I agree with Gred B's assessment.(above)

But the "articulate" was not in contrast to Bush -- I mean Obama is clearly more articulate than Bush. Most heads of cabbage are more articulate than Bush.

But the previous offerings of Black presidential candidates are either very inarticulate (like Jesse Jackson, whom many cannot even understand when he speaks -- there's a pretty funny comedian who does a routine impersonating Jackson and his inability to be understood), or they are articulate in the manner one might be considered articulate within a cultural framework (like Sharpton who can deliver a sermon but probably not a policy speech).

The "clean" comment was the real fire-starter. But it merely reflected the tacit racism of much of that (Biden's) branch of Democrat liberalism who still see themselves as caretakers of Blacks -- the inference of such hubris being that Blacks are incapable of fending for themselves.

Curiously, Barack Obama may represent an even more meaningful minority than "People of Color". He's a cigarette smoker. :^)