Biden to Wife: Shhh!
[Guest post by DRJ]
Vice-President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill appeared today on Oprah Winfrey’s show and it turns out he’s not the only one who is gaffe-prone:
“Appearing on Oprah Winfrey’s show this afternoon, Jill Biden, wife of Vice-President elect Joe Biden, made a verbal gaffe that could land the Obama Administration in some hot water. Mrs. Biden let slip that her husband Joe was offered a choice of either the Secretary of State’s position or the Vice-Presidency.
The potential problem for the Obama Administration goes far beyond the obviously embarrassing revelation that Hillary Clinton was actually the second choice for Secretary of State, however. Promising an appointment to a federal office by a candidate in exchange for support is a crime.
***
If Jill Biden is telling the truth, and from Joe Biden’s reaction, quickly shushing her, she apparently is, somebody in the Obama campaign has some questions to answer. Who offered Biden the positions of Secretary of State or Vice-President? Did Barack Obama know about the offer or make it himself?”
The federal law in question is Title 18 Chapter 29 Section 599 of the United States Code. It requires that the promise be made “for the purpose of procuring support in his candidacy,” which I assume would not be the case if the discussion occurred at a time when Biden already supported Obama.
If not, I suggest the ‘dumb blonde’ defense.
Video at the link.
– DRJ
Not to worry. At the federal level, only those with (R) after their name need worry about being charged with and convicted of crimes that require prison sentences.
WJBC was declared guilty of perjury or subornation of perjury or both but was never in danger of “next stop, the grey-bar hotel.”
Comment by John Hitchcock — 1/19/2009 @ 6:53 pm
Let’s see, Obama offered it to Slow Joe Biden first and Hillary was second choice.
I think I can hear the sound of Bill and Hillary’s laughter over this, or is that the sound of plates crashing through windows?
Comment by daleyrocks — 1/19/2009 @ 6:55 pm
My comment carries less weight with the revision of the original.
[My fault, John. I'm sorry. I mistakenly hit the "Publish" button before I finished the paragraphs after the quote. -- DRJ]
Comment by John Hitchcock — 1/19/2009 @ 6:56 pm
Jill now needs to tell us who Obama was going to pick as VP if Joe chose Secretary of State.
Comment by daleyrocks — 1/19/2009 @ 6:59 pm
Who was that big-city mayor who was told not to go anywhere as a condition of his bond but found himself traveling to Canada without seeking the judge’s permission? He’d have been the veep candidate. Yup.
Comment by John Hitchcock — 1/19/2009 @ 7:04 pm
Well assuming Plugs Biden was already supporting Barack when he got the tap for SoS and VP, this is more a slap at Hillary than anything else. As much as I find Plugs annoying, I would prefer him at Veep than Secretary of State. I also prefer Her Royal Clinton at Foggy Bottom than the Executive Office Building.
Comment by Joe — 1/19/2009 @ 7:06 pm
Jill BIden’s theme song…Cause I’m a Blond
Comment by fmfnavydoc — 1/19/2009 @ 7:19 pm
FWIW, this is sooooooooooooooo racist.
Comment by JD — 1/19/2009 @ 7:20 pm
A Biden profile in The New Yorker (October 20, 2008):
Comment by steve — 1/19/2009 @ 7:21 pm
Hillary was second choice to a Village Idiot? That is a precious memory.
Comment by Perfect Sense — 1/19/2009 @ 7:25 pm
How would this be any different from Obama’s promise, quoted in an earlier DRJ post, to select John Edwards as Attorney General? Sure there is no overt quid pro quo, but the underlying bid for support is no different. Obama probably either doesn’t know about this law (which is hard to believe because, you know, he is a law professor), or he doesn’t care.
I’m not particularly interested in the potential “crime” that may have been committed. I do love how this is a subtle dig at Hillary Rodham Clinton, though. It will be fun to hear all the stories about how HRC is freezing Biden out of the state department briefings. Serves the old blowhard right.
Comment by JVW — 1/19/2009 @ 7:38 pm
Confusion runs rampant on this item…
Just which one is the “Dumb Blonde”?
Joe, or Jill?
BTW, popcorn anyone?
Comment by AD — 1/19/2009 @ 7:42 pm
He is not a law professor, JVW, Teh One is a Constitutional Scholar.
Comment by JD — 1/19/2009 @ 7:46 pm
Scary…..
Comment by EricPWJohnson — 1/19/2009 @ 7:48 pm
Flakes on parade.
And even if people like Biden and Clinton had a philosophy I admired — even if they were down-to-earth conservatives — I still would go “peeuuw” knowing their background and peculiar or dishonest foolishness—-ie, claiming FDR spoke on TV and was president in 1929, much less also being guilty of, and apparently nonchalant about, plagerism, and saying that one experienced, as First Lady, a moment of having to duck sniper fire at an airport in Bosnia.
Comment by Mark — 1/19/2009 @ 8:04 pm
How did Obama become a Constitutional Scholar?
I thought he was a Community Activist?
The dude has probably never even sniffed the Supreme Court’s rugs.
Comment by Da'Shiznit — 1/19/2009 @ 8:06 pm
A twisted tale:
Hitchens on why Bush really was the best choice over Gore and Kerry!
Now we know why Andrew Sullivan did not give Hitch any tongue!
Comment by Joe — 1/19/2009 @ 8:09 pm
Not to defend them, but Jill Biden may have it wrong. Slow Joe may have been in second position for VP behind Hillary, so the actual choice may have been Hillary’s for VP – for electoral reasons, which would be embarrassing to Biden.
Comment by Apogee — 1/19/2009 @ 8:14 pm
How should I spell the last word in the title: Sshhh! or Shhh! or __?
Comment by DRJ — 1/19/2009 @ 8:14 pm
DRJ – It’s fine as is.
Comment by Apogee — 1/19/2009 @ 8:24 pm
I have not seen Apogee around much recently. Good to see you.
DRJ – Shhhhhit! would work.
Comment by JD — 1/19/2009 @ 8:30 pm
I never thought about it before but there’s a number of ways to spell Ssshhh. I think I like this one best but I’ll leave the title as is.
And I’ve missed both of you, JD and Apogee, although you obviously haven’t missed much if I’m obsessing over Ssshhh.
Comment by DRJ — 1/19/2009 @ 8:32 pm
Millions saw the statement/confession so who will file federal felony charges against the one? Maybe the fallen angel, aka the devil.
Comment by Scrapiron — 1/19/2009 @ 8:34 pm
Programming note to all loyal readers: I think Patterico will be back tomorrow and I know we’ll all be glad. Some of us will also be relieved.
Comment by DRJ — 1/19/2009 @ 8:36 pm
Sshhh! or Shhh! or __?
When in doubt: Shush!
Comment by AD — 1/19/2009 @ 8:38 pm
DRJ – I have been buried at work. Traveling much. I have been reading regularly. Brilliant work, as always.
Comment by JD — 1/19/2009 @ 9:02 pm
We all know that Joe will have little more than the constitutional duties of VP (2nd in line, President of the Senate/tie breaking vote).
Does anyone think that Hillary would have stood for that? SoS has more power than Joe will as VP.
Comment by kimsch — 1/19/2009 @ 9:03 pm
JD:
I denounce your work ethic. Don’t you know that you won’t need to work again, after tomorrow? Your gas tank and mortgage will be paid for!
Yep. That pedestal is might high, perhaps even past geosynchronous orbit. That is a long way for a messiah to fall.
Comment by Eric Blair — 1/19/2009 @ 9:21 pm
One! One impeachable offense! Ah ha ha ha!
(With apologies to The Count)
Comment by luagha — 1/19/2009 @ 9:42 pm
JD & DRJ – Busy myself, but checking in regularly. Haven’t been around due to JD’s unending racism.
DRJ – Your work is indeed brilliant, if I may steal a line from JD the racist. Patterico is a lucky man to have you backing him up.
Comment by Apogee — 1/19/2009 @ 9:56 pm
I am fucking HONORED. Thank you, Apogee.
Comment by JD — 1/19/2009 @ 10:00 pm
Enough flattery, guys, or it will go to my head. (I almost said ‘Shush’ but that could send me off on another OCD/Monk tangent.)
Comment by DRJ — 1/19/2009 @ 10:01 pm
Looks like the new White House counsel will have to hit the ground running. Glenn Reynolds had an NRO link today all about Greg Craig, the new counsel. Ugly background, even for a leftist attorney. But I’m sure he’s quite proud of all he’s done. I’d recommend reading it, if you have the stomach for it.
Comment by allan — 1/19/2009 @ 10:09 pm
It’s not flattery when it’s true.
Comment by Machinist — 1/19/2009 @ 10:09 pm
And I’d go with one S with as many H’s as desirable. But then, I’m such a traditional kind of guy when it comes to spelling.
Comment by allan — 1/19/2009 @ 10:10 pm
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhit!
What the Machinist said …
Comment by JD — 1/19/2009 @ 10:13 pm
It’s not the White House, you racist pigs. It’s the Pigment-Deficient House.
Comment by John Hitchcock — 1/19/2009 @ 10:14 pm
Ah yes. The family that gaffes together . . .
Question: If Biden took Sec of State, who would be up for VP? Richardson? Maybe “The One” lucked out on this deal after all.
Question: Will the MSM savage Jill Biden the way they did Sarah Palin? [Don't tell me it's "apples & oranges"; so was comparing Palin to Obama.]
Comment by Icy Texan (from the site of President Bush's homecoming) — 1/19/2009 @ 10:34 pm
Hillary gets sloppy seconds! So what else is new?
Joe Biden–and apparently his wife–are going to be the gift that keeps on giving for at least 4 years. But Joe Biden as POTUSA is a frightening thought. I’m not an Obama fan, but I’ll remember him in my prayers whenever I think of Joe Biden.
Comment by Mike Myers — 1/19/2009 @ 10:55 pm
Patterico is a lucky man to have [DRJ] backing him up.
I’m a little late on the draw but I denounce your sexist inference, Apogee.
Comment by JVW — 1/19/2009 @ 11:29 pm
What’s wrong with sexy?
Comment by Apogee — 1/19/2009 @ 11:39 pm
At the time of Biden’s naming as VP candidate I wrote the following, “Hillary Clinton’s supporters are an unhappy lot and many would like to dislodge Obama during the convention. Many super delegates must be skittish looking at Obama’s poor performance and slippage in the polls. His hypnotic worship of Europe and China will only serve to continually drive mainstream voters away from him.
Putting Biden on the ticket can get him past the dangers of the convention. Biden has long standing and deep ties to many super delegates, labor leaders, Washington insiders and Democrat party insiders. Biden will insulate him against any possible revolts at the convention.”
Comment by snaggletoothie — 1/19/2009 @ 11:42 pm
Look for Jill to be wearing big sunglasses during the inauguration ceremony today.
Just sayin’
Comment by Icy Texan — 1/19/2009 @ 11:57 pm
What’s wrong with sexy?
It’s a fine line between clever and stupid.
Comment by JVW — 1/20/2009 @ 12:19 am
Arrrgh. I jumped straight to the punchline and totally forgot this classic quip:
“We’re not saying that she should literally be made to smell the glove. Well, maybe once or twice but not over and over again.”
I think I need to watch it again so I don’t make that mistake again.
Comment by JVW — 1/20/2009 @ 12:28 am
Biden can do less damage as vice president than he can as SecState, so long as Obama stays healthy. (My most fervent prayers for POTUS-44 and the Nation are for his continued health.) Arguably, moving Biden to the VPOTUS spot both improves the Senate and avoids the damage he could have done as SecState.
Hillary is far from steady and canny (about anything but her own advancement) herself, but nevertheless she’s somewhat less gaffe-prone than Biden. My only question is: When Hillary picks her issue to stab Obama in the back on (to create an excuse for her resignation and resulting primary campaign in 2012), will she zig to Obama’s left or zag to his right? I’m figuring she’ll probably zag to the right, which will fit the (already all-too-likely, all-too-justified Obama-as-Carter-redux meme).
Long before election day, Biden’s pronouncements had been demoted by the MSM, across the board and with Obama’s implicit concurrence, to “curious irrelevancies” anyway. That won’t change after the inauguration (except to become perhaps more pronounced an effect).
Comment by Beldar — 1/20/2009 @ 12:31 am
Why is this so important? So what?
Comment by IB42 — 1/20/2009 @ 1:03 am
Joe Biden took the right choice: the president cannot fire the vice president, but he can can the secretary of state — which I hope he does, sometime around March, when she first sets out trying to act like she’s the president rather than one of his minions.
Comment by The hopeful Dana — 1/20/2009 @ 5:02 am
Oh please, you’re all taking this too seriously and I know this because the talking heads on MSNBC, after playing the clip or slip, all chortled and said, boy oh boy, we hope to see a lot of her, she’s going to be alot of fun!
Comment by Dana — 1/20/2009 @ 9:16 am
No, Biden was given his choice of service. To suggest that Obama didn’t have an idea that Biden would choose VP is to go out on a limb.
The further suggestion that Obama didn’t know about this offer is where this story completely derails. Who is writing this garbage? Does he or she live in a dungeon and breathe cyanide all day?
Comment by Ed from PA — 1/20/2009 @ 9:39 am
WOW, Ed. So much insight. Thank you for enlightening us.
Comment by JD — 1/20/2009 @ 10:44 am
JD are you suggesting that you agree that Obama was not kept in the loop on his own VP and cabinet choices? Let’s get you on the record on this issue.
Comment by Ed from PA — 1/20/2009 @ 10:54 am
I am suggesting that you have proven to be a very entertaining commentator.
Comment by JD — 1/20/2009 @ 11:01 am
So can someone explain to me how Obama offering Biden his choice of VP or SoS is evidence of a crime but Obama offering Biden VP alone isn’t?
Comment by Anon — 1/20/2009 @ 1:24 pm
Jill Biden should be muzzled….even if true, what was she trying to prove? Her husband’s status, prestige, her own power? She was being deliberately VICIOUS to hillary and I don’t know her reason. If she wasn’t being DELIBERATELY VICIOUS, then she has a real problem……this is smart? DR. BIDEN?????
Comment by beverly lloyd — 1/20/2009 @ 8:38 pm
I guess that’s a “no”, huh. It’s amazing how idiotic people can be when it suits their political purposes.
Comment by Anon — 1/21/2009 @ 9:49 am