Biden waits for an introduction before giving a speech at the Center for American Progress on May 20 in Washington. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
by Katie Fretland
As Sen. Barack Obama prepares for a trip to the Middle East, Republicans have drawn attention this week to contradictions in what one of his potential running mates said about the presumptive Democratic nominee's stance on Afghanistan.
Before Sen. Joe Biden became an oft-mentioned candidate for a spot on the Obama ticket, he campaigned against him for the Democratic nomination for president. During that time, the Delaware Democrat said Obama had a "Johnny come lately" position on Afghanistan by asking for more brigades last summer.
But this week, Biden wrote in a letter to Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) that Obama has "displayed great leadership on this issue," referring to Afghanistan. Biden wrote in response a request by DeMint for Obama to have a Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on European Affairs meeting following his trip to Afghanistan.
Republicans have criticized Obama for failing to hold any hearings on NATO's mission in Afghanistan during the time Obama has chaired the committee.
Biden's contradiction caused the Republican National Committee to issue this statement Thursday: "Thank you, Sen. Biden, for proving the point that Barack Obama has no credibility on Afghanistan."
Associated Press writer Nedra Pickler provides a fact check of Obama on Afghanistan with this report:
THE FACTS:
In a February debate, Obama acknowledged he hadn't had any oversight hearings because he only became chairman as he launched his presidential bid. He's not been around Capitol Hill much since then -- nor has McCain.
The subcommittee's jurisdiction includes "all matters, policies and problems concerning the continent of Europe, including the European member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization."
Obama may have missed a chance to build his foreign policy credentials by making use of his leadership position. Biden could tell him about that -- he was the leading Democrat on the Europe subcommittee for nearly 20 years and used the position to become one of the Senate's leading foreign policy experts.
But some observers of the committee have said major issues like a war in Afghanistan are typically examined by the full committee -- as Biden argued was more appropriate in his letter to DeMint.
But the RNC pointed out to reporters Thursday that Obama only attended one of the three full committee hearings on Afghanistan that Biden mentioned in his letter. And in Biden's "Johnny-come-late" statement, he criticized Obama for asking only one question unrelated to Afghanistan at that March 8, 2007 hearing.
But the Democrats aren't the only ones with a mixed-message messenger on the issue. DeMint skipped the one hearing that Obama chaired on the NATO ambassador's nomination, and McCain also has missed multiple Armed Services Committee hearings on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars while campaigning for president.
• 
• 
• 
Comments
Obama ABDICATED his responsibilities (and possibilities) by FAILING to hold one meeting of the sub committee he chairs on Foreign Relations.
In fact, has he EVER chaired a meeting of any kind?
Obama is a pretender trying to claim the throne.....he has not even shown he is a patriotic American!!!!
Yes, thank you Joe Biden....we can always count on your frank opinions!,
Posted by: Steve | July 18, 2008 8:03 AM
This is always what you get from Obama, excuses.
Posted by: Virginia | July 18, 2008 8:14 AM
Biden is a jerk. He almost single-handedly HARASSED BONAFIDE LAW PROFESSOR ANITA HILL--A REAL ACADEMIC!
Please. If they put this guy on the ticket I'ma gonna be sick.
Posted by: Hillary would be the best veep for us | July 18, 2008 8:58 AM
Virginia: So what's McCain's excuse for missing all those Armed SErvices Committee hearings? Please.
This is what Senators do, there are no stones to throw in this glass house.
Posted by: Joe | July 18, 2008 9:05 AM
FLIP FLOPS to be worn by everyone in his circle ha.
Sorry Joe, we didn't need you to point those out for us, we can see them all just fine....still able to think for ourselves and for the next 4 years I hope.
Posted by: Teresa | July 18, 2008 9:23 AM
I understand Obama how has a over 300 "BIDENS" brief him on "HOW" as per the NY TIMES.
VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com
Posted by: VJ Machiavelli | July 18, 2008 9:33 AM
Hey Joe - Obama's excuse for missing those sub-committee meeting is that the chairman never scheduled them. Wait, he is the chairman.
But what do expect, he has only been in the Senate for less than 150 sessions.
Posted by: Terry | July 18, 2008 10:27 AM
Did Biden actually find a position in Obama's conflicting statements to criticize? Obama's position on Iraq and Afghanistan is "whatever the politics demand."
He's already laid the groundwork to give up on the 16-month timetable for withdrawal now that he's been browbeaten into going to Iraq by McCain. I can't wait to see all the liberal posters on this site turn over and engage in groupthink once Obama announces that things are far better in Iraq than he realized once he goes there and that he's "refining" his position because of this new information.
I'll give Biden some credit, he has more resolved and spine in his positions than the average Obama supporter. He's also taller than Danny DeVito.
Posted by: Jeff | July 18, 2008 10:28 AM
The majority of the senators miss committee meetings. And, yes a lot of the politicians do "flip flops" just ask Geo W. Bush, Chaney, Clintons, et al.
So, let's not try to use one upmanship here. It's not going to work. Joe Biden, included.
Posted by: CHANGE | July 18, 2008 10:42 AM
meanwhile, bushco does nothing but follow barack's foreign policy lead on every major issue.
Posted by: crud | July 18, 2008 1:09 PM
After sending his (McCain) surrogates out to criticize Obama for attending only one meeting about Afganistan, it turns out that McCain has NEVER attended even one of his own committees hearings on Afganistan.
Straight-Talk?
-
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/forum/boards/viewtopic.asp?topicID=122882
-
Posted by: John E | July 18, 2008 3:09 PM
Obama and McCain finally found something to agree on: Afghanistan is where the real war's at! While McCain still wants to fight in Iraq some more, Obama thinks Iraq is totally last year's war and we should just throw everything we have at Afghanistan. Regardless of what they think of Iraq, the verdict is in. Afghanistan is the war to watch!
How must Iraq feel to be yesterday's quagmire? If only these two chaotic regions could talk...
http://www.236.com/news/2008/07/17/if_they_imd_iraq_and_afghanist_7775.php
Posted by: eliana | July 18, 2008 3:46 PM
OBAMA IS ONE WHO DOES NOT TOUT HIS CAMPAIGN ON EXPERIENCE,RATHER HE BOASTS HIS JUDGEMENT..THE PEOPLE WITH ALL OF THIS,SO CALLED EXPERIENCE,ARE THE MAINS ONES WHO GOT US INTO THIS WAR AND THIS ECONOMIC MESS TODAY..
Posted by: david donaldson,Atlanta ga.. | July 19, 2008 8:38 AM
Biden is a traitor and a liar.
Biden was meeting with the pakistan ISI leader on and around 9/11. This is the man who wired atta the $100,000 for the 9/11 attacks.
Biden should be put under oath and asked about those meetings with the pakistan isi and his involvement with it.
Anything Biden says about foreign relations can not be trusted to be in the best interests of the American people.
Posted by: brainofjfk | August 19, 2008 6:13 PM
"He almost single-handedly HARASSED BONAFIDE LAW PROFESSOR ANITA HILL--A REAL ACADEMIC"
I don't know what planet this person was living on but they need to refresh their memory of this hearing. The two senators that harassed her were Spector and Simpson. Biden only made the unfortunate decision to make the hearings public which turned out to be a Godsend for women in the years to follow. Perhaps that is why the mascot of Republicans are elephants and Democrats are jackasses. The Democrats don't remember what actually happened so they act like jackasses to cover it up! As an independent, I know the only difference between the two major parties is how you spell crook! Stop fighting among yourself and start doing your research.
Posted by: Illinois Independent | August 20, 2008 10:51 AM