run, it is always better to tell the truth

[elocs]

88. Nope, that kind of talk leads to complacency such as,

"Why should I vote if anybody is going to beat Trump?"
Choosing not to speak a truth does not mean you are lying, and every truth does not need to be told.

[marlakay]

78. I really admire and like Joe

He’s not my number one because I tend to lean more left on a few issues than him but I would be proud to vote for him if he makes it.

[colsohlibgal]

90. He Is Almost Certainly Correct

Lawrence O’Donnell has had Rachel Bitcofer on several times lately. She correctly called the Blue Wave in 2018 almost perfectly. She says her data shows that any of the top 5/6 dem contenders will crush Putin’s Cuddly Toy Donnie, that the vote is more anti Trump than pro any candidate.

[andym]

92. With this statement Joe Biden reaffirms that he is authentic

Some politicians only state that which they think will help them win. Joe Biden is honest and does not self-aggrandize. It is very endearing. I would be very happy if he is elected President-- he will do much to repair the damage Trump has inflicted on America's culture. It also goes without saying that Joe is running because he believes he will be the best possible President.