Obama: Biden Prone to 'Rhetorical Flourishes'

Washington Post ^ | October 22, 2008 | Robert Barnes

[presidio9]

Democrat Barack Obama said today there is no reason to believe that he is more likely to be tested by an international crisis if elected than if rival John McCain is, and said the important question is how the next president responds.

"Whoever is the next president is going to have to deal with a whole host of challenges internationally -- and a period of transition in a new administration is always one in which we have to be vigilant," Obama said after meeting here with his team of national security and foreign policy advisers.

He was responding to a question about an assertion by his running mate, Joe Biden, over the weekend. "Mark my words," Biden had said. "It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking."

McCain's campaign has used the statement to imply that Obama is not ready to lead in a dangerous world.

Even though Biden's words suggested that Obama would be singled out for the test, Obama brushed the comment off, saying, "I think Joe sometimes engages in rhetorical flourishes."

"We are going to face a number of threats and tests and challenges because for the last eight years we've had a policy, a bad set of policies, that have resulted in two unresolved wars, bin Laden and al-Qaeda communicating regularly and training folks to potentially attack America and an economy that has been in a free fall," Obama said.

"The question is, will the next president meet that test by moving America in a new direction -- by sending a clear signal to the rest of the world that we are no longer about bluster and unilateralism and ideology, but we're about creating partnerships around the world to solve practical problems.

[Terry Mross]

Interesting that you said Iran found Carter spineless. Biden said “they” are going to learn Obama has a steel spine.

[Taffini]

I “rhetorical flourish” in the rats general direction./.../

[savedbygrace]

In this case rhetorical flourish means, “He told the truth that must not be mentioned.”

[capydick]

Whoever hits us - I sure hope it’s not the Bosniak’s.

[etcb]

Obama’s first position was that Palin was not qualified to be president. His current position is that Biden is not qualified to even talk about who should be president.

Obama’s judgment - Opposition to troop surge, selection of Senator Biden for VP. Really gives you confidence doesn't it.

[Anima Mundi]

Great. Now I am going to get investigated, right?

[x]

"I think Joe sometimes engages in rhetorical flourishes."

Er ... does that mean we shouldn't "gird our loins"?

Or that Obama's not going to "clean the Augean stables"?

[Colonial Warrior]

BIDENTHINK - What'n the HELL have I hitched my ass up to?? This greenhorn is gonna get somebody...." Oh, hello BOSS, XXXOOO!!!

[Toespi]

“I think Joe sometimes engages in rhetorical flourishes.”

Well, we can only hope that if he is sitting in the Oval office, our nation one the brink of war, that he doesn’t have a rhetorical flourish.

[pillut48]

"I think Joe sometimes engages in rhetorical flourishes."

Whew... is that all it was! I thought Biden had an aneurysms what with his seizure-like winking, blinking, painful grimacing and wild scaremongering.

Nah, that's the botox. ;-)

[libs_kma]

"Biden said “they” are going to learn Obama has a steel spine."

Probably Biden meant that Obama Hussein was going to get ACORN to steal one for him from a Conservative.