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Biden Rips Bush Administration

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September 03, 2008 7:19 AM

ABC News' Matthew Jaffe reports: While Republicans congregate in the Twin Cities striving to keep their hold on the White House, Barack Obama's running mate Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., sharply criticized the Bush administration Tuesday while delineating the changes Democrats would demand if they rise to power.

"In an Obama-Biden administration, we will not have an attorney general who blatantly breaks the law," Biden said at a town-hall meeting in West Palm Beach, Florida, his voice at times drowned out by applause. "We will not have a president who doesn't understand the Constitution. And I will not be a vice-president who thinks he's not part of any of the three branches of government."

Biden ripped the Bush administration for wasting a chance to unite the nation in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

"George Bush and his administration are going to be judged harshly by history," said the Delaware lawmaker. "Not for the mistakes they made, but for the opportunities to unite America and the world they squandered."

Now, Biden said, he and Obama are determined to take control of the West Wing, noting that he would not have agreed to share the Democratic ticket had he not known Obama's commitment to sticking to his values.

"Have you figured out what is worth losing over?" he said. "Because if you have not, it's just raw ambition. Barack understands what is worth losing over."

The McCain campaign responded to Biden's comments by using the veep nominee's own words against him. McCain's team referred back to when Biden, while campaigning in the Democratic primary, said that Obama was "not ready" for the presidency.

"Six months ago Joe Biden's description of an Obama administration was littered with questions of inexperience," said McCain spokesman Ben Porritt. "Today, Biden has been tasked with carrying the water for Barack Obama who has voted in favor of taxes 94 times in three years and has claimed that making decisions on the tough issues is 'above his paygrade'. Barack Obama has zero foreign policy experience, is not a credible voice on U.S. relations abroad, and as John McCain and Joe Biden agree, is just not ready to lead."

Earlier Monday, addressing a crowd in Deerfield Beach, Florida, Biden also preached the importance of this election in terms of the Supreme Court, noting that the next administration might appoint as many as three new justices.

"The single most important domestic decision that a president gets to make on his own or her own is the Supreme Court," he said.

Looking to the future but with one eye on the past, Biden also promised that an Obama-Biden government would go through Bush administration data with "a fine-toothed comb" and pursue criminal charges if necessary. 

"If there has been a basis upon which you can pursue someone for a criminal violation," he said, "they will be pursued, not out of vengeance, not out of retribution - out of the need to preserve the notion that no one, no one, no attorney general, no president, no one is above the law."

On Tuesday, the vice presidential nominee continued his 48-hour swing through the Sunshine State with stops in Ft. Myers and Sarasota.

September 3, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (96)

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Great Biden, no one is above the law, no one should be above the law, that is the nation's interest. What a class difference between Biden and Miss Alaska and old McSame. God save America from McPaulin. God bless America and God bless Obama/Biden. OBAMA/BIDEN08

Posted by: BKMC | Sep 3, 2008 8:32:02 AM

Brait said, “McCain is using her (Palin) as a shield. The sly fox saw how Hillary and wman supporters divided the Dem. Camp.” You are so right, Brait, and I say hooray for McCain!!! I am one of those disaffected Democratic women who plans on voting Republican this year. I am sick of my own party attacking women. First they attacked Hillary, and now the vitriol is turned on Sarah Palin by Democrats who should know better. Attacking this woman’s character, and suggesting that she can’t be a good mother and a vice president at the same time, is a contemptible tactic by Obama supporters. I believe the Obama campaign is behind these attacks. The Democrats don’t deserve my support.

Posted by: Carrie | Sep 3, 2008 8:37:24 AM

The reason Sarah Palin is attacked so visciously by liberals is because she has more experience than the top of the Democratic ticket. When the Democrats whine about her lack of foreign affairs experience, all the Republicans have to do is point to Obama's similar lack of foreign affairs experience. The Democrats forced Joe Biden on Barack Obama to shore up his lack of experience. It's now clear to the entire country that the wrong man is at the top of the ticket. Dems are embarrassed, and Repubs are laughing.

Posted by: Disapppointed by not Suprised | Sep 3, 2008 8:52:14 AM

Last time I checked, Bush's approval ratings were their highest after 9/11, and most of the nation approved the Afghanistan and Iraq invasions on the grounds that both nations were connected to 9/11. Biden voted for both wars. According to Obama, he therefore lacks judgment. Remember when he said that about Clinton? He also questioned Clinton's judgment and committment to poor people because she supposedly supported NAFTA. Biden voted for NAFTA (something Clinton didn't do). He also voted for the bankruptcy bill -- another source of Obama criticism of Clinton. Apparently, Obama will say anything to get elected....and do the exact opposite.

Posted by: Angry Democrat | Sep 3, 2008 8:54:20 AM

"In an Obama-Biden administration, we will not have an attorney general who blatantly breaks the law"

So Beau is going to continue doing that as Delaware AG? issuing fraudlent arrest warrants for people speaking in D.C.

Posted by: geevill | Sep 3, 2008 8:54:33 AM

How would it be treated if it were Michelle Obama with a 17 year old pregnant daughter. Or a teenage Chelsea Clinton in the white house?

Posted by: just askin | Sep 3, 2008 9:01:29 AM


If you dont vote for Republican the terrorist will hide under your bed .

why did americans fall for this in the past 2 elections . For a nation that claim to be TOUGH we sure fall easy for FEAR.

Posted by: sgd | Sep 3, 2008 9:03:45 AM

There is truth to what Biden is saying, but both parties are complicent.

Posted by: Ben Straub | Sep 3, 2008 9:08:42 AM

David: "Did he come up with this on his own or copy it from someone else?"

I think he got it from the McCain campaign, which means it originally came from Wikipedia.

Posted by: Paul | Sep 3, 2008 9:10:47 AM

You know, even if Palin is a secessionist, I'd take her over McCain.

She's Miss Congeniality. He's Senator Hothead.

Its all about temperment. Some got it and some just have a temper.

Posted by: Paul | Sep 3, 2008 9:13:18 AM

Seems to me the republican party is playing Palin for all the free press from the so called liberal media.

I call for the media to put attention back on the real issues such as our faultering economy, NO Energy plan, Worst Healthcare system around, Abuse of the constitution, disregard for the middle class.
Going to war for no reason in Iraq.

Failing to get Bin Laden while diverting to Iraq.

Failing to realize high oil gave russia iran and Opec to much of our treasury and now they have invested in Military confrontation because of it.

Manipulation of the oil markets

As well as let the republican party pay to advertise their VP Choice instead of all the free Horse manure they are feeding the american people.

Posted by: V-man | Sep 3, 2008 9:18:02 AM

All I see here is mud slinging.. on both sides. Why not take a look at each candidate and their stance on certain issues that matters to you. That's what you should vote on.. by aligning your issues with the issues that each candidate is bringing on the table. I think what Obama says about VP candidate Palin.. that personal issue should not be included on this campaign. But the media is making it so. Not the Dem candidate Obama. He made that clear.

Posted by: CR5825 | Sep 3, 2008 9:20:41 AM


WHAT WOULD JFK DO?

Governor Palin had the political courage to stand up to corrupt public officials, some of whom were in her own party. She exposed their corruption, took them on, and won.

Senator Obama, when confronted with racist rants coming from his own pastor, didn't even have enough political courage to disavow him. Obama eventually DID disavow him but only AFTER Pastor Wright made disparaging, and humiliating remarks about the Senator and his motives at The Washington Press Club.

Which of these instances would JFK have been more likely to have included in his book, "Profiles In Courage"?

Everyone finds it quite fashionable to compare Senator Obama to JFK. I remember JFK, and trust me when I say, "Senator Obama is No JFK".

Posted by: GeraldD | Sep 3, 2008 9:25:59 AM

Carrie,

I as a Democrat DO NOT WANT your support. I hope you and your kind who hate Obama and me and my kind RUN to McCain/Palin. I want you to feel it to your core when you lose and see yourself becoming extinct.

God, it really pleases me. This has been a long time coming. 400 years coming.

Posted by: sdanielle | Sep 3, 2008 9:46:34 AM

tim abbey says "well if clinton had done his job in the first place there never would have been 9/11 we were he was offered osama bidladen and we didnt take him then" and j says "You obviously know nothing about how to win a fight".

So let me make sure I understand...

Bush was in office for 9 months before 9/11, so it is Clinton's fault...and then Bush - since he knows how to win a fight - fought back by sucker punching the wrong guy. Excellent logic.

Posted by: Joel | Sep 3, 2008 9:50:07 AM

Additionally, tonight the people will hear from Gov. Palin. Let's hope she doesn't try the same old tried and failed games the others are playing.

Fred Thompson played the old dirty politics, and you know, he can be on the attack all he wants but I have news for him and all others who feel the desire to follow him: no weapon formed against Sen. Obama - our next president - will prevail !

Additionally, McCain's adviser Carly Fiorina said she's appalled by the Obama campaign's attempts to belittle Gov. Sarah Palin’s experience What's TRULY appalling is for months now, McCain and his campaign have spoken and acted unjustly by trying to diminish Sen. obama's experience and judgment. But they have failed.

Now that McCain's judgment and experience is on the line again they are on the defense fiercely spinning and twisting every way they can to convince the American people of their actions.

It's so pathetic to try and sell Palin's experience by trying to diminish Sen. Obama's. Their game won't work for the intelligent people. Face it - Palin's experience is NOT superior to Sen. Obama's. Both of them have their own resume's to be proud of. Both have noteworthy accomplishments.

Palin as a mayor and governor ; and Sen. Obama as a community organizer - 3yrs, constitutional and civil rights lawyer, 8 years in the Illinois State Senate and 4 years in the U.S. Senate where he worked on the Foreign Relations Committee and the Veterans Affairs Committee. He has a strong legislative record reforming Washington: First ethnics law in 25 years, welfare reform, health care, Earned Income Tax Credit, videotapping confessions, gulf coast family assistance, etc. etc.

It's time for REAL change in Washington, it's time to elect Barack Obama for president. It's the Obama-Biden ticket that's needed at this defining moment in our history because this team is wiser and stronger to meet the challenges this nation faces at home and abroad.

Posted by: Barack Obama IS Our next president | Sep 3, 2008 9:51:54 AM

Obama/Biden '08. Enough said!!

Posted by: geecee | Sep 3, 2008 9:54:18 AM

i, for one, do not thing sarah palin's family is the example i want leading the country. that child's baby should be due around the inauguration. just what we need... a set of proud grandparents being sworn in as their teenage daughter watches, holding her baby, with her teenage boyfriend/forced fiance by her side... yes, this is just what i want my daughter to grow up to be...

Posted by: lordy lordy... | Sep 3, 2008 10:20:14 AM

BIDEN IS THE MAN.

Posted by: ROME | Sep 3, 2008 11:03:31 AM

Biden is pitiful. So, he raised kids wihtout a mother, who hadn't? It should have made himm a nicer person, but it did not.

Posted by: Janice | Sep 3, 2008 11:33:54 AM

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