Biden abandons plan to launch 2020 bid in Charlottesville

[brooklynite]

Former Vice President Joe Biden has canceled plans to launch his 2020 bid for the White House in Charlottesville, Va., where a woman protesting a white nationalist rally was murdered when a car was driven into a crowd of activists in 2017.

The last-minute change of plan could be an indication of disorganization in the Biden campaign organization, despite the many months it has had to prepare as the former 36-year senator from Delaware procrastinated over his announcement.

Aides to Biden had briefed journalists about the plan for Wednesday, which liberal activist groups in Charlottesville told the Washington Examiner had prompted opposition, with some residents unhappy about the scene a tragedy the city would prefer to forget being used as a campaign launch backdrop.

With no direct connection to Charlottesville, some viewed the move as disrespectful and capitalizing on the death of activist Heather Heyer, 32, during the "Unite the Right" rally in August 2017.

Biden spokesman Bill Russo confirmed to the Washington Examiner that Biden would not announce in Charlottesville, Va. Instead, he is expected to declare his candidacy in Pittsburgh before flying to Philadelphia for a second event. Biden, 76, was born in Scranton, Pa., which is located more than 120 miles north of Philadelphia.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/joe-biden-not-announcing-2020-run-in-charlottesville

Why isn't he doing this in Scanton?

[elleng]

1. Washington Examiner

Pittsburgh before flying to Philadelphia.

Scranton's not a big draw, but Pittsburgh and Phila ARE. Only in Scranton 10 years, but I agree it would be good for 'sentimental' reasons.

[Honeycombe8]

2. Oh, I see. So plans have changed. Charlottesville doesn't want the hoopla. nt

[Hortensis]

42. Of course many would love it.

But it sounds as if the press would have excuse to make coverage about some noisy spinners claiming flhe’s exploiting death instead of a message of hope and inclusion for his announcement of his candidacy. Better to do it in the middle of the desert if that’d be what it took to make it about what he offers.

[dsc]

3. I understand why Charlottesville would rather forget that march

but they don't own that history. I think Biden should have gone through with it. But failing that, Scranton would seem to have been a good choice.

[Indygram]

40. Beto was just at UVA in Charlottesville last week and had a huge crowd

They welcome candidates but I think it's probably them not wanting the site of the attack politicized.

[msongs]

4. could be a sign means its made up BS nt

[EndGOPPropaganda]

19. Typical for Phil Anschutz's Washington Examiner: made-up BS to hurt Dems.

[redstateblues]

5. Isn't that a right wing rag?

[still_one]

7. Yes, it is a conservative paper, but they make it clear that he ichanging the venue out of respect

because some of the residents felt it inappropriate for a campaign kickoff where that tragedy occurred:

"Aides to Biden had briefed journalists about the plan for Wednesday, which liberal activist groups in Charlottesville told the Washington Examiner had prompted opposition, with some residents unhappy about the scene a tragedy the city would prefer to forget being used as a campaign launch backdrop."

[MrsCoffee]

8. Yes indeed.

[EndGOPPropaganda]

17. Yes and they pick at Democrats intentionally to divide us. Ignore.

[still_one]

6. Even though the examiner is a conservative source, it makes the reason they are doing it, and it is

out of respect because some of the residents were unhappy about making the tragedy of the city a backdrop for a campaign launch

"Aides to Biden had briefed journalists about the plan for Wednesday, which liberal activist groups in Charlottesville told the Washington Examiner had prompted opposition, with some residents unhappy about the scene a tragedy the city would prefer to forget being used as a campaign launch backdrop. Aides to Biden had briefed journalists about the plan for Wednesday, which liberal activist groups in Charlottesville told the Washington Examiner had prompted opposition, with some residents unhappy about the scene a tragedy the city would prefer to forget being used as a campaign launch backdrop."

[brooklynite]

9. The problem is that Biden should have considered this before planning the event...

It doesn't make his organization look strong.

[Skya Rhen]

10. So, would the organization look stonger to you if the plan proceeded, regardless?

[mobeau69]

11. No, but it was still an unforced error.

[brooklynite]

22. It would look stronger if the rollout had been thought through, planned and carried out...

...like 18 other campaigns.

[mobeau69]

26. Sort of like the OBL raid.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

18. Surprised to see this level of disorganization considering it's a former VP's campaign

that's been YEARS in the making.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[still_one]

36. That is your view. I find it amuzing that some will look for any excuse to be critical of Biden

[brooklynite]

43. I find it amusing that some campaign supporters assume any criticism is "looked for"

I post relevant stories, pro and con about all candidates, and and don't whine when someone posting something about mine.

FWIW, I"ve met with Biden several time and respect his knowledge, skills and (up to know) political abilities. But if there are issues that may affect his (or anyone else's) ability to run a successful campaign, I want to know about them.

[still_one]

44. I am not "whinning" about the story, I am observing some of the comments in the thread extrapolating

this to mean he isn't qualified or ready for prime time

I wasn't critisizing you or your political savey FWIW

This is a mountain out of a mole hill as far as I am concerned.

In other words there will be a lot more relevant issues to hold his feet to the fire than this, and I personally don't even consider this an issue

[EndGOPPropaganda]

16. You believe rightwing-billionaire owned Wash Examiner when they say this?!?!

[still_one]

37. I have no idea, I didn't post the OP or use that paper as a source. That is a question for the OP

not me.

I suspect some want to use this as an avenue to be critical of Biden, because either their candidate is not getting much traction, or they are not happy having Biden as part of the competition.

[flamingdem]

12. I'm glad he's listening

and think that was the right thing to do.

[LongtimeAZDem]

13. It gives him a reason to invoke Charlottesville and look sensitive to local feelings

[mobeau69]

27. That's the whole problem; trying to use the tragedy.

He do best just to move on.

[LongtimeAZDem]

31. He did. You think after months of planning this was a last-minute thing?

[still_one]

38. I wouldn't get to concerned about this. It is pretty obvious some want to use this as an

opportunity to be critical of Biden because I suspect they are not particularly happy that he is entering the race, and they don't particularly want him in the competition

To me this isn't a big deal, and actually indicates that he is being sensitive to the communities concern.

This is going to get a lot worse, especially when Joe makes it official, and if he takes a significant lead in the polls. He will be attacked, literally from the left and the right.

One thing though, I don't the Sanders' camp will attack him on the basis that he is "too old", though I fully expect the other campaigns to do so

It will be interesting, but there sure seems to be a lot of folks "concerned" about Biden being in the race.

I don't know if anyone remembers, but he quite well in the debates against Palin and Ryan.

[EndGOPPropaganda]

15. WASHINGTON EXAMINER wants to HURT DEMOCRATS

Washington Examiner is owned by a rightwing billionaire, Phil Anschutz.

No one should read that garbage and no sone should link it here.

Here's just some of the rightwing hit jobs in the article:

...some viewed the move as disrespectful
...With no direct connection to Charlottesville
...could be an indication of disorganization in the Biden campaign organization

Take this crap AWAY.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

20. Fair comment... but, if it turns out to be true, not a great start to a highly anticipated campaign.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[EndGOPPropaganda]

21. "Phil Anschutz' conservative agenda"

https://www.politico.com/story/2009/10/phil-anschutzs-conservative-agenda-028355

But Anschutz’s ownership of The Washington Examiner, a daily tabloid, and The Weekly Standard, probably the nation’s most influential conservative magazine, has given him a megaphone for his right-wing views on taxes, national security and President Barack Obama that the 130 or so companies he owns have not provided him.


Characteristically, for someone who’s flown under the radar for much of his career, no one would talk about the dinner’s agenda.

He started the Examiner in early 2005 as local competition to The Washington Post, but with a clear ideological stamp. When it came to the editorial page, Anschutz’s instructions were explicit — he “wanted nothing but conservative columns and conservative op-ed writers,” said one former employee.

And recently the paper’s politics have become more pronounced

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

23. No question about possible motive.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[brooklynite]

24. So we should ignore stories simply because a conservative reports them?

If the Biden team doesn't have its organizational chops, I want to know about it.

[Amimnoch]

41. Ever heard of ToS?

"Don't peddle right-wing talking points, smears, or sources".

It's right there in the alert section. There's a reason and a damned good reason it's there and most of us condemn them when they are posted.

So, you support John Hickenlooper? Perhaps it's okay with you if Fox news articles on his stating that the green new deal is "unachievable"? or Fox's article on "Dem Candidate Hickenlooper Slammed for 'Gaffe' on Whether He'd Pick a Woman as VP"?

Utilizing right wing nutjob sources on this site is.. "deplorable" in nature imo.

[EndGOPPropaganda]

45. Yes.

Ignore stories if conservative media reports them.
Exactly.

[Blue_true]

25. I thought that Charlottesville was not the appropriate place to launch his campaign.

Maybe his childhood hometown or Philadelphia.

[Demit]

28. He doesn't have any particular ties to Philadelphia.

I wonder why he didn't choose any place in Delaware? He's lived in that state since he was 10 years old.

[Blue_true]

29. My reason for Philly is it was the cradle of our country's self governing.

We face an existential threat to that form of government in the person of Donald Trump.

[Demit]

30. Well, Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution.

Since the Constitution is the foundation of our government, that's a pretty good claim to fame.

[Blue_true]

32. Good point. nt

[Midwestern Democrat]

33. I'm also surprised he's not launching his campaign in Wilmington, DE -

most presidential candidates make their announcements in the state that elected them to office - this year, the candidates who had formal kick off rallies were as follows:

Harris - Oakland, CA
Warren - Lawrence, MA
Booker - Newark, NJ
Buttigieg - South Bend, IN
Castro - San Antonio, TX
Hickenlooper - Denver, CO
Klobuchar - Minneapolis, MN
Swalwell - Dublin, CA
Sanders - Brooklyn, NY

Every candidate except Sanders announced in the state that elected them to office - Sanders announced in the city he was born and raised in (and he probably did this partly because Burlington, VT is pretty far from a major population center - it's 181 miles from Boston, while Wilmington, DE is only 30 miles from Philadelphia)

[aikoaiko]

34. I thought Charlottesville was a creative launch point with a lot of possibilities.

But if the people of Charlottesville are against it, he's doing the right thing by pulling out.

Yes, its a shame his people didn't do enough footwork to find out if Biden's launch would be welcome.

[Renew Deal]

35. More proof that age doesn't equal wisdom

Biden is not ready

[still_one]

39. Oh, so that is why all this concern about him entering the race. Nice touch throwing the "age" bit

in also.

Biden is not ready? The voters will decide that thank-you

[ucrdem]

46. So "liberal activist groups" phoned the Washington Examiner

I think I can guess which.