Stereotypical Comments

Senator Biden dooms any hopes of a presidential nomination again by trying to compliment and distance himself at the same time from the most charismatic candidate his own party has for the 2008 presidential election. Cole (2007) provides an accurate assessment of Biden's comments by showing how mindless Biden is in his comments meant to both compliment a member of his own party yet intentionally distance himself from Senator Obama. When one considers Senator Biden's comments in the context of the great African-American orators of the 20th and 21st century one has to wonder if the Senator recalls the stirring speeches of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and many others.

Would not Dr. King, in his prime, be even more charismatic, articulate and "clean," the word Senator Biden uses for an "acceptable" African-American? Of course, Dr. King's many gifts of communication, persuasion and the galvanizing of a nation will never be forgotten. He erased the color line Senator Biden left on the American political canvas of this year as he inches along his own path to obscurity. As Cole (2007) aptly states how Biden's comments are racially divisive and worthy of every word of criticism, the most positive aspect of this fiasco is Senator Obamas' self-control and strength. Senator Obama takes the high ground and shows that all the media accolades to his character and charisma are well earned. As time has passed since this incident, Senator Obama continues to show the qualities of true leadership; rising above the ignorance of Senator Biden and embracing the issues and focusing on what the nation needs in terms of solutions. The bottom line is that as the weeks pass after these comments by Senator Biden, time will show just how anachronistic his views of minorities are. One almost wants to remind Senator Biden to pause on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and remember the words "I Have a Dream" and realize the greatest strength in leaders come from words of service and unification, not division.

Reference:

Cole (2007) - "Articulate,' 'Clean,' 'Mainstream': How Else Will Biden 'Compliment' Obama?" Cole, Yoji. Accessed from www.Diversityinc.comfrom the following location http://diversityinc.com/public/1223.cfmon February 4, 2007.