But for a comma?
Two TPM Readers offer a contrary explanation of the Biden comment.
TPM Reader DS …
OK, I’m not a big Biden fan, so I wouldn’t be disappointed to see him drop
out. But I have to say this: what if the Observer punctuated casually? That is, what if there is supposed to be a comma before ‘who,’ making it a non-restrictive relative clause:âI mean, you got the first mainstream African-American, who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,â he said. âI mean, thatâs a storybook, man.â
Thus he would mean Obama is both
a). the first mainstream African-American candidate for president
and
b). articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy
but not necessarily that he is the first African-American candidate to have these properties. This would be patronizing and stupid, but not the breathtakingly offensive sentiment suggested when the comma isn’t there.
In speech, it’s not always clear whether a speaker is using a restrictive or a non-restrictive relative, but in writing you have to decide which was meant, and use a comma or not. What if the Observer chose poorly?
Anyway, I thought that was worth offering. Thanks for your good work.
and TPM Reader MD …
I think what we have is a case of a missing comma and a slightly-less-than-adroit extemporaneous comment from Sen. Biden. He said this: âI mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy… I mean, thatâs a storybook, man.â If you insert a comma after âwhoâ and before âis,â the quote becomes an instance of Bidenâs delineating Obamaâs positive qualities, not one in which Biden denigrates all African-American (people, politicians, whatever) who have preceded Obama. I am a writer by trade and have listened to a lot of Biden on TV. I think the more likely occurrence is that the comma was omitted in transcription from spoken word to written word than that Biden, either intentionally or subconsciously, slurred African-Americans.
Thoughts?
My sense is that this is only partially exculpating at best. Even with the comma it’s really condescending bordering on racist. And it would still probably mean that Biden’s mouth presents a clear and present danger to Democratic electoral prospects no matter what he meant. Ending his candidacy wouldn’t be preemption, just legitimate self-defense.
