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Pelosi on Biden's Wife Crack: 'Lighten Up, Folks'

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August 23, 2008 6:04 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Arnab Datta report: Speaking to reporters in Denver, Colo., House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defended Sen. Joe Biden's  Saturday crack about his wife having a doctorate degree. 

"You know what," said Pelosi "I'm going to tell you something: lighten up folks.  We have a planet to save. Nothing less is at stake than civilization as we know it today. The economy of our country, the health of our children, the state of our . . . the deficit and the rest."

"If Sen. Biden thinks that his wife is attractive, that's a-okay with me," she added. 

Pelosi's "lighten up" remark and statement of planetary purpose came in response to a reporter's question about how some of Sen. Hillary Clinton's disgruntled former female supporters would feel about Sen. Barack Obama's new running mate jokingly referring to his wife's advanced degree as "a problem."

"Ladies and gentlemen, my wife Jill, who you'll meet soon, is drop dead gorgeous," said Biden. 

"She also has her doctorate degree, which is a problem," he added. "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."

Jill Biden, an instructor of English at Delaware Technical and Community College, received her doctorate in education from the University of Delaware. 

Pelosi, who is the permanent chair of the Democratic National Convention spoke to reporters from multiple news organizations at a lunch hosted by The Christian Science Monitor. 

August 23, 2008 in Biden, Joe, Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred, Veepstakes | Permalink | User Comments (85)

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What's the matter abcnews? My comments to pithy for you!

Posted by: roxanne | Aug 23, 2008 7:12:39 PM

Biden is a looney sexist scum bag.

Posted by: mary | Aug 23, 2008 7:17:40 PM

Joe Biden has served in the US Senate since NIXON was president....he also mentioned his sons "Beau, Nick and Ashley." Ashley is his daughter.....

Posted by: bar | Aug 23, 2008 7:17:49 PM

I don't get it. Why is that a problem? Must be an inside joke between liberal elitists like Obama America and "President" Biden.

Posted by: geevill | Aug 23, 2008 7:17:56 PM

Did I mention Biden is a RACIST SEXIST scum bag?

Posted by: mary | Aug 23, 2008 7:18:32 PM


Does Roxanne know that John Kerry rode HIS motorcycle to Sturgis for the fest?
Bet she didn't call it disgusting then.

Posted by: kitty | Aug 23, 2008 7:19:27 PM

Joe Biden is 67 years old.

I guess that should end the "McCain is too old to be President" garbage.

PS. Google Joe Biden and plagiarism.

Posted by: bart | Aug 23, 2008 7:20:15 PM

I saw Biden's entire speech and got some very good looks at Mrs. Biden.

It is very obvious that Biden loves his wife very much and very very proud of her. She is very smart and brainy. He just married up.

To anybody who finds fault with Biden's comments - Please just get a life. Stop being so ridiculous.

Posted by: Beto | Aug 23, 2008 7:21:39 PM

kitty: John Kerry had his mtorcycle FLOWN to Sioux Falls and an aide drove it to Sturgis. Kerry then spent about an hour trying to look hip on it (more like a phony) before the aide drove it back to Sioux Falls where it once again was shipped back to his home.

Posted by: bad man | Aug 23, 2008 7:22:12 PM

I am son of Biden and my Dad is a lout.

Posted by: Son of Biden | Aug 23, 2008 7:23:23 PM

Where was Ms. Nancy to defend one of her own - Hillary Clinton???
Obama is a FRAUD - Biden will not help him - he will NEVER be elected.

Posted by: Molly | Aug 23, 2008 7:23:23 PM

Biden is by far the best VP choice. Biden is the leading expert on Foreign Affairs, has World Leaders and Military Generals respect,has a track record of accomplishments on leading and working on bi-partisan bills, a great debater with his knowlege of all the issues and his wonderful wit, a fighter for the middle class in not only speeches but in his actions. Bravo Obama on a great pick. Watch out Republicans, Biden knows BS when he hears it and he will call you on it.

Posted by: julie | Aug 23, 2008 7:23:35 PM

I will give you 10 to 1 odds that Biden is in bed with Hillary Clinton to make sure Obama loses in 2008 so she has a clear field in 2012!

Biden has always been a yes man for the Clintons. He owes Bill Clinton almost his whole career. Biden will work to make sure Obama loses.

Posted by: bidenbo | Aug 23, 2008 7:25:01 PM

I am a widower but was married for 10 years. My wife gave me three wonderful sons. Every day that she is gone, I regret that I did not complement her. It would have gone better for her and me had I done so. I was never able to really completely show my feelings and that I regret.

Senator Biden has the right idea completely. He loves his wife and is not afraid to show the world and her that he loves her.

Good for him.

Posted by: Beto | Aug 23, 2008 7:26:05 PM

LOL! BIDEN's NICKNAME in Washington DC is 20/20 JOE because he always waits until 6 months after a crisis then pipes up with his steadfast "if people had listened to me 6 months ago this never would have happended". Don't believe me? Biden was just to Georgia and NEVER Said A WORD ABOUT HIS IDEA OF A SOLUTION. He won't for another 3 months and then his famous 20/20 hindsight will pop up and he will say he had it all figured out one weeks before Russia invaded and nobody would listen to him. Just like his lies about graduating in the top of the class, his copying others work, and lying about three degrees, Biden is a perpetual LIAR about everything.

Posted by: bopeep | Aug 23, 2008 7:28:32 PM

Beto,

Obama supporters attacked McCain for complementing his wife. give it a rest buddy. we are sick of the double talk.

Posted by: geevill | Aug 23, 2008 7:28:45 PM

That was typical Joe Biden and get use to it. Biden has told others his wife is prettier than theirs, that his IQ is higher, that his kids are smarter, that he is more powerful, that people like him more. Biden has a very serious personality problem he hides but it pops out like it did today. I was waiting for him to tell the audience what his wife's IQ was!

Posted by: biden is a ninny | Aug 23, 2008 7:30:26 PM

I was surprised at the remarks, but then I was also surprised when Joe Biden got picked. He's up there in age like McCain and Biden has been around a long time and is certainly representative of the established order in Congress and Washington. So much for making issues out of McCain's age and Obama's emphais on change.

Posted by: Jennifer | Aug 23, 2008 7:32:18 PM

This Hillary CLinton supporter just mailed John McCain $50 in protest of the stupid idea that a garbage head know it all like Joe Biden is a better selection than Hillary Clinton!

GO HILLARy! Take this nomination at the convention and if they won't give it to you who deserves it then we as your army of voters will award it to you in 2012 by voting for McCAIN! 5 MILLION of us are ready to vote for McCain!

Posted by: patty | Aug 23, 2008 7:32:59 PM

Hillary-worshippers are the second-dumbest people on the planet.

Bush-worshippers are the worst.

Posted by: Laffy | Aug 23, 2008 7:40:40 PM

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