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Oh, That Joe! (No. 18 in a Series) -- Biden Loves the Jews, Says McCain Hates the Religious Right

September 24, 2008 10:35 AM

At a speech to members of the National Jewish Democratic Council in Washington, D.C., Tuesday evening, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., started off his speech the way only Joe Biden can.

“1972 campaign," Biden said, "I was a 29-year-old kid nominated for president -- excuse me, nominated for senator, nominated for senator, senator, from the state of Delaware."

Next, Biden was hit by a coughing fit.

“There’s a lot to talk about and uh, excuse me,” he said, stepping away from the podium to cough. “I made the mistake of actually grabbing a handful of peanuts before I walked out here, which you should never do, I know.”

“Thank you, Michael,” he said, as his friend Michael Adler handed him a much-needed glass of water.

Still, the senator was not yet ready to start his stump speech for the audience, launching into a joke about Jews that he found analogous to the presidential election.

“Every year, the Yeshiva crew team used to row against Harvard, and they’d get creamed every year -- year in and year out, after a really tough loss, the coach of Yeshiva told his captain, he said:

"'Look, I want you to go spy on Harvard and figure out what, what is it that they do? I mean, how, how can they win?' So, the captain of Yeshiva’s crew team went and hid in the bushes along the river and after a couple minutes watching, he figured it out. He had a cell phone, he called his coach, he said, 'Coach, I’ve got it, I’ve got it, coach.' He said, 'The secret is they’ve got eight guys rowing and only one yelling.'"

The Jewish audience loved it, laughing loudly as Biden chuckled on stage.

“Well, that could be said about us Irish, as well,” said the Irish Catholic senator. “But the truth of the matter is, that’s what we need to be doing this election year -– we have to ignore all the malarkey, ignore all the distractions, ignore the e-mails, and get behind Barack Obama straight-up, folks.”

Eventually, Biden got to the meat of his remarks, highlighting his past support for Israel.

“I hope no one wonders where my heart is," the senator said, noting that his first trip abroad as a senator was to Israel. "I met, back in those days, with Prime Minister Golda Meir, which is one of the high points of my career. And she had sitting next to her, next to me in front of her desk, a guy named Rabin, who was her aide at the time."

Future Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Biden said.

"Since then, I’ve had a chance to meet with and get to know every Israeli prime minister, all nine," Biden said. “I’ve spent 35 years in my career dealing with issues related to Israel. My support for Israel begins in my stomach, goes to my heart and ends up in my head. And I promise you, I guarantee you, I guarantee you. I would not have joined Barack Obama’s ticket as vice president were I in any doubt, even the slightest doubt, that he shares the same commitment to Israel that I share. I guarantee it. It’s that simple. That is a fact.”

Biden urged the crowd not to believe Republican attacks on his record with Israel.

“So, folks, I hope we’re able to put to rest, put to rest some of the stuff that’s been going around, particularly, a Republican counterpart Jewish organization actually went after me, saying that I threatened to cut off aid to Israel. Things I never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever did.”

Later Tuesday evening, at a fundraiser across town, Biden continued to focus on religion, accusing Republican nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., of hating, but embracing, the religious right.

"The only place John has changed is with regard to the religious right, which he hates, but he's embraced," Biden said to supporters at a Democratic Victory Fund event hosted by the American Association of Justice. "That's the only change with John. The only change."

-- Matthew Jaffe and Jake Tapper

September 24, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (43)

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Vice President Biden may SAY he neverhe never threatened Israel with sanctions and may DENY the Republican Jewish Coalition charges but Menachem Begin's official biographer backs the RJC up and refutes the Vice President's denial.s


As for his "joke" about Yeshivah University's rowing team i am Jewish and I DON"T think it's funny at all !!!!

Posted by: Steve | Jun 1, 2009 10:34:35 PM

"WHERE ARE SARAH PALIN'S TAX RETURNS?"

They were released a while back. She has a wealth of around like $250,000 at best in stocks. Maybe you should google a bit more.

Posted by: Kaitian | Sep 25, 2008 9:16:12 AM

At the Wasilla Assembly of God in May, 2005, at 1:20 in the video, the preacher says to the anti-semitic Palin who is praying during the Daily Kos video: "It's high time that we have top Christian businessmen, businesswomen, bankers, you know, who are men and women of integrity running the economics of our nations. That's what we are waiting for. That's part and parcel of transformation. If you look at the -- you know -- if you look at the Israelites, that's how they work. And that's how they are, even today."

Palin is there, we see her receive preacher Muthee's blessing. It's a horrible sight.

We are not supposed to ask questions, or see her in press conferences. We are supposed to delay the VP debate, so she cannot be challenged about this.

At least Joe Biden is not anti-semitic.

Posted by: sherry | Sep 24, 2008 11:26:14 PM

Ruth - I agree with you completely. The push-polls are striaght out of the Atwater playbook - something that John McCain, back when he had honor would never approve of. But the beauty of it was that the fools got some savy Jewish grandmothers in Florida who demanded their company, their names and their corporate phone numbers - after they asked "Would you vote for Obama if you knew that he gave money to the PLO." The old ladies said that it was undemocratic and UnAmerican. Hurrah for them - and I agree - PP has positioned itself as the Jewish election monitor. So go monitor Sarah Palin and her church. In the last month, a well-known anti-semitic evangelical leader spoke there - said that the Jews were responsible for the war - and then passed a special collection basket to further his odious cause.

Posted by: mara | Sep 24, 2008 8:48:08 PM

I don't get it. McCain has always hated the religious right. This isn't a secret. I'm from South Carolina - that where they create the religious right - and that's where Lee Atwater put lies about John McCain's kids in church bulletins.

And Spock, Once again, I challenge you to come up with some facts. There is virtually no evidence - and no prominent petroleum leader - and no economist who will say that drilling in Alaska can solve our current economic problems. WE CAN"T DRILL OUR WAY OUT OF IT. The United States has about 2% of the world's known oil reserves. That is not a typo - that is from the petroleum industry - look it up in Oil and Gas Journal. The math just doesn't work. I am a geologist - and I am not against drilling in ANWR. I just know how long it takes from exploration to production and the people who are claiming this as a solution are either delusional or lying. I believe Governor Palin believes herself to be an energy expert - citing that Alaska supplies 20% of US energy. Not even close. Alaska provides less than 4% of US energy - and the Prudhoe Bay reserves were decent - if extremely expensive.

Posted by: mara | Sep 24, 2008 8:43:33 PM

Oh that Joe! I love these stories. He's a reliable source for misspeaks. He's also a well intentioned buffoon, so I don't feel bad laughing at his antics. It's the only funny thing about this campaign.

Posted by: Annie | Sep 24, 2008 7:39:09 PM

Is there anyway the democrats can let go of Biden and get somebody else. He keeps making all these stupid and at times insulting comments. If this is how he normally acts (which everyone says is typical) then I do not want him in the White House where he could insult foreign leaders.

Posted by: Mick | Sep 24, 2008 2:28:56 PM

Captain, you bet I think Biden can take up the job. And tonight's NBC/WSJ poll will say that 64% agree with me while only 21% disagree. In contrast, 49% say Palin's unqualified.

But go ahead and attack Biden! Really, you should. Please. People really care! Spend all of your time and energy on that!

The VP becomes a serious issue really only when people are worried that the pres. candidate might die. And only one of the candidates is 72 with much prior cancer (and no real release of health records).

Posted by: Tungsten | Sep 24, 2008 2:06:02 PM

While the Biden yukes just keep on rolling...

Do you seriously consider him a potential successor to a president?

Admittedly, some of the gaffes are more humorous than others, but what happens when Biden's gaffes are made when it really counts?

In short, the guy is a habitual liar or a delusional head case.

Posted by: Captain America | Sep 24, 2008 1:51:04 PM

They should get Biden a teleprompter! Hey, Bammy can lend him his - I hear he is studying hard for the debate of Friday! Lol!

Posted by: Beckie | Sep 24, 2008 1:28:24 PM

Why should not Biden go on his Network channels , Biden is one of the main stream medias bosses, they will not ask him anything.

Why is not Obama talking! Why is Obama hiding!!

Or did I wake up and the 2nd on the tickets become the first!!

Oh by the way does any one want Biden at the button?

WHERE IS Barack Hussein Obama? As a matter of fact, WHERE ARE Barack Hussein Obama'S TAX RETURNS? WHERE IS Barack Hussein Obama's Birth Certificate? Barack Hussein Obama's College thesis? Barack Hussein Obama's State Senate Record? Barack Hussein Obama's listing of what he did as a Community Organizer? Barack Hussein Obama's listing of what he did with Bill Ayers? Barack Hussein Obama's work with Rezko?
Anybody know??

Oh but you libs don't care!!

You care more about whether someone can type or the second on a ticket!!

I know you fear Palin, because she is proof you do not have to be a Hippy throwback to champion Womens rights!!

Posted by: spock | Sep 24, 2008 1:20:35 PM

Biden rocks. The speech he made in Cincy today was great. Turns out, nobody actually cares about the gaffes. He's no delicate little flower, that's for sure - not scared of those mean ol' reporters!

Posted by: Tungsten | Sep 24, 2008 1:15:03 PM

ricky - Ok right now we receive nothing from drilling since we do not drill, the dems thou in there push against oil state we give 700 Billion dollars away a year to foreign countries, wee there you go,

As far as Capital gains we have the second highest tax on that the first being China, you want to know why other countries got away from it, it stops growth

How is this news??? McCain is engaging and Obama is hidden away...

Posted by: spock | Sep 24, 2008 1:12:33 PM

I watched one of his campaign events today and it was PAINFUL. He kept reading the same phrases twice and used the word "bluster" to describe McCain what seemed like 100 times. And they say McCain is old. This guy is practically senile. I can't believe he really went to college or law school. Has anyone checked? Perhaps he made that up too.

Posted by: Suzy | Sep 24, 2008 12:58:54 PM

Is it just me or does Biden seem to confuse vouching for someone with campaigning for someone. The last several of these installments (which I love), have been Biden saying, "I promise you, Obama [always][never] [insert hot topic position du jour]." That's meaningless. How about some cogent arguments? How about something more than a man's word, especially when that man has spent 2/3rd of his life in Washington.

Posted by: Dan | Sep 24, 2008 12:36:59 PM

Meant "4 More Years of the Bush Administration!!"

Gotta watch the overuse of caps.

Posted by: JRinLA | Sep 24, 2008 12:34:55 PM

Oh, and Biden's not saying the same thing over and over?

"Voted 90% of the time with Bush!!!"
"Failed policies of George W. Bush !!!"
"$ More Years of the Bush Administration!!!"

Talking point broken record with a bad laugh track.

Posted by: JRinLA | Sep 24, 2008 12:33:46 PM

das2, a few speeches on TV mean nothing. Anyone can do those. Even Little Mahmoud the crazy nut from Iran, who's one of Biden's new friends.

Posted by: Hell's Penguin | Sep 24, 2008 12:17:58 PM

Regardless of any unintentional gaffes by Biden, at least he is open, available, and putting his country first. Biden is speaking now on TV and building a wonderful case against John McCain. WHERE IS SARAH PALIN? As a matter of fact, WHERE ARE SARAH PALIN'S TAX RETURNS? WHERE IS SARAH PALIN IN THE ORIGINAL TROOPERGATE INVESTIGATION? If McCain wants to talk MIA, it's clear that he is so embarrassed by Palin, he will not allow her to speak at all, thereby eliminating any opportunity for gaffes. MCCAIN IS NOT PUTTING COUNTRY FIRST!!!!

Posted by: das2 | Sep 24, 2008 12:11:00 PM

Joe Biden is right now giving a wonderful speech on MSNBC. He is sincere, eloquent, and connecting with the audience in an intelligent manner that effectively lays out the differences between Obama and McCain.

Posted by: winter99 | Sep 24, 2008 12:07:11 PM

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