January 17, 2015

Both Biden and Obama support DC statehood

The drive for DC statehood started 45 years on these pages. The article described for the first time how DC could become a state without a constitutional amendment. Three months later, your editor joined a small group of activists led by Julius Hobson to form the DC Statehood movement.

Washington City Paper - The longtime D.C. delegate to Congress was introducing Vice President Joe Biden, who attended the event to make the case for government investment in infrastructure projects. Norton reminded the crowd, "He was a senator from a small state, not much bigger than the District of Columbia."

Biden leaned in from behind her, close enough for a peck on the cheek, and said, "You should be a state."

Later on, as Biden took the microphone, he clarified, "I'm not making a statement for the administration. I'm making a statement for Joe Biden. And I think the president shares the same view."

President Barack Obama has stated his support for D.C. statehood in fewer words, saying simply this summer, "I'm for it."

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