Joe Biden Announces He’s Changing His Name to Joebama Bidigieg

NOTE: The following is a fictional (yet oddly plausible) story…

Yesterday, during an impromptu planned press conference outside a Bojangles’ restaurant in Shelbyville, Kentucky, Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden made a surprise announcement. Ostensibly in an effort to broaden his appeal among Democrats, he is officially changing his name to Joebama Bidigieg.

“Today, against the advice of pretty much everyone, I’ve filed legal pages and whatnot to change my name to Joebama Bidigieg. This newly improved name better refracts who my heart tells me I am. The ‘Obama’ part, of course, is a tribute to the best brother from another mother a man could never hope to have. And it will also hopefully jack up the heat on President Barack to endorse me already. I know he’s busy vacationing and shooting hoops, but seriously man. Don’t be a two-bit pony soldier. The ‘Bidigieg’ part is a tribute to my love of Norwegian culture in Minnesota, the wood shoes, and those long Ricola horns and all that jazz,” explained the former Vice President of the United States.

After an aide whispered something inaudible in Mr. Biden’s left ear, the candidate added, “And it’s also a tribute to my basically adopted son Mayor Pete.”

As Mr. Biden made his announcement, a small piece of biscuit from his recently completed Bojangles’ breakfast clung to the side of his chin like Sylvester Stallone in Cliffhanger. It was awkward, distracting, and every reporter in the vicinity longed for an aide, or Mrs. Biden, to remove the untimely dangler. Yet, everything appeared business as usual for the Biden team. Either they didn’t notice the biscuit fragment (which seems difficult to fathom), or they noticed it and simply filed any potential action under the life-is-too-short category.

After pausing to take a deep whiff of a baby being held by its mother in the front row of the sparse crowd, the former Mr. Biden went on to over-explain that, “This name gives America the best of all worlds. The next best thing to having Obama back in the White House is a Joebama. And they also tell me that Bidigieg is a solid nod toward the rainbow people. As you know, I’ve always been all about the diversity. That’s why my ancestors were Irish coal miners in the mines of Moria. We dug up our potatoes elbow-to-elbow with the dwarves.”

The sudden name change is unprecedented in nearly two-and-a-half centuries of American presidential elections.

When asked whether a drastic name change will confuse American voters, Mr. Biden said, “Not at all. I mean, come on man, we all know that a hundred and five percent of the American people aren’t paying attention a lot of percent of the time. This name change is just what the doctor never ordered. It’s gonna make ninety-nine percent of the country know who I really pretend to be for the first time. Except for the black people because they know me like their next-door neighbor, because of all the busing. Plus, you gotta remember that wherever you go, there you are.”

One reporter asked Mr. Biden how his son, Hunter, felt about his father’s name change. “I’m not going to talk about my son’s business dealings in China,” replied Mr. Biden, “I told you, everybody who knows anything about nothing has said there’s something wrong with anything he did in Cambodia. I was selected to the U.S. Senate right after Watergate and it’s a different time. But that’s all relevant.”

After several blinks in rapid succession, the same reporter pointed out that he had not inquired about China, nor Cambodia.

“I tell you what,” snapped Mr. Biden, “I got a fortune cookie the other day. Know what it said? Trump sucks and I’m the only guy in Canada that can beat him.”

When asked whether Mrs. Biden will also change her name, Mr. Biden said, “No, no, no. She’ll forever be, you know, Jallerie, Vill, Rosie the Riveter.”

Several reporters asked him to clarify his “Rosie the Riveter” reference. “I know you are, but what am I?” Mr. Biden replied. “The fact is, we the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect human, sweet hand of liberty by the dawn’s early flight. And, you know the thing.”

As Mr. Biden’s voice trailed off, the stubborn biscuit crumb mercifully fell from his chin and clung to his jacket.

A campaign spokesman later explained that Mr. Biden’s wife, Jill, and his sister, Valerie, reply to any and all names from Joe. “They find it much easier just to go with it,” said the spokesman on deep background.

We reached out to Hunter Biden about the prospect of him adopting the new family name. We received a reply via email that simply stated: “As I’ve insisted all along, there is absolutely no proof of any wrongdoing by myself in Ukraine.”