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Oh, That Joe! (No. 15 in a Series) -- Biden Distances Himself From an Obama-Biden Ad

September 22, 2008 8:14 PM

In an interview that aired on CBS, Sen. Barack Obama's running mate Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., distanced himself from an Obama-Biden TV ad.

Katie Couric asked Biden about the "tone of the campaign" adding that "you guys haven't been completely guilt-free, making fun of John McCain's inability to use a computer."

Embed link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SKjTqgjq8E

Couric was apparently referring to the fact that an Obama-Biden TV ad tried to make fun of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for being so out of touch he doesn't use a computer -- though as ABC News reported,  the real reason McCain doesn't use a computer is because of his war wounds. Small tasks make his shoulders ache, so he tries to avoid any repetitive exercise.

"I thought that was terrible by the way," Biden said of the ad.

"Why'd you do it then?" asked Couric.

"I didn't know we did it and if I had anything to do with it, we would have never done it," Biden said, "and I don't think Barack, you know, I just think...I don't think there was anything intentional about that, they were trying to make another point."

- jpt

UPDATE: Biden issued a statement tonight, saying, “I was asked about an ad I’d never seen, reacting merely to press reports.  As I said right then, I knew there was nothing intentionally personal in the criticism of Sen. McCain’s views, which look backwards not forwards, and are out of touch with the new economic challenges we face today. Having now reviewed the ad, it is even more clear to me that, given the disgraceful tenor of Sen. McCain’s ads and their persistent falsehoods, his campaign is in no position to criticize, especially when they continue to distort Barack’s votes on an issue as personal as keeping kids safe from sexual predators."

September 22, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (194)

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When I see Joe Biden, I see a Vice-Presidential nominee who suffers from serious internal fights regarding his own party's presidential nominee's qualifications. It's so apparent that Joe is having difficulty accepting the fact that he is serving as a mouthpiece for a rookie senator who only possesses a record of speeches.

I like Joe Biden very much and I beleive he is an honest and genuine person. I truly admire him and, through the few occasions I spoke to him in person, I saw firsthand what a remarkable person he is. The problem is, Joe Biden is much more qualified than Brack Obama to be presidnet.

As an avid Hillary Clinton supporter, I am truly saddened by the horrible actions of the Democratic Party leadership that denied us a candidate who is much more qualified than Obama. If Hillary had not been mistreated and unfairly pushed out of the race that she had won, maybe a Hillary-Biden ticket would have been possible.

Regardless, I can not and will never vote for a shady preidential nominee like Barack Obama who, for twenty years, have been closely associated with people who hold anti-American sentiments. It is, therefore, with a great sense of duty as a patriotic American that I will be voting for McCain-Palin in Novemeber.

Posted by: Robert | Sep 23, 2008 10:13:20 AM

Well, Obama said he didn't want to choose a "Yes Man" for VP. He got that!

Posted by: Paula | Sep 23, 2008 10:06:37 AM

Joe B is dead on. I think most of their ads are fair criticisms, but that one was just plain dumb, war wounds or not.

I'm an IT director and an electronics junkie, and even I don't think that a presidential candidates' technical expertise is a disqualifier to the office, or a significant indication that he's out of touch.

That said, McCain has 1,000,000.2 far more obvious ways in which he's out of touch. Obama-Biden would be far better served to focus on them.

Posted by: robsolf | Sep 23, 2008 9:50:19 AM

McCain/Palin '08-'16 sounds really good.
By this time next year it will be Obama who?
If the Democrats in Congress had really felt that the war in Iraq was not right. It could have mustered the votes to oppose it and stop it.
They could have put there foot down and said no. But they did not, they thought of themselves first, the soldiers second and the American People last as usual. Now they play the anger card and sympathy for the lost sons and daughters, while they continue to dishonour those that have served this nation in every war with inadequate care, benefits and support groups.
Ill never vote DNC nor ever fight a war for them again. They are the scum of the Earth.

Posted by: Butcher | Sep 23, 2008 9:43:50 AM

Democrats have lied to the American People on more issues and laws than they have ever told their mother the truth.
Fact: other than in Vietnam, Korea and WWII, Democrats have comprized less than 10% of the Military.
Fact: Of all the Military appropriation bills passed by Congress, Only the ones by Republicans gave our young people the proper equipment.
Fact: Of all the VA Appropriations given by Congress only the ones by Republicans addressed the real issues of Combat injuries.
Fact: 2/3 of all politicans in Congress are multi Millionaires, and Democrats.
Fact: when Jobs where being shipped off to foreign shores only a few Democrats joined the Republicans call for it to stop. Rust Belt Mid West.
Fact: when housing market was all $250K homes and no Average income homes, Congress was dead silent.
Fact when housing market slumpted Democrats did nothing. When jobs are lost to illegal immegrants Democrats did nothing.
Fact: Now that it is their source of income, the Stocks Rigged Market. It ois bail them out cart blanche.
Fact New Energy bill pushed through the House yesterday, was a scam, it opened nothing but un reachable oil sights that would ADD to the cost of oil and added hugh government taxes and costs.
A Pelosi scam to bilk more Dimwitted American Poor into thinking the Democrats care. BS

Posted by: Butcher | Sep 23, 2008 9:33:01 AM

Wow, all those comments and not ONE McCain supporter answered the queston "Why does the Palin/McCain ticket lie so much?"

Oh well, I guess the answer is clear . . .

That's what liars do!

You reap what you sow folks . . . and Palin/McCain is sowing LIES.

Can anyone dispute that? Just say you don't care, but don't say it's not true.

And no list of things about Obama is going to change the truth about your candidate.

Time to face reality folks. John McCain and Sarah Palin are not mavericks or reformers. They are lying politicians.

Period.

Posted by: Nobodys fool | Sep 23, 2008 9:25:04 AM

IF JOE HAS A PROBLEM AND IS DISTANCING HIMSELF FROM THE ATTACK ADDS,MAYBE OBHAMA SHOULD RECONCIDER, AND DROP HIM IN FAVER OF HILLERY, WHO WOULDNT BE SO SQEAMISH ABOUT GOING AFTER THE OPPONANT!! AFTER ALL HE SAID IT FIRST MAYBE BHO SHOULD HAVE CHOSEN HER FOR THE JOB,MANNY OTHER THINK SO TOO,AND WE WOULD BE WAY THE HELL AHEAD HAD HE DONE SO!

Posted by: RELD1127 | Sep 23, 2008 9:23:29 AM

Oonogil and the rest of the posters here don't realize it is perfectly acceptable for time-strapped people to pick up their cellphone and delegate responsibilities. A president doesn't surf the web in place of briefings by his staff.

Executives don't do secretarial work--they make decisions based on the input of their advisors. Their secretaries do the emailing and responding. Do you think a president wants to go ON RECORD for every statement he may make, offhand, in an email???

Get real. If Warren Buffet can get by without email (he doesn't use it) then certainly a president of the US CAN AND SHOULD AVOID EMAIL whether or not he may be physically handicapped (no, not "challenged").

Posted by: Bengal | Sep 23, 2008 8:46:40 AM

The whole argument is bogus starting with Katie Couric. The Obama ad did NOT seek to denigrate McCain because of war injuriies. Clearly, it spoke to the fact that McCain is old fashioned. A lot of elderly people are frightened by technology. Katie Couric knows this. She continues to carry water for the McCain campaign.

If McCain wanted to use the computer and could not because of wara injuries, technology has the answer to that and has enough money to buy that technology. Let's be real about this.

Posted by: LMartin | Sep 23, 2008 8:41:37 AM

Mike I gues u don't know african american usually votes democrat more than 90% in all the recent elections.

So there is nothing racist in it.

Posted by: Mike Peterson | Sep 23, 2008 8:17:31 AM

Who is Biden running for again? I think he's around 5 for 5 on the ingenious comments. Did Obama screen this guy before his selection?

Posted by: Mike | Sep 23, 2008 7:43:59 AM

How is it that 97 percent of African Americans are voting for Obama.

Isn't racism on both sides?

Posted by: Rick from Pa | Sep 23, 2008 7:21:36 AM

A Plea to the Media:
Vet Obama!

Below is a limited list of areas where the media has failed to investigate Obama.

This list does not include Obama’s many policy reversals or outright fabrications, like the statement that the Kennedy family facilitated his father coming to the United States.

It does not include Obama’s habit of voting %u2018present’ as a member of the Illinois State Senate nor his strange maneuverings regarding a born alive bill.

continued page 1

Posted by: Al from NJ | Sep 23, 2008 7:19:28 AM

continued

Instead, the list below concerns Obama’s associates and business dealings.

It is a sordid group, comprised of the America-hating, anti-Israel, and explicitly racial Left. There is big money involved, as with the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, and bizarre organizations to which money was funneled.

Obama’s milieu is the intersection of Chicago politics and the fringe Left; there is much to be explored and explained about Obama. Below is a partial list where Obama remains unvetted:

1. Trinity United Church of Christ. Obama’s 20-year membership in an explicitly racist church, a church with rhetoric too hot for Oprah.

2. Rezko. Obama’s ties to Tony Rezko and the 2005 purchase of the Obamas’ home. Obama funnelling money to Rezko’s sleazy businesses.
3. Ayers. Obama’s extensive ties to unrepentant terroist Bill Ayers.

4. Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC). Obama and Ayers together dispensing tens of millions of dollars supposedly for educational organizations.

Although now just being investigated, it’s known that money was funnelled to Ayers’ friend, radical Mike Klonsky, a founding member of the Maoist Party of the United States.

5. Minister Louis Farrakhan. Obama is surrounded by people like Rev. Willie Barrow, a friend and admirer of the anti-white, anti-Semitic Farrakhan.

If the media doesn’t do their job, we may end up with this guy as President.

Posted by: Al from NJ | Sep 23, 2008 7:18:07 AM

Remember......Joe has a problem with his mouth.

Posted by: Independent minded | Sep 23, 2008 7:16:03 AM

Biden doesn't even watch the Obama/Biden ads. Sounds like the rest of Americans.

Posted by: Dave | Sep 23, 2008 7:08:12 AM

I am pointing the finger back at myself when I post this, spending way too much time at this computer. I can't fault a man who spends his time more productively. Call him out of touch if you must, but he's getting more done than a lot of us reading all of this crap. Just remember, you can't believe everything you read, especially in these comments! I'm so sick of all of the campaign negativity!

Posted by: beanniebaby | Sep 23, 2008 6:31:14 AM

Bill Clinton was a hero for burning his draft card. Quayle and GWB were burned at the stake for only serving in the National Guard. Kerry’s service alone should have got him elected. The fact that Obama nor Biden served while McCain spent 20+ years in uniform is irrelevant. Now they criticize how McCain copes with war wounds. .... The hypocrisy of the Religious Right drove me to the Democratic party. The hypocrisy of the left wing has now far surpassed that of the right.

Posted by: Oonogil | Sep 23, 2008 5:45:26 AM

Not buying it. If McCain was a data entry employee, I would buy the repetitive movement issue. At 72, he should be able to send at least 3 emails a day and surf at least 1 hour daily using one hand and a pencil to type. McCain just does not know computers and is certainly out of touch when it comes to simple technology. No excuses for him since he is so very wealthy especially with a wife worth more than 100 million. Biden needs to decide whether he is running with Obama or McCain and get some spine, some toughness if he wants to be VP come election day. Obama/Biden, McCain/Palin need to stop playing nice and get on with it. It is winner take all for 4 years of the highest, most powerful office in the USA!

Posted by: Lawrence | Sep 23, 2008 5:36:15 AM

And another thing...just wondering. Given your premise that parents should teach their children about inappropriate touching BEFORE attending kindergarten, how would they do it "grade appropriate"?

Posted by: Gabriel Feher | Sep 23, 2008 4:10:41 AM

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