What Biden needs to say

Chris Matthews Host of 'Hardball' • Profile

“Hardball's” Chris Matthews, a former speech writer, offered his advice to Sen. Joe Biden on what he should say to rank higher in the polls.

His suggested speech is below:  

"I can't believe my Democratic party. We won control of Congress this time last year by promising to get the American army out of the Arabian desert. Let's face it. We promised something completely different than the Republicans led by President Bush.

Where is that difference? When the top contenders of my party are asked if we'll still be in Iraq in 2013 they act like that's a reasonable prospect, a war that will last not four years, as it has already, but ten or more.

I am the only candidate who has offered a plan for getting our troops out of the endless role of refereeing this three-way battle among Sunni, Shia and Kurd. It's time for America to let the divisions that were predicted when we marched into Baghdad to take their natural course.

It's time to divide up the political power in Iraq, to give self-rule to the three groups there, because it is the only way anyone has come up with to get America out of Iraq. And if you don't have a plan for getting us out of Iraq, stop promising the American people that you do."

Matthews spent 15 years in politics, working in the White House for four years under President Jimmy Carter as a Presidential speechwriter, as the top aide to Speaker of the House Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. for six years and in the U.S. Senate for five years on the staffs of Senator Frank Moss (Utah) and Senator Edmund Muskie (Maine).

Watch 'Hardball' each night at 5 and 7 p.m. ET on MSNBC. 

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