obama's vice presidential pick

As you've probably heard by now, at long last, Barack Obama has announced Senator Joe Biden as his running mate. Many view him as a smart, strategic pick for vice president, balancing out the ticket in a variety of ways. Now, all eyes are on Denver, where thousands will converge in the city this week for the Democratic National Conventions.

Since I'm in the habit of pointing out past inappropriate, offensive remarks by a certain Republican presidential candidate, I would be remiss if I didn't mention Joe Biden's own insensitive comments regarding Indian Americans back in 2006.

On Delaware's fastest-growing immigrant group, Biden remarked, "You cannot go into a Dunkin Donuts or a 7-Eleven unless you have a slight Indian accent..." Here's the video. What a stupid thing to say. Granted, it was actually meant to be a positive remark on the success and growth of the Indian American community in Delaware. It was just the really really wrong way to say it.

Now, as you know, I'm supporting Obama for President. But I can't say this stupid little remark in Biden's past isn't a bit disappointing. Sure, it's certainly not even close to "I hate the gooks." Just don't be surprised if the "7-11" remark comes to back to haunt him in some form or another.

And while we're talking about presidential candidates and stupid moves, I also have to acknowledge the Obama campaign's "Punjab Memo" which surfaced last year, a negative research memo outlining and mocking Hillary Clinton's personal financial and political ties to India. Not a smart move from Obama's camp—and a blight on the Senator's pledge to run a clean campaign. To his credit, Obama criticized and disavowed the memo: Obama calls memo about India 'stupid'.

I'm just saying, I'll be the first to admit that my candidate is not and cannot be the perfect political savior that everyone wants him to be. It's impossible. That said, I'm voting for Barack Obama and Joe Biden this November.