While I recognize U.S. Sen. Kent Conrad's, D-N.D., and other state Democratic Party official's preeminence when it comes to political affairs, I disagree with their increasingly apparent exuberance for the candidacy of Sen. Barack Obama. While Obama, or any other of the Democratic contenders (as well as most of their Republican counterparts for that matter), would be a significant improvement over the Bush-Cheney administration, he is not the best person for the job.
Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware is.
Although "change" seems to be the catchword most candidates are using as we come to a close in Iowa, words like "intellect," "experience," and "expertise" matter most to me as I assess presidential candidates since the current occupant of the Oval Office seems to have gotten us into quite a pickle because he lacked all of those qualities when he came into office. Anybody running with the help of a political hack like Karl Rove and the backing of an evil genius like Dick Cheney can get elected because they claim to represent a "change" from whatever came before. No person on either side of the aisle, however, can match Biden's resume that clearly shows him to be the best prepared to face our real problems and lead this country.
If your definition of "change" merely means "new," Biden's not your man. Even though he is a relatively young man, he's been in the U.S. Senate since Nixon was in the White House. In such various positions at different times as chairman of the Senate Judiciary and Foreign Relations committees, he has participated longer and more directly in crucial issues facing our country than any other candidate, Democrat or Republican.
Throughout his tenure, he has been right on civil rights, he has been right on labor issues, he has been right on Supreme Court appointments, and he has been right when it comes to protecting Democratic priorities such as Social Security and Medicare. Most recently, he has been a leading opponent of the administration's Iraq policy and has offered solutions to that sorry mess that many foreign policy experts believe deserve at least serious consideration if not implementation.
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As a politician, Biden's not perfect. He has a tendency to talk too much, and sometimes that has gotten him into trouble. But, at the same time, no one can accuse him of flip-flopping or failing to make his positions clear. And, he's nothing if not quotable, which can only help in a general election.
I know Biden's a long shot. But the race isn't over. It's just beginning.
Biden deserves your consideration along with the front-runners if you will be attending the North Dakota Democratic caucuses Feb. 5.
Hodur is a Fargo attorney.
Other views: Sen. Joe Biden the best choice among Democratic candidates By Greg Hodur 20080103
