OPINION:
Joe Biden, vice president under Barack Obama, came out a few days ago saying he is sad and sorry he didn’t run for president.
His exact words, during an appearance at Colgate University, first reported by The Hill: “Do I regret not being president? Yes.”
He also went on to say that in his most esteemed view, he thought he “was the best qualified” and would’ve had the best chance at winning. Of course, he is biased. And of course, he would say that — he has to. Could you imagine a presidential candidate running on the tag, “Vote for Me: Second Most Qualified.”
No, a president needs to be “Most Qualified” to win this White House. America won’t have it any other way.
But let’s circle back to Biden’s statement for a second — the part where he said he regretted his decision to not seek the high office. And let’s just ponder that a moment. Out of all Biden’s Bidenisms — out of all the head-shaking moments in history he can claim as his own — it’s his failure to run for the White House he publicly regrets?
Truly, there’s a list of other things he ought to regret more — that he ought to outright apologize for, in fact.
1) How about back in March 2010, when Biden, in his official role as vice president, introduced Obama at the signing ceremony for Obamacare with a whispered expletive, caught on mic for all to hear: “This is a big [f-ing] deal.” Seems a classless statement, if not outright regretful.
2) How about when he went on national television in 2008 with Katie Couric and spoke of the stock market crash of 1929, back when “Franklin D. Roosevelt” was president, and how that U.S. leader didn’t just get on TV and dismiss the event? He doesn’t regret those two historically inaccurate gaffes?
3) What about when Biden, during the 2008 presidential campaign season, spoke about Obama’s articulate manner of speaking — as well as the fact the then-senator was both “African-American” and “clean” — as if it were a surprise combination, worthy of recognition and praise?
4) And who can forget Biden’s famous stereotype of Indian-Americans, by saying in 2006 that “you cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent.” He followed that seconds later with this gulper of a moment: “I’m not joking,” he said. Guess that falls under the category of Regretful Only If You’re a Republican.
5) But here’s an oft-forgotten fact of Biden’s life: He tried a run at the White House in 1988 but fell short after he was accused of plagiarizing a speech from a British Labour Party leader. Seriously — he doesn’t regret that? Lest we forget: Biden was also accused of stealing lines from speeches from Robert and John Kennedy.
6) Or this — he doesn’t regret this? In 2012, while on the campaign trail, Biden told Sen. Chuck Graham to “stand up, let the people see you.” Only problem — Graham’s a paraplegic. Can’t stand. Oops.
7) In 2006, Biden also spoke of running for the White House — but not to express interest in the office. When asked about running, he said this: “I’d rather be at home making love to my wife while my children are asleep.” That’s still weird, to this day. Why bring the children into it, Joe?
8) And now we’re headed into creepy zone. While speaking on the campaign trail in 2012, Biden suggested he’d been more than friendly with several commanders-in-chief. He said: “Folks, I can tell you I’ve known eight presidents, three of them intimately.” What???
9) And really, this doesn’t need any more explanation — Biden’s unofficial title, “America’s Creepy Uncle.” How many women has he been caught touching, uncomfortably close? How many little girls has he been photographed in apparent Gone Gropey mode? Then there was that biker chick photo, where Biden’s sitting in the chair, nuzzling the ear of the woman on his lap, while two biker men look on with a mixture of curiosity and — well, something more like disgust or anger. Come on Biden — surely these moments are cause for more “regret” than your decision to not run for the presidency?
10) And in case those creepy times don’t remind of why Biden should not — no never — be president: How about swimming naked in front of female Secret Service agents tasked to protect him at his Delaware home? That’s according to Ronald Kessler, who wrote “The First Family Detail.” Quite an image of decorum, wouldn’t you say?
The Internet’s full of what the left tries to paint fondly as Bidenisms — but what those with even the slightest of moral compasses or inkling of virtue and common decency see as more creepy than cute. Take a look. Maybe Biden’s “regret” at missing his White House chance is a savior — to him, to the Democrats, to our country — in disguise. President Donald Trump, after all, may have his image with women that haunts. But Biden, naked and swimming, or Biden grasping a child’s arm and whispering in her ear, are images that wouldn’t exactly have revealed him, to put it pointedly, as anywhere near “best qualified” for the job.
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