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Biden Dubs McCain 'Bush 44'

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September 15, 2008 3:04 PM

ABC News' Matthew Jaffe reports: With the presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., promising an aggressive new strategy after polling gains by the rival Republican campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., delivered a hard-hitting speech Monday denouncing McCain as nothing more than "Bush 44."

"If you're ready for four more years of George Bush, then John McCain is your guy," Biden said in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. "You know, just as George Herbert Walker Bush was nicknamed 'Bush 41' and his son was nicknamed 'Bush 43,' John McCain could easily become known as 'Bush 44.'"

With his rhetoric ratcheted up in comparison to his first few weeks on the campaign trail, Biden urged voters not to be fooled by McCain's pledges to bring reform to Washington, reminding the crowd of Bush's campaign promises when he won the White House in 2000.

"Eight years later we have another Republican nominee who's telling us the exact same thing," Biden said. "He's saying this time will be different, he says it really will. This time he's going to put country before party, to change the tone, reach across the aisle. He's going to change the Republican Party, he's going to change the way Washington works. Folks, we've seen this movie before. And we know, the sequel is always worse than the original."

Biden, who the campaign believes has "unique standing" to argue against McCain due to the two senators' long-term friendship dating back over 30 years, not only hit out at McCain's record as a lawmaker but also his current "Rovian" campaign tactics.

"The campaign a person runs tells ya everything about the way they’ll govern," he said. "The McCain-Palin campaign decided to bet the house, decided to bet the house on the politics perfected by Karl Rove. Those tactics may be good at squeaking by in an election, but they are very bad if you want to lead one nation, indivisible."   

Biden recalled that it was these same tactics that proved fatal to McCain's bid for the GOP nomination in 2000. 

"Now some of the very same people and the tactics that were used against John and deplored by him, his campaign is now employing against Barack Obama," said Biden, who frequently notes on the campaign trail that he offered to help his "good friend John" during the 2000 fall-out. "The same campaign, the same campaign that once called for a town hall a week is now launching a low blow a day in this campaign and I’m tired of it, [but] folks, Barack and I can take it."

"But what really bothers me," he continued, "is that for every punch that’s thrown at us it’s an attempt to distract you, to distract the American people, from the very important issues that face this country."

Biden's speech focused primarily on McCain's domestic record, with no fewer than two mentions of McCain's running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

"And now, Governor Palin, his running mate, his running mate, she made a statement: “All senators do is vote. That’s all they do." Well, just imagine what America would look like if John’s votes over the past 20 years had become the law of the land," Biden said. "All I can say is, to Sarah Palin, thank goodness John McCain’s votes didn’t count in the majority on all of those issues."

Biden also accused McCain of trying to "cloak himself in reform but then misrepresent his running mate's record."

In response, the McCain campaign called Biden's comments "ridiculous" and "not credible."

“Barack Obama’s running mate today made more ridiculous comments that are not credible and stand in complete contradiction to their record," said McCain/Palin spokesman Ben Porritt in a statement. "It’s salesmanship not leadership for Barack Obama and his running mate to tell families in Michigan that they have plans to aid the middle class when they recently both voted in favor of higher taxes for Americans making as little as $42,000. The Obama-Biden ticket’s economic plan raises taxes, kills jobs, increases spending to the tune of $860 billion, and they both persist in opposing sensible energy policy that will relieve our dependence on foreign energy.”

The Delaware lawmaker made Monday's major domestic policy address in front of 1,500 supporters at South Lake High School, but not even something as seemingly minor as a crowd count can be given without it turning into a dig against the opposing party. Quipped Biden spokesman David Wade, "As the McCain campaign might call it, 1.5 million attending speech," in light of accusations that the GOP campaign has been inflating their crowd numbers in recent weeks.

Wade noted that Monday's speech does not represent a new "attack dog" role for Biden, but rather "the truth squad."

The St. Clair Shores address is the first of two major "framing" speeches Biden will give, the second to be focused on foreign policy, set to be delivered Monday September 22 in Baltimore.

September 15, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (250)

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The McCain campaign will be not destroyed by the Democrats - the GOP are going to do it themselves.

In the last Republican congress bills containing 14,000 earmarks were passed; under the Dems that has fallen to 10,000. But both sides know that they cannot do with earmarks and under 'Loose Nuke' McCain Republicans are going to suffer as much as anyone else.

That's why Rove, Greenspan, and even Fox News have begun to move against him. Maybe they think it would be better to sacrifice this cycle and launch a stronger campaign with a 'proper' Republican like Tim Pawlenty or Bobby Jindal in 2012.

Posted by: Reggie | Sep 15, 2008 3:14:09 PM

Just curious, ABCnews, but why are you focusing inordinate amounts of time to tell us silly things about Palin and her career, but you are not investigating at all the spectacular account on the New York Post today, stating that Obama tried to delay the Iraqi troop withdrawal, for his own political needs, which not only violates the Logan Act, but practically an act of treason? Is this not important to you? Is this not important to the American people? Or are you so in the tank for Obama that you refuse to be journalists and get at the truth?

Just curious.

Posted by: decentAmerican | Sep 15, 2008 3:20:20 PM

McLiar!!! No more 4 of the same..

Posted by: james | Sep 15, 2008 3:21:34 PM

As surely as Lucy will yank away the football, McCain will pull the plug on American workers.

Posted by: Rudy Murillo | Sep 15, 2008 3:22:32 PM

"All senators do is vote. That’s all they do." OK I will give the girl the Bush doctrine but this is really scary. She does not know how our government works. The heck with a lack of foreign policy experience, the girl has no American Government experience..............OMG

Posted by: community organizer | Sep 15, 2008 3:23:00 PM

When will Palin stop talking about being against earmark reform msihe got over 400 million and bridge to no where in her stump. She think we are stupid. Maybe some republicans are , but I am not. Where is the integrity. If they can lie now how will they run the white house ? Palin is a liar!!

Posted by: james | Sep 15, 2008 3:24:33 PM

The New York Post is not credible. It is the paper equivalent of Fox News.

When you want the facts, see www.factcheck.org.

Posted by: Joel | Sep 15, 2008 3:25:39 PM

the Obama tax provides greater tax relief for more people that the McCain plan. Actually addresses issues of corporate fiscal responsibility, and the deep investment into alternative energy sources will provide for new jobs. Drilling for more oil is not a long term answer. A Better education and innovation is. We need 100,000 new teachers as a start. We need to build more schools and come up with a basic consistant, and comprehensive education program that the states can build on. Neither John McCain nor Sarah Palin were particularly good students, so no wonder they are so against having a well educated, well informed, President that is looking for the best solution to a problem and not a political solution.

Posted by: Jason | Sep 15, 2008 3:27:56 PM

McPalin are fabricating lies even Karl Rove their architect and political brain has said it because he has enough of lies from McPali. No to four more years of the same failure in international standing, failure on economic policies and failure in domestic issues. Even Karl Rove is rejecting McPalin's dirty strategies.

Posted by: BKMC | Sep 15, 2008 3:28:07 PM

Decent American how can a single Senator delay troop removal? I thought that that was up to the President and congress?

Posted by: community organizer | Sep 15, 2008 3:28:21 PM

So, just who is making race an issue in this campaign??

Joe Biden, Churchillian Orator, says to elect Obama simply because he is Black.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden, campaigning in North Carolina where black votes could help swing the state to the Democrats, said today that electing a black person to the White House would be transformative.

Biden said the policies of running mate Barack Obama make his presidency even more urgent and declared this to be the most important election that any living person has seen in their lifetime. But he particularly singled out the meaning of electing someone who is black.

“That will be a transformative event in American politics and internationally,” Biden said. “That all by itself will be significant.”

“That all by itself” is all this ticket has going for it.

Posted by: carl | Sep 15, 2008 3:28:26 PM

McPalin are liars!!!

Posted by: james | Sep 15, 2008 3:31:23 PM

Wow, a lot of quotable quotes in that Biden speech.

Posted by: Paul | Sep 15, 2008 3:31:27 PM

Biden: "Folks, we've seen this movie before. And we know, the sequel is always worse than the original."

I like that one. But my favorite might be:

"But what really bothers me," he continued, "is that for every punch that’s thrown at us it’s an attempt to distract you, to distract the American people, from the very important issues that face this country."

Posted by: Paul | Sep 15, 2008 3:33:57 PM

"...promising an aggressive new strategy after polling gains by the rival Republican campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., delivered a hard-hitting speech Monday denouncing McCain as nothing more than "Bush 44.""

OK, so what exactly is the new strategy? This has been their only strategy since day one.

Posted by: Don | Sep 15, 2008 3:36:01 PM

The Liberals are losing it. Most of us who represent 'normal' America, which is the majority, are laughing our arses off. Obama looks like he just saw a ghost. The only MAN I know here in Chicago that can speak 2000 words and says nothing is his mentor Jesse Jackson. I am having a blast witnessing the loonyness of how the party of peace and love starts to self destruct. I have never witness such mean, dishonest, bazaar, sexist and racist statments as I am hearing from the Obama camp and reading in the blogs. If this is the change your preaching, I stick with Senator McCain.

Posted by: Jen | Sep 15, 2008 3:38:45 PM

Sorry, Joe Biden's opinions are not qualified, because
he claims he is not qualified to become VP. He
said, Hillary should have been chosen as VP, she
is much more qualified and Obama made a poor
choice, choosing him!! WE surely can't vote for
Obama, who made a gross error in his VP. choice
and the VP, who claims he is not qualified?
Wow, bad news from the Obama camp. SECURITY
IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE. TERRORISM CAN
DESTROY THE TERRITORY AND ECONOMY WILL
BE ZERO.

Posted by: foxladynews | Sep 15, 2008 3:39:07 PM

Let's see the shady Golden Child get out of this one.

Barack Obama privately tried to persuade Iraqi political leaders to stall an agreement on scaling back American troops in Iraq while publicly campaigning for a speedy withdrawal, The New York Post reported Monday.

Obama’s request for a delay was a major theme of his talks with Iraqi leaders in Baghdad in July, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said in an interview with the Post.

Obama said that Congress should be involved in negotiations on the status of American troops, excluding the Bush administration in its “state of weakness and political confusion,” according to the report.

Obama also reportedly tried to persuade the U.S. commanders, including Gen. David Petraeus, to offer a “realistic withdrawal date.” They declined, the Post said.

The New York Post article raises doubts about Obama’s call to withdraw combat troops by 2010, especially if his request for a delayed agreement had been accepted. By the time a new Iraqi government is elected, fully operational, can form a new coalition government and comes up with a draft accord, it will already by May 2010, the Post noted. It could take another six months for the draft to be passed into law.

Click here to read the article in The New York Post.

Posted by: Kim | Sep 15, 2008 3:39:51 PM

If you liked Jimmy Carter your going to love Obama and Biden. What fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: William | Sep 15, 2008 3:40:25 PM

Hey Don,
So far MCCain has not let them down.

Posted by: community organizer | Sep 15, 2008 3:40:39 PM

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