With my goal to “Be Betty White” I thought about the many characters she’s played – Sue Ann Nivens is my favorite from Mary Tyler Moore. Part vamp, part Heloise (pre Martha Stuart for those of you too young to remember) and missing a verbal filter. The character made me laugh and a little jealous. Her blatant honesty would shock and amuse, and yet her wealth of knowledge on how to get stains out or prepare food was astounding. Great character and beautifully played.
On the opposite end of the spectrum was Rose Nylund from the Golden Girls. A very honest character and quite sweet but her filter was also faulty. She would say absurd things, making one believe that it was impressive she remembered to put her underwear on before her pants. Her intelligence was questionable, but not her loyalty to her friends.
So – I was watching the news and ridiculous things real people do and get caught and it occurred to me that Joe Biden might also be trying to #BeBetty. I mean other than messing up some names, the man really says what he’s thinking — to the chagrin of others. Seriously, let’s consider this. At times he gives his honest opinion, without filters. One priceless statement was his too loud whispered comment to President Obama about the Affordable Health Care Act being passed. He said, “This is a big f***ing deal,” and patted the President on the back. Or – during a speech at Harvard on Oct. 2, 2014 he joked with a student. The student identified himself as the vice president of the student body and Biden joked, “Isn’t it a b*tch? Excuse me… the vice president thing.” Now that’s funny. When a politician speaks honestly, regardless of his politics, I tend to trust them more.
However, his forays into Rose Nylund’s character give me pause. Two quotes specifically make me giggle and cringe. “Folks, I can tell you I’ve known eight presidents, three of them intimately,” –Joe Biden, Aug. 22, 2012 or this beauty “I promise you, the president has a big stick. I promise you,” –Joe Biden, April 26, 2012 he was referring to Theodore Roosevelt’s quote, “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”
What do you think, is Joe Biden the political Betty White? Nah, but he’s definitely got some Sue Ann Nivens and Rose Nylund in him.
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