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Obama Misspeaks, Calls Biden 'The Next President'; Biden Calls Obama 'Barack America'
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ShareAugust 23, 2008 4:52 PM
ABC News' Sara Just reports: Journalists who were awake until the wee hours waiting for confirmation that Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., was indeed Barack Obama's running mate, cannot be blamed if their hearing is a little fuzzy today.
But after today's Obama-Biden speeches to a massive crowd in Springfield, Ill., many reporters are rolling back the tape and asking each other, "Did he really say that?"
When introducing his running mate, Obama said, "So let me introduce to you the next president - the next vice president of the US of America, Joe Biden."
And then when it was Biden's turn to speak, the Delaware senator called the presumptive Democratic nominee "Barack America" instead of Barack Obama.
"My friends, I don't have to tell you, this election year the choice is clear. One man stands ready to deliver change we desperately need. A man I’m proud to call my friend. A man who will be the next president of the United States, Barack America,” Biden said, per ABC News' Sunlen Miller.
However the official Obama campaign transcript of Biden's remarks sent to reporters omitted part of the misspeak, reading: "A man who will be the next president of the United States, Barack Amer – You know, you learn a lot of things being up close with a guy."
Then, later in his speech, Biden jokingly referred to his wife's PhD as a "problem." Biden was clearly having a playful moment with his wife, who he also referred to as "drop dead gorgeous."
"Ladies and gentlemen, my wife Jill, who you’ll meet soon, is drop dead gorgeous. My wife Jill, who you’ll meet soon, she also has her doctorate degree, which is a problem," Biden said, "But all kidding aside, my Jill, my Jill, my wife Jill and I are honored to join Barack and Michelle on this journey, because that's what it is. it's a journey."
The Republican war machine jumped on the first misstatement, with the McCain campaign releasing the following statement within minutes of the Springfield event's close: “Barack Obama sounded as though he turned over the top spot on the ticket today to his new mentor, when he introduced Joe Biden as the next president. The reality is that nothing has changed since Joe Biden first made his assessment that Barack Obama is not ready to lead. He wasn’t ready then and he isn’t ready now,” McCain spokesman Ben Porrit said.
The press will not have a lot of time to study the Democratic running mates' style or stumbles on stage together this week.
Despite previous plans to campaign with his veep-pick in battleground states, Obama will pass through those swing states alone this week, as Biden heads back to his home state of Delaware to prepare his speech for the convention and the most important political speech of his career, at least so far.
The duo will not appear again together until Thursday night when they are slated to accept their party's nominations.
August 23, 2008 in Biden, Joe, Kucinich, Dennis, Romney, Mitt, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (858)
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Oh wow congrats ABC. This is the dumbest blog I've ever wasted my time reading.
Posted by: Trish | Aug 23, 2008 5:00:42 PM
Saw that it was funny, maybe beign president is above Obama's paygrade.
Posted by: rachel | Aug 23, 2008 5:01:35 PM
OMG What a stupid blog...no wonder ABC is not involved in the upcoming Presidential debates:))
Posted by: VietnamVet | Aug 23, 2008 5:05:10 PM
I don't get it, don't get it, dont' get it. How can Obama be touting their new cozy team as "change" that Washington needs, when Biden is the poster child for old Washington politics? Hello? He is a 5 term senator! He is the 4th longest serving Dem in congress! He was a senator when McCain was still in Hanoi!
Does Obama really think America is that stupid? That all he has talked about for ages was "change" and "progress", and here he brings a VP who does not represent change at all? Hypocrite? Liar?
And does he really think that Americans will believe the sudden switch in attitude of Biden? When he was Obama's opponent, he said Obama was not ready, and denounced his judgement on foreign policy. Now, suddenly, Biden is his running mate, and Obama is "ready"? For goodness sakes, do they really take the American electorate as fools?
How can anybody possibly not be sick of Obama the flipflopping hypocritical lying fraud by now? How?
Posted by: decentAmerican | Aug 23, 2008 5:06:29 PM
Joe Biden:
"I would be honored to run with or against John McCain because I think the country would be better for it."
So, Biden would have taken the VP spot for either party or candidate.
And, this is the man who is supposed to provide some backbone for the Obama campaign?
Change they can deceive in.
Anybody But Obama...
Posted by: Jayhawk | Aug 23, 2008 5:08:43 PM
Obama is right how could even presume to the President of anything because he doesn't have any background in running this Country or any other country.
The thing is IF Obama wins we will have a young "President" and much older Vice President. If McCain wins we will have a much older President and a younger vice president. I don't know the way you feel but I would rather a have an older President who knows what to do at three AM than a young president that knows nothing picking up the phone at three AM? I guess he would have to ask his Vice President what to do and that would take time so I guess he would have to live in the White House with our "President" right---right.
Posted by: Carol | Aug 23, 2008 5:10:37 PM
Anybody But Obama or Biden...
Posted by: Jayhawk | Aug 23, 2008 5:10:59 PM
At least both Sens. Obama and Biden know how many homes they own. Obama/Biden 08!!!
Posted by: caliguy55 | Aug 23, 2008 5:16:11 PM
Oh, we're back to the homes thing...
That means Rezko would be the Secretary or Housing and Urban Development in an Obama regime...
Obama...Change he can deceive in...
Posted by: Jayhawk | Aug 23, 2008 5:17:45 PM
I don't know Jayhawk, but it sounded like he was being gracious, but then neo-cons don't really get that sort of thing, now do they? After all, they have Bush and Mccain gaffs that keep them busy enough.
Posted by: JR | Aug 23, 2008 5:20:35 PM
LOL!!!!!
Biden/Obama 08 LOL
Posted by: JA | Aug 23, 2008 5:21:07 PM
Oh, now we're back to the Rezko thing, The gist of the story paraphrased from moveon:
In 2005, Obama wanted to buy a house. The property was divided into two parcels, one containing a house and the other undeveloped land. The owner listed the properties separately. After haggling, the seller accepted Obama's 3rd bid of $1.65 million for the house. Tony Rezko's wife, Rita, purchased the adjoining lot for $625,000.
When the Obama wanted to increase the size of the yard, he asked Rita about buying a 10ft strip of the 60ft adjacent parcel, the strip appraised for $40,000. Obama nevertheless paid Rita $104,500 (or 1/6 of the total purchase price of her lot) for the strip. In 2007, Rita sold the remaining lot for $575,000 (or roughly a $54,500 profit on the overall property).
Big whopping deal............Want to here about McCain being part of the Lincoln Savings & Loan scandal?
Posted by: JR | Aug 23, 2008 5:23:06 PM
Are you sure Mccain will be able to wake up if there is a 3a.m call. I doubt that and even if he does, he probaby will not remember where the phone was.
Posted by: jayjay | Aug 23, 2008 5:25:12 PM
Now that everyone knows Biden can't even remember Obama's last name, maybe the old and senile jokes will start falling on a new target.............
Posted by: Lee | Aug 23, 2008 5:25:36 PM
Looks like Obama has already conceded the presidency to Biden.
D-oh! LOL
Posted by: JA | Aug 23, 2008 5:25:53 PM
Biden brings instant credibility on foreign policy and the current inner-workings of Washington.
Posted by: Ryan | Aug 23, 2008 5:26:22 PM
Barack America??? Sounds like a lame superhero.
Biden/Obama 08 LOL!!!!
Posted by: JA | Aug 23, 2008 5:26:25 PM
I doubt it Lee, old and senile sums up McCain, don't you think?
Posted by: JR | Aug 23, 2008 5:27:52 PM
Too bad that Biden has disagreed with Obama on EVERY foreign policy decision.
He voted FOR THE IRAQ WAR and was one of its strongest proponents in the Dem Party.
He voted FOR THE SURGE along with John McCain.
Why on earth is Obama bringing in someone who is "old school", does not represent change, AND DOES NOT SHARE HIS VALUES OR POLITICAL PRIORITIES???
Posted by: JA | Aug 23, 2008 5:28:40 PM
"Why on earth is Obama bringing in someone who .............DOES NOT SHARE HIS ..... POLITICAL PRIORITIES"
Maybe, he wants a well rounded ticket rather than the "usual" clones everybody expects from the republicans.
Posted by: JR | Aug 23, 2008 5:31:02 PM
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