Brooks Dreams of Biden

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David Brook’s column today is a pretty good indication of what the Very Serious people of Washington will think of a Joe Biden pick.

Brooks likes Biden because of Biden’s working class roots, his straight-shooting nature, and his experience in Washington and abroad. One suspects it is this last that really matters. “When Obama talks about postpartisanship, he talks about a grass-roots movement that will arise and sweep away the old ways of Washington,” writes Brooks. “When John McCain talks about it, he describes a meeting of wise old heads who get together to craft compromises. Obama’s vision is more romantic, but McCain’s is more realistic.”

So Biden is a liberal, not-evil Cheney. I’ll agree that’s a good thing. I’ll further agree that having people like David Brooks on-board with the Obama VP pick is a good thing for Obama. But I won’t agree that experience is the primary consideration when choosing a VP. Is Brooks not aware how that undercuts Obama’s entire case for the presidency? If we value experience, why settle for a ticket with a VP who has 25+ years of experience in Washington? Why not pick the ticket with the nominee who has 25+ years of experience in Washington?

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PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please do your part and help us reach our $150,000 membership goal by May 31.

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