House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) got in a light-hearted dig at Vice President Joe Biden today, CNN reports.
At a dedication event for the Ernest “Fritz” Hollings Special Collections Library, Clyburn introduced Biden: “Ladies and gentleman, it’s a pleasure for me to present to you a mainstream American who is an articulate and bright and clean and a nice looking guy.” Biden then grinned and hugged Clyburn.
Clyburn was referring to then-Senator (and then-presidential candidate) Biden’s remarks in January 2007, when he offered this explanation of Barack Obama’s appeal: “I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that’s a storybook, man.” Biden apologized shortly afterward — and interestingly enough, went on to become Obama’s running mate.
