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Joe Biden & Michelle Obama Vow to Support Women

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August 26, 2008 6:14 PM

ABC News' Matthew Jaffe reports: At an economic roundtable in Denver today, Michelle Obama and her husband's veep nominee, Joe Biden, outlined how an Obama administration would help resolve the struggles of working women, from universal health care to the appointment of Supreme Court justices.

In her introduction of the senator, Obama highlighted Biden's every man roots and family man devotion, as she welcomed him onto a stage with nine women, including Govs. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas and Janet Napolitano of Arizona.

"Both Barack and Joe grew up in families that, at times, struggled at times, to make ends meet," said Obama. "Barack, as you know, was raised by a young single mother who put herself through school while trying to raise Barack and his sister. Money was often so tight that sometimes they had to resort to food stamps. And Joe's parents raised four children on one salary in Scranton, Pa. And every night for the 35 years that he's been a senator in the United States, Joe takes the Amtrak train from Washington back to Wilmington to be with his family. This is a man who knows first-hand how hard it can be to balance work and family."

Obama touted her husband's fight for equal pay for women and Biden's work to combat domestic violence against women.

Upon taking the stage himself, Biden described the "very strong women" in his life, singling out three of them in particular: his daughter Ashley, his wife Jill, and his sister Valerie.

Perhaps because he caught some flak for joking on Saturday that his wife's PhD is "a problem," Biden today struck a more serious tone.

"I think you can tell the comfort a man has with women and whether or not he gets it or not by the women, if the women around him are strong," he said. 

As he has done since the moment Obama ended her speech last night, the senator continued to give her remarks rave reviews.

"I heard last night the most remarkable speech I have heard in my entire career. You know, I’m not engaging in hyperbole, there are eloquent speeches and Michelle’s speech was eloquent. I mean this sincerely. There are speeches that are profound in the things that they say and what they communicate, and hers did. But the mark of a truly incredible speech is when it’s able to change the perception of a nation about not only an individual, but a circumstance. That’s what was so profound about Michelle’s speech last night."

The Democratic number two man went on to tout what the Obama administration would do to help the plights of working women, such as providing universal health care.

"What is the greater obligation of the country?" Biden asked. "To give some very, very wealthy people, who are good people, an additional $100 billion in tax cuts, or provide health care for every American, solve every story you've heard up here?"

He also emphasized how vital this election would be for the Supreme Court, with as many as three justices to be appointed during the next administration.

"Ladies and gentlemen, other than ending the war in Iraq, the single most significant thing that Barack Obama will do, and I hope I’ll be able to help him, will be to determine who the next members of the Supreme Court are going to be."

"It's not merely a woman's right to choose which is at stake," he continued. "It's whether or not you're gonna be able to have a fair shot at a fair wage, it's whether or not you're going to be able to demand that you are treated equally in every aspect of your life; it is literally, literally, literally at stake, so please help us, please help us, the country needs Barack Obama as president."

Throughout the event, Biden drew on some of his personal experiences to connect with the women. He told Abby Dart, a widow, about when he lost his first wife and daughter in a car wreck during his first year in the Senate. And he also referenced his bout with two brain aneurysms in 1988, joking that it's bad publicity for a doctor if a senator dies on their operating table.

August 26, 2008 in Biden, Joe, Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (75)

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jennie,

You can, of course, describe the deal entire differently. Michelle make an innovative discovery to get rid of patients who have no insurance from her neighborhood out of the emergency room, saving the hospital millions of dollars. Rewarding her success, the "honorable" freshman Senator from Illinois directed tax payers' dollars to the hospital to further promote her success.

Only problem is that those poor patients are not happy, but who cares. They are also poor and bitter any way.


Posted by: fact check | Aug 26, 2008 7:17:56 PM

Fact Check

Michelle Obama was a smart kid who was dominating every course in her class at Havard. Same with Obama. Michelle worked her way up the ladder to be VP of Chocago hospital.

What about Cindy and John McCain?
Cindy inherited $100m from her elitist parent.
John McCain had an affirmative action in the military because of his father even though he finished among the bottom six in a class of 900 students.

Bottomline they are so loaded that they are out of touch with the ordinary American. No wonder they dont know how many houses they have.

I guess you hate the hard work and intelligence of the Obamas.

Posted by: krista | Aug 26, 2008 7:19:27 PM

Obama keep mentioning Joe Biden's Catholic upbringing. Guess that's why he was chastized today by a Bishop of the Catholic Church for his pro-abortion stance.

He carries a Rosary in his pocket... he is going to need it.

Posted by: Gracie | Aug 26, 2008 7:21:38 PM

Biden is pathetic. I saw him sneer and snarl at Alberto Gonzales. I didn't know who he was but now that I do, there is no way I would ever vote for Obama, which I had planned to do, until along comes this man that was so very, very ugly. Well, all I can say is that he will get some of his own medicine before this is all over. I would hope that people will see him for what he is. Caroline Kennedy should go home and spend her millions and Ted Kennedy needs to be in the bed. I am through, totally through, with the Democrats. They really are very, very ugly.

Posted by: Janice | Aug 26, 2008 7:22:33 PM

Obama's mother did not marry an oil executive. He was an oil company worker..big difference. They lived in a small house in a lower class Indonesia neighborhood. Obama went to high school and college on scholarships and for law school he took out student loans. Michelle is a Harvard law school graduate. Her salary is no different than most other Ivy League law school graduates.
You might want to read up on Cindy McCain's father. Apparently he was involved in some illegal activities with his beer distribution when he first started out.
There is no way the McCains can stand up at the Republican convention and talk about values.

Posted by: jennie | Aug 26, 2008 7:23:30 PM

Reasons why Change is inevitable
========================================

1. Bush has sinked America to its lowest since WW2.

2. Republicans selected a 71 year old who makes all the gaffes and is out of touch with Americans(elitists).

3. Republicans also selected a candidate who has 26 years of experience but doesn`t have the judgment to be commander in chief.

4. He is more of the same failed policies, flip flops and does not have any new ideas.

5. Bush and Chenney have forced us into war for oil in Iraq.


Obama 08

Posted by: Kenny | Aug 26, 2008 7:25:38 PM

krista -- look into the history of Cindy McCain's father, who fought for this country in the war (like McCain, and his father, and grandfather), so you would have the freedom to criticize them now. Look into this history, of his hard work and service to this country. How dare you call him elitist to serve your Obama.

And Michele? She got affirmative action to get into college, then turned around and wrote a racist thesis, criticizing the program that got her to where she was. Bitter, vindictive, ugly woman, inside and out.

By the way, Michele also is quoted as saying that she is not sure she would have voted for Hillary if Hillary were the nominee. I could only hope that Hillary would return the favor tonight. Unfortunately, she has too much integrity to do that.

Michele Obama, like her husband, is a fraud and actress, who will do anything to garner votes.

Posted by: decentAmerican | Aug 26, 2008 7:25:58 PM

krista,

Facts sometimes hurt; words often do not matter, particularly coming out of Zero-bama and supporters' mouths.

Michelle worked her way up the ladder??? How convenient the ladder was laid as soon as her husband became US Senator, and an increase of 260% in salary. The good-intentioned, "honorable" freshman Senator immediately rewarded the employer who gave his wife raise with a cool 1 million tax payers' dollars.

I did not know inheritance has become a crime in Zero-bama supporter's book.

Posted by: fact check | Aug 26, 2008 7:26:28 PM

LOL! Jennie, i have read up on the Obamas, and the McCains. Obama had a privileged childhood. He has not gone through what the majority of Americans have gone through, like John McCain growing up.

you are drowning in your own lies. I'd ordinarily throw out a life raft, but given your firm intent on spreading deceit and lies, I'd think the world would be a better place if I didn't.


Posted by: decentAmerican | Aug 26, 2008 7:29:34 PM

INdecentAmerican...you are clueless. You appear to be drowning in the Republican KoolAid. Good luck to you.

Posted by: jennie | Aug 26, 2008 7:32:23 PM

Cindy McCain's father came back from WWII and borrowed $10,000. With hard work and American know-how he turned this into his legacy.

I don't hear the Democrats calling the Kennedy's elitists --- and they inherited all their money and homes in Boston and Martha's vineyard. Double standard! And I don't think McCain drove off a bridge, killed an young woman and then waited until morning to report it.

Cindy McCain does charitable works all over the world to improve childrens lives, while Michelle is busy receiving salary increases due to earmarks from her husband.

How much money did Obama donate from the profits from his books to charity? That would be close to "zero". They made close to $4M last year -- their tax records show they donating less than 1% of their salary.

Posted by: Gracie | Aug 26, 2008 7:32:57 PM

Biden was acting like a woman today. Boo Hoo. He has a sensitive side.

Posted by: Sluggo | Aug 26, 2008 7:33:24 PM

This is pathetic... McCain doesn't know the difference between Sunni and Shia in Iraq, so his supporters are forced to lie and smear a decent hardworking American woman like Michelle Obama. Y'all are desperate, grabbing at straws and it shows.

The Republican Party has been running this country for the last 8 years and we are all worse off for it; Bush in his incompetence has allowed 9/11 to happen, has allowed Iran to make progress towards nuclear weapons for 8 years, has gotten thousands of our soldiers killed in Iraq and if he had his way, would get thousands more killed in a pointless war against Iran.

Face it - Republicans, and that includes the trolling liars who claim they supported Hillary Clinton but will now go McCain - Republicans cannot run on their records and policies because bitter experience has shown them to be an abysmal failure.

Posted by: Tarheelette | Aug 26, 2008 7:43:13 PM

Decent American

McCain was among the slowest students in his class and this is a fact. He got affirmative action because of his father. Thats why he destroyed $5m worth of fighter jets and the USS Forrestal because he wasnt qualified to fly them.

Why are you denying the fact that McCain and Cindy`s parents were rich elitists. Didnt she inherit and beer distributor and $100m.

Michelle and Barrack were topping their class in all their courses. Chair of havard law review and VP of Chicago hospital. Very intelligent people and you know that.

Obama`s grandfather fought in WW2 and liberated Jews at Buchenwald Concentration Camp.

Posted by: krista | Aug 26, 2008 7:44:35 PM

Is there a debate for candidate spouses?

Michelle the Havard lawyer will floor cindy McCain anytime, anywhere and on any topic and you know it.

Posted by: keith | Aug 26, 2008 7:48:10 PM

President Bush will go down in history as one of the all time great presidents of this country. He has character, morality and has kept this country safe. God Bless Presidet Bush again and again and I am sure he will in the days to come. With what we have to choose from right now, we could only hope that President Bush oould run again. We need a man that says what he means and means what he says. Good luck Preisent and Mrs. Bush as you leave our country safer and we are all thankful to you.

Posted by: Janice | Aug 26, 2008 7:48:42 PM

If Obama want to give everyone a "handout" -- let him use his money. Don't use my tax dollars.

Posted by: Gracie | Aug 26, 2008 7:49:08 PM

McCain simply does not have the judgment to be commander in chief. Being a POW is no qualification neither. Even Rev Wright fought in Vietnam.

Obama 08= Superir judgment.

Posted by: kenny | Aug 26, 2008 7:50:44 PM

Do the Democrats have any rich elitists ....

The Kennedy's
John Kerry
Nancy Pelosi

They are all millionaires several times over and didn't work for their money --- it was inherited.

Posted by: Gracie | Aug 26, 2008 7:53:45 PM

I've yet to see a single post discussing policy - you know, the stuff that actually matters for our future...our kids futures?

Can we move past the personal attacks and take a good hard look at the issues we face?

Posted by: ken | Aug 26, 2008 7:53:46 PM

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