Foot In Mouth

Does anyone stick his foot in his mouth more often than Sen. Joe Biden? Maybe he should stick to plagerism. All of his original comments typically require his people to issue a clarification.

The latest, in an interview in which Biden criticizes President Bush on education, he then tries to explain why the D.C. has such a poor school system:

"There's less than 1 percent of the population of Iowa that is African American. There is probably less than 4 or 5 percent that are minorities. What is in Washington? So look, it goes back to what you start off with, what you're dealing with," Biden said.

The retraction and re-explanation:

The Biden campaign moved quickly to clarify the senator's remarks in a statement: "This was not a race-based distinction, but a discussion of the problems kids face who don't have the same socio-economic support system (and all that implies -- nutrition, pre K, etc.) entering grade school and the impact of those disadvantages on outcomes."

Fair enough, Senator. Let's correct your quote:

There's less than 1 percent of the population of Iowa that is [don't have the same socio-economic support system (and all that implies -- nutrition, pre K, etc.)]. There is probably less than 4 or 5 percent that are [don't have the same socio-economic support system (and all that implies -- nutrition, pre K, etc.)] What is in Washington? So look, it goes back to what you start off with, what you're dealing with.

Uh, yeah. Iowa has less than 1 percent (and, at the same time, less than 4 or 5 percent) of kids that have some socio-economic disadvantage. That's what you meant.

Biden then picks on Pakistan.

On foreign policy, his area of expertise, he said, "I'm a hell of a lot more worried about Pakistan," which already has nuclear weapons, as opposed to Iran, which is still working on nuclear enrichment, a possible step on the way to developing them. "I wish we'd pay as much attention to Pakistan as the saber rattling we're doing with Iran," Biden said.

I understand why Biden mentioned the threat of Pakistan. He was obviously reaching out to voters from Pakistan's rival, India. After all, Indians are a fast growing demographic in Biden's home state Delaware, at least according to this quote from Biden:

"In Delaware, the largest growth of population is Indian-Americans, moving from India. You cannot go to a 7/11 or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I’m not joking."

We are pretty sure you weren't Senator.