When Barack Obama announced that he was forming an exploratory committee to investigate running for the presidency, political experts in Washington predicted that race would be an issue in the upcoming elections. They predicted finger-pointing, some mud-slinging, and that people would vote against racial lines. What they didn't predict, though, was the naïve, racial remarks Senator Joe Biden would make when he threw his hat into the presidential race."I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," Biden said. "I mean, that's a storybook, man."
Biden's comments sent ripples through both the black and white communities. First articulate, bright and clean African American? He's got to be kidding. What about Martin Luther King Jr.? Jesse Jackson? Shirley Chisholm?
In response to the comments, Obama released a statement saying that that Biden's comments were obviously "historically inaccurate". He told CNN that he didn't pay attention to what people were saying during the campaign season.
really like to hear more about his platform.
Great article, Kate.