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White House Peace Reigns Despite Woes

Obama, Biden have forged smooth working relationship

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 9, 2010 1:21 AM CST
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(Newser) – The nation's fraught mood hasn't translated into friction at the White House, writes David Brooks. President Obama and Joe Biden's working relationship got off to a rocky start but it's now remarkably smooth. Biden isn't the butt of jokes in the White House like he is on late-night TV. He's been tasked with taking the lead on Iraq policy, overseeing stimulus spending, and coming up with an agenda for the middle class, Brooks notes in the New York Times.

The Obama-Biden relationship is part of the tranquil atmosphere that prevails at the White House, where there are no open recrimination campaigns despite the setbacks the president's agenda has suffered, Brooks notes. "Whatever their relations with the country might be, inside they seem unruffled," Brooks writes. "The bonds of association, from the top down, seem healthy—especially for a bunch of Democrats."

President Obama talks with Vice President Biden at the White House in Washington last month before addressing the US Conference of Mayors.
President Obama talks with Vice President Biden at the White House in Washington last month before addressing the US Conference of Mayors.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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There are times when the president is leaning back when he seems to relish Biden’s interventions. During the Afghan debate, the president clearly used the vice president to push the
skeptic’s case. - David Brooks

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
Face-Of-RNC
Feb 9, 2010 12:54 PM CST
Yeah, his worthless contributions helped keep a war monger and an idiot out of the White House.
Face-Of-RNC
Feb 9, 2010 12:52 PM CST
That hopey-changey thing is working fine with me, No McCain-Palin, repubs in the minority. Yes, please keep asking because I'm pleased to keep telling.
Snowleopard
Feb 9, 2010 9:13 AM CST
well written article. I realize that this probably sounds a bit cheesy, but I really like David Brooks. He's one of the few journalists who doesn't seem like he's angling for one of the two parties, but rather is able to take a step back and put a different light on things, rather than to just reinforce the overused characterchures and cliches.

 
Joe Biden • White House • Rahm Emanuel • vice president • Obama administration • President Obama

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