Tom Harkin Cautions Joe Biden Against Running for President

[riversedge]

Source: nytimes



6:42 pm ET By Jonathan Martin




Photo
Hillary Rodham Clinton toured the Iowa State Fair this month with former Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa.


Hillary Rodham Clinton toured the Iowa State Fair this month with former Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa.Credit Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Former Senator Tom Harkin, a fixture in Iowa Democratic politics for over four decades, discouraged Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Wednesday from entering the presidential race, suggesting that Hillary Rodham Clinton, if elected, could name him to a top diplomatic post instead.

Mr. Harkin, who served with Mr. Biden in the Senate for nearly 25 years and is now supporting Mrs. Clinton’s campaign, said the vice president should not risk ending his career with what would be a third bid for the presidency.

“He has served the country so well and been a good friend of mine — I love Joe,” Mr. Harkin said in a phone interview. “I just don’t think this would be a wise move.”
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“With Hillary as president, I can see him being secretary of state or ambassador to the United Nations,” he said. “There are a lot of things he can do down the road that would be of valuable service to the country or the world.”.........................

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/08/26/tom-harkin-cautions-joe-biden-against-running-for-president/?module=BlogPost-Title&version=Blog%20Main&contentCollection=Politics&action=Click&pgtype=Blogs&region=Body

[ericson00]

1. Tom Harkin is a great guy! Party unity behind Hillary Rodham Clinton will bring us and America

onward to victory!

[JDPriestly]

17. What would that victory mean?

What does a victory for Hillary Clinton mean for America?

What would she change?

What are the issues that are most important to her?

[brooklynite]

25. Let's review, shall we?

Her first policy position was criminal justice reform and reducing mass incarceration of minorities

Her second policy position was overturning CU, and committing to appoint SC Justices to do so

Her third policy position was immigration reform, including committing to a parth to citizenship for undocumented aliens

Her fourth policy position was expanding voting rights, including a national 20 Day early voting period

And of course the whole pro-choice, pro-gay rights, pro-progressive taxation thing.

[ericson00]

27. more environmental help, more green energy innovation,

more ability to forge partnership and compromise between business and main street, less regional division in America (she and Bill are much more popular in Appalachia and the south than Obama), a stronger foreign policy, etc.

[cantbeserious]

26. HRC - Controlled By Oligarchs, Corporations And Banks - A Favorite Friend Of The 1%

A terrible choice for America.

[ericson00]

28. maybe Bernie should go 3rd party on the Occupy Party ticket

see how well that does. I don't like Wall Street either, but you're not getting rid of em.

[cantbeserious]

29. Reinstate Regulatory Oversight And Control

eom

[Sienna86]

2. This makes me cringe.

Why allow this friendly advice to end up in the NYT? Isn't it best to offer such advice in private if he is indeed a friend? No, this is a warning. Don't tread on the parade.

[riversedge]

4. Harkin is a good man. No reason for you to diss him.

[karynnj]

7. Same here

If Harkin really considers Biden a friend, I con't get why he didn't tell him privately. It suggests that he - and likely others - want the message out front that they really do not want HRC challenged.

[kath]

14. Yep. Doesn't sound AT ALL like something a real friend would do.

Pretty damned assholish, actually.

[left-of-center2012]

3. That's a shocker

Clinton ally cautions Joe Biden Against Running for President.
Does he plan to suggest Bernie Sanders drop out of the race too?

[frazzled]

5. Tom Harkin ran against Bill Clinton back in 92

I remember. I stood for him in the MN caucuses.

He's speaking the truth, though. I don't want Biden to run for the same reason.

[dflprincess]

6. I caucused for Harkin in '92 as well.

As a friend, if he wanted to counsel Biden not to run, he should have done it privately not in public. Given Biden's own comments about why he's unsure about a run it seems almost mean for others to make public comments like this.


And, aside from who he was speaking about, I really think the party hacks are making a mistake discouraging any competition for the nomination.

[JDPriestly]

18. This does not reflect well on Clinton, this desire to avoid a primary.

It makes her look insecure and dictatorial.

She isn't the candidate yet.

I don't think Biden should run, but Hillary's standing there as Harkin makes a statement to Biden just looks very bad for her.

It looks like she is intimidating people into clearing her way and making sure she doesn't have competition in the primaries, so that she does not have to answer to the liberals in the Democratic Party.

[dflprincess]

32. You nailed it. nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

8. I agree with Harkin, but I don't like the public disclosure of private conversations between friends

This could have been handled much more discretely. But that's just me.

[roamer65]

9. Sounds like Harkin is shilling for the VP slot with Hillary. N/t

[ISUGRADIA]

11. I'd really doubt that is a consideration

Harkin would be 77 when he took office.

[Dawson Leery]

10. kick

[thesquanderer]

12. Sec'y of State? Ambassador? Kidding, right?

Biden may have many fine qualities, but speaking diplomatically and always with careful consideration (as these positions require) are not among them.

[Stardust]

15. Obama offered two positions to Biden, the other was Secretary of State. This was before he

offered it to Hillary. He must've thought Biden was suitable.

[thesquanderer]

16. That was 7 years ago.

Biden has said a lot of stuff since then (and with his higher profile, it has gotten a lot more notice). I don't think anyone would call subtlety his strong suit.

[JDPriestly]

19. "a lot of stuff"? Please be more specific.

What has he said that suggests that "subtlety" is not his strong suit.

[Unknown Beatle]

23. "a lot of stuff" sounds to me like he doesn't have

anything to add, otherwise he would be linking to it.

[thesquanderer]

24. Oh, come on. I didn't think it was necessary! But here ya' go...

First, all you have to do is google "biden gaffe" - Heck, you don't even have to leave this site, try googling:

biden gaffe site:democraticunderground.com

and you'll get 8,790 results from this very site. Sure, some of the hits are in defense of Biden and saying that the gaffe attacks are unfair, but you can't really say you've never heard of this as an issue, can you?

How about opening up his mouth about gay marriage before Obama was ready to support it? Not so diplomatic, remember that?

Or "I may be Irish, but I'm not stupid."

How about saying LaGuardia Airport seemed like it was in a third world country? Democratic NYC mayor DeBlasio was not amused. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/02/06/biden-laguardia-like-a-third-world-country/

This was a biggie... insulting Middle East allies...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/10/06/why-this-joe-biden-gaffe-matters-more/

that and others discussed at
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/why-joe-bidens-gaffes-matter

This is like shooting fish in a barrel. I've got to get to work.

[short circuit]

13. Yes, must protect Clinton at all costs...

Sorry Harkin. I like him a lot, and love his work - but I'm not feeling the Clinton. I'm feeling the Bern.... and he should too.

[elleng]

20. Oh FFS!

[24601]

21. I believe he misjudged and that VP Biden running would help Mrs. Clinton and hurt Sen Sanders

When you look at the nomination race, first I'd count out Lincoln Chafee and move Martin O'Malley's status to running for VP. Jim Webb positions on the far right of the race and really has no shot.

Still the odds-on favorite, Hillary, also positions to the right of both Joe and Bernie. But that's not the only fault line. She also has the highest unfavorables and declining numbers based on her email decisions (Judgment), explanations (honesty) and lack of transparency. Perceived as in the pocket of Wall Street. Likely would motivate more Republicans to vote than the rest of the field.

Bernie, likely the DU favorite polls well for the fire in his belly, honesty and willingness to take on issues important to the left, like many here on DU. But it's less clear how well he'll do across the party given he's running for the nomination of a party of which he is not really a member. Legitimate doubts on his electability.

Joe is the man in the middle. Likable and respected for being himself - although that sometimes gets characterized as the stereotyped VP - sometimes providing the misstatement of the day. With his affability, he also gets a pass on the occasional gaffe that would if said by others. Honest and candid Coming from Delaware, business friendly but hasn't exploited it for personal wealth. Reasonably progressive and was the administration's real first leader on marriage equality. Probably electable & trending up.

The challenge is that with Joe in the primary, he most likely splits the serious stop Hillary vote with Bernie. But if Bernie infers this and drops out, but I don't think he would until it's too late to matter, Joe becomes the electable alternative to Hillary- and if she continues to drop, he could win, really.

[pampango]

22. "he most likely splits the serious stop Hillary vote with Bernie" which could help Hillary by

dividing the 'stop Hillary' vote between Joe and Bernie. That could help Hillary if a significant amount of her own support does not go to Joe at the same time.

Bernie, likely the DU favorite polls well for the fire in his belly, honesty and willingness to take on issues important to the left, like many here on DU. But it's less clear how well he'll do across the party given he's running for the nomination of a party of which he is not really a member. Legitimate doubts on his electability.

Of course, none of us know for sure, but you make great points.

[Gothmog]

30. Biden has the right to make his own decision

I have a feeling that he will not be running

[Vinca]

31. This makes me want Biden to run.

I didn't care one way or the other before.