RECENT POSTS
- Oprah, Health Care Lobbyists, Among Recent Visitors to White House
- An Obama Thanksgiving Menu, with an Extra Serving of Pie
- White House Thanksgiving Traditions: Broken and Observed
- Obama, GOP Air Differences Over Jobs, Economy In Thanksgiving Addresses
- White House State Dinner Party Crashers
- Obama to Lay Out Emissions Goals in Copenhagen
- Free Bird
- The "Good" War
- The Presidential Planner
- Under the Stars, Obama Toasts India’s Prime Minister
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
Oh, That Joe! (No. 41 in a Series) -- Jill Biden's Morning Run Gets Her Hubbie to Mass
November 01, 2008 2:06 PM
When aspiring Second Lady Jill Biden introduced her husband Joe this morning in Evansville, Indiana, she apparently didn’t want to wear her white-and-black winter coat as she addressed the crowd on this sunny but chilly November morning.
“Let me take off my jacket,” she said.
The crowd oohed and aahed as she revealed a bright red dress.
“I didn’t realize it would cause that much of a stir!" she joked. Soon she introduced her husband.
“Hey folks, I’m Joe the Biden,” the Democratic vice-presidential nominee said when he took the stage. “Actually where I come from, I’m better known as Jill Biden’s husband, as you can see. As they say in southern Delaware, I married up. Waaaaay up.”
The senator’s spouse stays in shape by running almost every day, including this morning along the Ohio River here in this southwestern Indiana city.
The 65-year old senator? Call it more of a morning stroll.
“This is not part of the program and I hope I don’t embarrass her, but this morning – you have a beautiful city,” Biden said. “This morning while Jill was running along the river and I was walking and running along the river. Y’all think I’m kidding, don’t you? I’m not!”
“This woman did a marathon,” he pointed out.
“I used to be a heckuva athlete like Birch,” Biden said, referencing former Sen. Birch Bayh, D-Ind., father of current Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., whom Biden beat out for the vice-presidential nomination.
“Well, no one’s as good as Birch, but, and by the way he was a great athlete but Birch, I tell ya, it’s getting harder to keep up with her," Biden continued.
“But she’s running down along the river,” Biden continued, getting back to Jill’s jog today. “And there was a lovely woman that she ran by or with and said hello. And the lovely woman said, ‘I gotta get this run in because I’m gonna go hear Joe Biden’.”
“And she said. ‘Well, I know the guy’,” Biden said Jill responded.
“I don’t know whether she said ‘I’m not sure it’s worth it,’” he joked. “But anyway she didn’t say that. She said, ‘I know the guy’.”
In response, the “lovely woman” introduced herself to Jill.
“She said, ‘My name is Sister Jean Michelle’. She said I, uh, I hope I’m not embarrassing you, Sister, if you’re here. She said that, she said ‘I went to early mass, it’s a holy day of obligation, you know it’s All Saints Day’,” said the Irish-Catholic Biden.
“And Jill came home and said ‘Joe, you haven’t gone to mass yet’,” Biden recalled.
“So Sister Jean Michelle, I made 9 o’clock, I made 9 o’clock mass, I just want to thank you,” said the loquacious Blue Hen. “Because I promise you, y’all think I’m kidding, y’all think I’m kidding, I’ll call my mom who’s 91 who lives with me, I’ll call my mom sometime during the day and the first thing she’ll ask me is, ‘Joey, did you go to mass?’”
“So, so, so you saved me, Sister, you saved me, you saved me,” he said gratefully.
But then it was back to the program…
“Look folks, there’s a lot at stake,” Biden segued…
-- Matt Jaffe and Jake Tapper
November 1, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (25)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Has anyone ever noticed that Obama always talks about the middle class and working people? I think the non-working people, (as in why work when I can live on Welfare) are going to be in for the shock of their lives when they learn the free hand out is over.
Posted by: SUSIE | Nov 1, 2008 9:37:23 PM
I'd like to remind all the "welfare" complainers that it was Ronald Reagan that began the EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT, and that you HAVE TO EARN AN INCOME TO GET IT. The same will be true of any credit from Obama, you have to have EARNED INCOME to qualify. I'd like you to walk up to the person who cleans your motel room, or serves you in a restaurant or rings you up at Walmart if they think they don't work hard or deserve the earned income tax credit. It is not welfare.
BTW GREED is one of the seven deadly sins, right?
GO Obama, GO JOE
Posted by: WY for Biden | Nov 1, 2008 5:59:52 PM
Concerned in Ohio
Refunds are rpobably easier than trying to change payroll taxes. But it amounts to the same thing, especially now that Social Security taxes are dumped into the general budget.
Posted by: jock59801 | Nov 1, 2008 5:58:39 PM
Hope Joe didn't take Communion at Mass. The Bishops have told him that he shouldn't because of his stance on Abortion.
Posted by: Sister Mary | Nov 1, 2008 4:41:19 PM
Soon we will be a comunity organization, not exactly like the Jim Jones comunity,but Obama's comunity organization of America.
Posted by: Liam | Nov 1, 2008 4:23:08 PM
TC,
How does government pay for providing for the general welfare without redistributing some wealth? George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, by the way, are two of the greatest redistributors of wealth in world history. One need only look at the share of national income and national wealth that average person had in 1980 or in 2000, then look at how that share declined in favor of the wealthy after 8 years of Republican rule.
Posted by: policywank | Nov 1, 2008 4:09:32 PM
Concerned in Ohio:
No nonworkers and nontaxpayers will benefit from Obama's plan. Some may not have income tax, but they have payroll taxes. NO WELFARE.
Posted by: AB | Nov 1, 2008 3:55:13 PM
You McCain supporters complaining about Mr. Tapper's coverage of Biden's campaign events: would you rather he go report on Sarah Palin's latest press conference?
Oh...right
Posted by: Pacific moderate | Nov 1, 2008 3:46:07 PM
So Joe and Jill went to Church. Did they leave an envelope when they went there? Their charitable donations don't indicate that they believe in supporting their church.
Posted by: Mary OK | Nov 1, 2008 3:29:35 PM
I forgot All Saints Day, thanks for tell me, I am in Houston, I will go to mass Saturday and ask forgiveness
GOD BLESS US ALL, VOTE OBAMA, I DID
Posted by: mkcap10 | Nov 1, 2008 3:29:33 PM
Coordinated election fraud being committed by the 0bama campaign.
----------------
How ironic that the Pubs, after years of voter supression and denying people the right to vote, complain about registraion fraud.
The Republicans have impacted the actual vote. Registrations do not.
Posted by: Just a thought? | Nov 1, 2008 3:25:51 PM
Maybe just maybe the redistribution of wealth means that I get to keep more of my earnings and the wealthiest 1 percent get to pay their fair share of taxes. Afterall, they are fortunate enough to live in a country that affords them the opportunity to earn or inherite large sums of money and since they too share in everything that taxes pay for, from schools, road, military, etc. they should definitely pay their fair share. That's how I see redistribution of wealth.
Posted by: I've had it | Nov 1, 2008 3:21:20 PM
If Joe Biden were a faithful Catholic as he wants everyone to believe, he would know that, although today (All Saints' Day) is a Holy Day of Obligation, when it falls on a Saturday or Monday, the obligation to attend Mass is lifted. There was no "saving" necessary --- he wasn't required to attend Mass.
Posted by: True Catholic | Nov 1, 2008 3:15:47 PM
Moderate,
By definition, government's sole function is to redistribute the wealth. Government, at even the bare minimum that the right wing fringe would allow it to do, has to provide police and military service, has to have courts, has to protect the rights defined in our constitution. How does it do that? It does it by taking money through taxes, tariffs, and fees and redistributing it toward the public good. If you want roads, schools, libraries, or any other government service then you must be in favor of wealth redistribution. After you concede that, it's only a matter of disagreeing over what services the government should provide. All services require redistribution of wealth.
Posted by: policywank | Nov 1, 2008 3:05:17 PM
Hey, Jake, I realize it's a little late now, but have you ever considered running a parallel series of "oh that sarah" stories that show HER light, humorous side? Ever think of talking about her adorable baby Trig dressed in his elephant costume, or about her tales of cooking mooseburgers, or any other folksy, fun stuff? No, I didn't think so. Wouldn't want to give the gal an even break, would we? Gotta keep our seat on the plane.
Posted by: moderate | Nov 1, 2008 2:46:14 PM
So,
My prayers are with the McCain/Palin ticket to win and for Obama to learn humility, authenticity and a true respect for American people and the USA!
America is not a mean, hateful country. It is the best country in the world.
I resent Biden's unpatriotic comment and Obama's selfish comment!
I don't think people are unpatriotic or selfish if they don't want Obama to choose where their money should go.
It is not government's job to redistribute money according to its wishes! This disempowers people! :(
Also, there is a saying that it is better to teach a man to fish then to keep giving him fish!
Giving the 47% of people who do not pay taxes a check for maybe $500. a year will not pay college tuition, buy a new car or improve their lives!
This disenfranchises and dehumanizes people by attempting to buy them with crumbs! :(
I am saddened by Obama's Palin attack video. It is misogyny at its worst! Her lips are moving but her voice is silenced! :(
But Obama attacks and/or silences everyone who does not agree with him!
This disillusioned democrat and Hillary supporter voted for McCain/Palin 08!
They are the only authentic reformers in this election! :)
Posted by: aware2u | Nov 1, 2008 2:45:50 PM
I like it.
It's funny and light-hearted. We need that sometimes.
I guess the rest of you were hoping Biden screwed up, so you could have something negative to say.
Maybe next time.
Posted by: Lighten Up | Nov 1, 2008 2:35:58 PM
Where are Obama's medical records? You can pay anyone to sign a one-page summary ...
Posted by: T | Nov 1, 2008 2:29:50 PM
And you get paid for this, Jake?
Posted by: Zank | Nov 1, 2008 2:28:36 PM
If Trig is really Governor Palin's child - what is she hiding? An abortion in college? I mean...I don't know...but it's weird they're not released and equally weird her physician won't talk to the press....
Posted by: karronna | Nov 1, 2008 2:23:35 PM
Post a comment
