Questions for Joe Biden re: his daughter’s privacy
(with some advice from Antiquity)
When, in 2001, the media made much of Jenna Bush’s underage drinking, did you tell them to tone it done and respect the privacy of the then-president’s daughter?
When, in 2004, the presidential and vice-presidential nominees of your party in respective debates made an issue of the sexuality of the then-Vice President’s daughter, did you fault them for doing so?
When, in the 2008 presidential campaign, the media made much of the indiscretions of the daughter of your rival for the second highest office in the land, did you tell them to cool it?
Did, in that same campaign, you ever fault New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor for contacting, through Facebook, the friends of the youngest daughter of then-Republican presidential candidate John McCain to get dirt on his wife?
If you answered, “Yes,” to any of these questions, then you have grounds to criticize anyone who would publicize your daughter’s private life.
As I’ve said before, her life should remain private. She is not the public figure. You are. And you have been for nearly four decades now. And during that time, the media has made much of the private lives of family members of politicians of both parties, but mostly of those on the Republican side of the aisle.
Did you ever stand up for your partisan rivals when the media made much of their families’ private lives to the anticipated advantage of your party?
Now that some in the media are looking into your daughter’s indiscretions, maybe you can use that snooping to the greater benefit of the nation you serve. You could help us learn the lesson Achilles did when he recognized the sadness of his greatest rival’s father.
In the Iliad, After the death of his closest friend, Patrocles, Achilles killed indiscriminately, finally taking the life of the man who took his friend’s life, Hector son on King Priam of Troy. He dragged the prince’s corpse three times around his city and kept him from his father, preventing them from performing the proper funerary rites.
At the behest of Apollo, Zeus allowed Priam, guided by Hermes, to sneak into the Greek camp to request the corpse of his son. When that aged king urges the bloodthirsty hero to consider his feelings for his own father does Achilles begin to see the anguish his rage has caused. A changed man, he relents, releasing the body, his rage having defined the epic has dissipated. A new man has emerged.
May you, Mr. Vice President, now be as Priam to us all. Surely, it must be painful to you to see your beloved daughter dragged through the media because of her indiscretions. So, perhaps now you see the pain that President Bush and Governor Palin experienced when the media made much of their daughters’ imperfections.
Use this experience to put an end for once and for all to the mad partisan rush of the media to publicize the details of the private lives of family members of Republican officials and candidates. As Priam did to Achilles, help make our society more sensitive to the humanity of our rivals.
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[...] Questions for Joe Biden re: his daughter’s privacy(with some advice from Antiquity) [...]
Pingback by GayPatriot » Holding Joe Biden’s Family to the Barney Frank Standard — March 30, 2009 @ 3:53 am - March 30, 2009
Where was Biden on the Bristol Palin issue? I don’t remember any forceful remonstrations by Mr. Biden against the vitriolic attacks on Gov Palin’s family. Great post GayPatriot, the hypocrisy of the democrats never ceases to amaze. I would also point out that since Mr. Obama and Secy State Hillary have made illegal drug use synonymous with drug gang violence in Mexico then Biden’s daughter’s alleged illegal drug use then becomes her tacit support for those Mexican drug cartel’s drug violence. This is the logic of liberals and if they use such ‘hypocrisy’ tirades against repubs, then they should be hoisted by their own petards.
Comment by eaglewingz08 — March 30, 2009 @ 10:32 am - March 30, 2009
Dream on, it will be a cold day in hell with pigs flying all over the place when Democrats behave like adults.
Biden will whine about his daughter and will be the first in line to cast the first stone at the next Republican child.
Look at mini messiah Algore, there was some stupid earth hour where people were supposed to turn off the lights. The little people who believe in that kind of stuff – did it.
Not so Algore, like all Dems, they make the rules but never live by them.
Comment by Leah — March 30, 2009 @ 11:02 am - March 30, 2009
I say we should give the Biden offspring the same treatment the DNC MSM did to the Bush twins and (more recently) to the Palin children.
After all, it would be hypocritical if we didn’t, right?
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — March 30, 2009 @ 11:08 am - March 30, 2009
Since Al Gore has been mentioned:
1984: Al Gore’s sister Nancy dies of lung cancer.
1988: Al Gore — ”Throughout most of my life, I’ve raised tobacco. I want you to know that with my own hands, all of my life, I put it in the plant beds and transferred it. I’ve hoed it. I’ve chopped it. I’ve shredded it, spiked it, put it in the barn and stripped it and sold it.
(What a load. Can you see Prince Albert of Tennessee tending tobacco fields?)
1992: The Gore family finally stops growing tobacco on their farm in Carthage. Gore still accepts tobacco industry political donations.
1996: From Gore’s Democratic National Convention speech — And that is why until I draw my last breath, I will pour my heart and soul into the cause of protecting our children from the dangers of smoking.
He used his sister’s corpse for political gain. With hypocrites like this, who needs Republicans?
Comment by Ignatius — March 30, 2009 @ 11:27 am - March 30, 2009
I can´t feel sorry for Biden. As the saying goes, what is good for the goose is good for the gander. So, let´s heap it on them each and every time. In time, they might get the message and stand up to the media on behalf of their partisan rivals.
Comment by Roberto — March 30, 2009 @ 12:02 pm - March 30, 2009
#6 – Claro que si, Roberto.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — March 30, 2009 @ 12:34 pm - March 30, 2009
Has anyone seen the tape?
Do you remember how many on the right denounced the First Lady for being racist over a tape that did not exist?
Could this be another “Whitey” Tape?
But even if its not is it worth the breathless coverage you are giving it?
I mean…its not like she is married to an American hatein’ secessionist or anything…
Comment by gillie — March 30, 2009 @ 1:20 pm - March 30, 2009
gillie is correct in pointing out that all of this Biden daughter cocaine theme is pure rumor of a tape.
Dan Rather has not yet pronounced the rumor to be “false, but accurate.” Let’s hold off until Rather has weighed in.
Comment by heliotrope — March 30, 2009 @ 2:30 pm - March 30, 2009
Huffington post is reporting the attorney representing the owner of the tape is quitting citing the vid might have been made using a hidden camera.
I feel bad for people who thing “whats good for the goose is good for the gander” There should be some compassion for the public officials trying to raise a family. Teen pregnancy (Palins family), alchohol abuse (Bush, Gores family) and (possible) drug abuse (Bidens family) are all very real problems for families throughout this country.
Its wrong for the MSM to try to dig up dirt or cast a spotlight on these issues regardless of party affiliation.
As for Mary Cheny, she was an adult and a member of her fathers campaign. She was also a member of the Republican gay straight alliance and publically stated the sexual orientation “a non-issue for the Republican Party,” with a goal of “equality for all gay and lesbian Americans” She was also the gay & lesbian outreach director for Coors Brewing and helped end the gay boycott of Coors.
So its not like she was outed. And its obvious why it was brought up alot. The issue makes Republicans unconfortable, especially, the Cheneys.
Dick Gephart on the other hand, was open and honest about his daughters coming out during the 2004 primaries:
http://www.planetout.com/news/feature.html?sernum=650
“Since Chrissy has spoken publicly about her coming-out experience, we have been stopped on the campaign trail by numerous people, who thank us for sharing our story with them. My wife, Jane, and I have recently joined PFLAG. Chrissy has joined the campaign full time, talking to audiences about her experiences and my candidacy for president. I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather have out there traveling the country on my behalf than my daughter.”
Different people. Different approaches. Different parties.
Comment by Chuck In Del — March 30, 2009 @ 2:36 pm - March 30, 2009
And here’s gillie, again showing that double standard we’ve all come to know and despise.
First, he repeats what others have said, that the tape would need to be validated. Then he throws in a non-sequetor Sarah bashing comment, based in untruth, to bolster his own self image. I assume it’s his self image, since it isn’t to bolster his (lack of an) arguement.
The point remains, that gillie, and others of his political bent, tore into a teenager with no basis in reality at all, for politcial gain, but cry foul at the thought of questioning the possible actions of the adult daughter of a sitting vice president.
Personally, if Ms. Biden has a drug addiction, she has my sympathy and prayers that she cleans out. But for anyone on the left to suggest that her problems would be off limits, or that we’d need proof, is laughable.
Besides, we have pleanty of video of VP Biden being an idiot.
Comment by The Livewire — March 30, 2009 @ 2:37 pm - March 30, 2009
Well I for one would be delighted to donate to a fund that will buy that tape and air it for all to see. This isn’t some 17 year old who made a stupid, youthful mistake like getting knocked up or some college drinking. This is a 27 year old adult social worker, employed by the state of Delaware in their Children and Family Services Dept who allegedly snorted a Class A drug.
Comment by Patriot Goddess — March 30, 2009 @ 2:43 pm - March 30, 2009
Any Delaware citizen should be able to criticize Ms. Biden’s skiing of the slopes, as they pay her salary. If Delaware’s CFS receives any federal funding, any taxpaying citizen of the United States is well within their rights to criticize her. If you don’t want your habits to be publicly debated, try finding a job in the private sector. Just my two cents.
Comment by Brendan In Philly — March 30, 2009 @ 3:24 pm - March 30, 2009
This is the new reality of politics. If it’s out there, it will show up on youtube or someone’s blog and then go viral. Personally, I’m sick of “news” that isn’t any of my business, but scandal sells papers and bumps ratings.
And I’m sorry but are you honestly going to tell me that if one of the Obamas’ daughters were pregnant out of wedlock the Republicans wouldn’t have been all over that? I’m not condoning it but it’s not as if it’s one side doing the smearing and the other side blameless and pure here.
Comment by Houndentenor — March 30, 2009 @ 3:58 pm - March 30, 2009
“And I’m sorry but are you honestly going to tell me that if one of the Obamas’ daughters were pregnant out of wedlock the Republicans wouldn’t have been all over that?”
Considering that they’re not even pre-teens, I would think the AMA would be all over that!
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — March 30, 2009 @ 4:24 pm - March 30, 2009
I wonder if Joe Biden’s daughter ever bought blow from Al Gore’s son.
Comment by V the K — March 30, 2009 @ 4:27 pm - March 30, 2009
Houndentenor, did you even read the post? It addressed the issue not of one party making an issue of the personal problems of family members of the other party, but the media making much of such misdeeds–and the Democrats’ silence in the face of the MSM invading the private lives of Republicans.
Comment by GayPatriotWest — March 30, 2009 @ 4:27 pm - March 30, 2009
Hey gillie…..OJ, guilty or innocent?
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — March 30, 2009 @ 4:41 pm - March 30, 2009
Kerry, who served in Vietnam BTW, brought it up to make sure that everybody listening knew that she was a lesbian and perhaps peel away voters and/or support for Bush/Cheney. There was no need to mention it at all.
Say gillie, I’m still waiting for a liberal to explain to me why Palin & Joe the Plumber’s backgrounds were so important, but nobody gave a damn about Obama’s.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — March 30, 2009 @ 4:43 pm - March 30, 2009
Dan, I don’t watch the news on TV that often, so I can’t speak to that. But I did read about it in the newspapers. I recall it even made the first page. Is there media bias here? Maybe so. One reason that Palin’s daughter made the news is that it happened during the campaign. These things tend to make the news more during campaign time. Just as Edwards fling also made news during the campaign.
As for the other point being made, I do believe that children of candidates should be off-limits. I was never a fan of the previous two presidents, but I was horrified of the cheap shots taken at Chelsea, Barbara, and Jenna. Same with Palin, her daughter should have been left alone. The only thing I would have advised Palin (and now Biden) is if someone asks about their children, they should say, “it’s a private matter, next question.” I think Palin made a mistake by, instead, saying that her daughter was going to marry the father of her child. I haven’t heard what Biden has said or not said about his daughter.
Another thing. I was appalled when Mary Cheney was blackballed after having her child, and people even wishing death for her child. The comments that I see regarding Biden’s daughter aren’t as bad, but they are still appalling, and uncalled for. The left apparently isn’t good on calling out on their own. I wonder if that will also be true about the right regarding the Bidens.
Comment by Pat — March 30, 2009 @ 4:59 pm - March 30, 2009
#livewire – Did you read my post or did you simply glance at it and put your projection into it?
18 I would say guilty
Ive done yours, you do mine:
Hey Gene – Cheney – war crimes – guilty or innocent?
Comment by gillie — March 30, 2009 @ 4:59 pm - March 30, 2009
#16 – You are in rare form today, V! Kudos!
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — March 30, 2009 @ 5:00 pm - March 30, 2009
As I posted in #10:
Tape has been withdrawn because it might have been a hidden camera.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/30/ashley-biden-cocaine-tape_n_180703.html
And just like Bill O’Reilly with his tapes, nothing to see here. Move along.
Comment by Chuck In Del — March 30, 2009 @ 6:26 pm - March 30, 2009
#20 oh not guilty. Bush 43 and Cheny are responsible for avenging 3500 dead Americans. And preventing even more of our innocents from being slaughtered as well. Bush and Cheney took the fight to the aggressors and the results are obvious. Going on the offensive is one of the early tactics taught to military officers. I’m sure you’ll join me in thanking the former Vice President for his role. We should pray for Obamateleprompter to not make us less safe. He plans to gutt the military and he will be held accountable by history. I understand President Obama plans to bring Gitmo detainees to the US mainland. I was wondering gille, where abouts do you live? Can you volunteer your town and it’s jail to house the 300 terrorists? If not, maybe we can convince Obamateleprompter to build a facility next door to the White House, next to where his two girls and wife sleep at night.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — March 30, 2009 @ 6:38 pm - March 30, 2009
hmmm. Moussaui is in a federal prison in America.
Christopher Paul, accused of being an Al Qaeda member is in jail in the US.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/26/terror/main4831710.shtml
America has the capacity to jail people here on our own soil.
And I am sure there are a few states that have high unemployment, that if you asked, do you want a multimillion dollar prison built in your town that will create hundreds of jobs, someone would take up the offer.
Yep that cheap and easy war in Iraq has really worked out well for us. Note to former VP: when avenging, be sure to attack the people who actually had something to do with it.
Comment by Chuck In Del — March 30, 2009 @ 8:35 pm - March 30, 2009
Bravo, and may I say, skillful metaphor: “dragged through the media”
Comment by sierra — March 31, 2009 @ 10:18 am - March 31, 2009
#22 – Chuckles, please clarify for me – what tapes of O’Reilly are you referring to, exactly? Because if he ever did any illegal substances, the DNC MSM would be all over it. And frankly, I don’t recall any.
Also – please quit engaging in typical liberal/Alinsky/Marxist methods of bait-and-switch. O’Reilly is not an elected offical or the offspring of one currently sitting in the executive branch (not the legislative, as Bozo Biden famously claimed in the Palin VP debate).
You are comparing apples to oranges and, frankly, you are losing.
Try again.
Regards,
Peter H.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — March 31, 2009 @ 11:18 am - March 31, 2009
I was referring to the sexual harrassment tapes in his civil suit. An out of court settlement was reached, but the rumors still abound as to what is on the tapes. The point I was trying to make was that until the tape is released, it will always be a rumor.
And using an example that shares similarities is not marxist, it is a debate tactic. Another debate tactic might be to know what point is trying to be made before throwing a hissy.
I am not defending Bidens daughters actions, nor am I attacking O’Reilly.
Personally I find Bidens son Hunters’ former ties to lobbyists a bit more troubling. Hunter was all “lobbied up” until Joe got in the spotlight as VP pick. This is a bit more hypocritcal given the “throw out the K-Streeters” sentiment of the last election.
I also believe at some point “daddy’s little boy/girl” is all grown up and responsible for his/her actions. It can still reflect poorly on the parents. That is the reality of celebrity.
Comment by Chuck In Del — March 31, 2009 @ 11:58 am - March 31, 2009
Chuck,
you’d be surprised about the prison thing. States already stick them in the sections of the states who don’t have the higher populations (NIMBY)
I’d like your thoughts on this article though.
Comment by The Livewire — March 31, 2009 @ 12:25 pm - March 31, 2009
#27 – Chuckles, are you REALLY trying to compare alleged sexual harassment to alleged illegal drug use??
Sexual harassment is NOT a felony. Illegal cocaine use IS a felony. And the true news story you should be announcing is that the Biden tape MAY have been a setup; nobody knows if it is real or not. And so the burden of proof is on the perp – in this case, Ms. Biden:
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2009/03/exclusive-biden-daughter-cocaine-video-was-setup
Funny too how Biden has not even addressed this issue. If it were a Republican VP’s kids, don’t you think the DNC MSM would be acting as if it were the biggest cover-up since Watergate and be on the story 24/7?
Do you always believe the worst? If so, you must have been VERY upset at Bill Clinton given his antics in the Oval Orifice, and must have been VERY upset when he never unsealed his medical records given HIS alleged cocaine history.
Or for that matter, you must be VERY upset to hear about The Snob’s alleged cocaine use as well.
What’s that you said? It’s “alleged?” Yes, but also substantiated through either a third party’s testimony under oath (Juanita Brodderick, Gennifer Flowers, Monica Lewinsky) or past information provided through partisan channels (NYT, WaPo etc). The information is there should you choose to research it.
Last time I checked, the burden of proof of sexual harassment was on the perp, not the victim. Funny too that nobody has dug up any evidence on the O’Reilly “tapes,” especially given the fact that there are enough networks out there (hello, PMSNBC) who would want to take down the #1 media personality in cable today.
And so I ask again – where is Papa Biden? Why isn’t he defending his daughter’s honor? Why is it that a weblog that is under-the-radar and the HuffPo all of a sudden declaring the video a hoax? Why is nobody else reporting this story?
Answer – the same reason the MSM covered for Clinton during the Lewinsky saga. It took the Drudge Report to blow the lid off of it.
Match, set, game.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — March 31, 2009 @ 1:16 pm - March 31, 2009
gillie,
Yes I read it, still waiting for you to say anything substantial on the topic, instead of trying to distract from it.
Chuck, do we have the reason why the alleged tape has been allegedly withdrawn? Doesn’t exist, or fear of black helicopters?
Comment by The Livewire — March 31, 2009 @ 1:20 pm - March 31, 2009
The reason the tape was withdrawn was because it was possibly taken with a hidden camera, which is illegal?
I really don’t care if the tape is released. Just like when the Bush twins where going through their girls gone wild years. I didnt care, and still don’t. I feel sorry for any child of a public official because of just such coverage. They didnt choose to be the child of the Pres or VP. People make mistakes, kids make mistakes. Only when kids of high profile celebrities make mistakes, they get a disproportionate amount of coverage. Its unfortunately the nature of the beast.
And what I am trying to say about the tape is this: Just like Bill O’Reilly and his tapes anyone can say anything about them without being able to verify what is being reported. Verifying facts is a good thing.
Think of it like this. DeLorean was accused of dealing drugs to bail out his car company. “He is on tape dealing drugs” was the charge. He claimed entrapment and won. Once again, I am NOT comparing the crimes. I am SAYING I want to see facts. I am SAYING the first several news cycles often do not resemble the facts when they are revealed.
Trust but verfiy anyone? Or is giddy schoolgirl schanenfreude a bipartisan condition?
Comment by Chuck In Del — March 31, 2009 @ 3:53 pm - March 31, 2009
#31 – “The reason the tape was withdrawn was because it was possibly taken with a hidden camera, which is illegal.”
As if anyone on the left ever did anything that WASN’T illegal, like wiretapping Linda Tripp’s phone, eavesdropping on Congressmen and selling it to the NYT, etc. All in the name of “party unity.”
Granted, your point about celebrity kids is a valid one. Yet as in the case of Bristol Palin, it also proves that if the DNC MSM wants to destroy you, they can do it with virtually no opposition.
All we have been saying on this thread is that it is apparently a one-sided deal for the liberal media, who will excoriate a Republican candidate and their family for any alleged actions, but hold their silence when it involves a Democrat. And so far, NOBODY has proven otherwise.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — March 31, 2009 @ 4:58 pm - March 31, 2009
Biden and Obama both said during the campaign that children of politicians are off limits:
In two separate campaign appearances today both Barack Obama and Joe Biden proclaimed Sarah Palin’s pregnant 17 year old daughter Bristol, politically off limits.
Speaking to reporters in Monroe, Michigan Obama said, “Let me be as clear as possible. I think people’s families are off-limits, and people’s children are especially off-limits. This shouldn’t be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin’s performance as governor or her potential performance as a vice president.”
The Democratic nominee pointed out that he was the child of an 18 year old mother, and that his supporters should back off of this story, “How a family deals with issues and teenage children, that shouldn’t be the topic of our politics, and I hope that anybody who is supporting me understands that’s off-limits.”
While campaigning in Florida, vice presidential nominee Joe Biden was asked about Palin, “I don’t know the governor…I know people worry about Biden-style talk, but the truth is I simply don’t know. I take her on face value. She’s a governor, that’s no mean feat and she seems to have a strong personal story.†He also added that, “children are off limits.â€http://www.politicususa.com/en/obama-biden-bristol-palin-off-limits
Maybe the supporters of both Repubs an Dems are to blame when it comes to the speculation, slamming, and cruelty towards the children of politicians not the politicians themselves. I doubt Sarah Palin would like to see this young woman’s name dragged through the mud after what unfairly happened to her daughter. Everyone needs to cool it. Blame the parents for whatever but leave the kids (even if they are young adults) alone.
Comment by Jenny — April 1, 2009 @ 11:20 am - April 1, 2009
[...] President and his family’s privacy, I asked him a variety of questions, including, “When, in the 2008 presidential campaign, the media made much of the indiscretions of the daughter of…“ Should he answer “Yes,†to that or any of the questions I posed, I held he would [...]
Pingback by GayPatriot » Biden Gets a Pass, but not MSM nor Barney — April 1, 2009 @ 6:31 pm - April 1, 2009