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All Hands on Deck in Economic Crisis: Biden Says Obama Offers Steady Hand, McCain an Uncertain One
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ShareOctober 10, 2008 3:14 PM
ABC News' Matthew Jaffe Reports: Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden wrapped up his Show-Me State whirlwind tour by stating that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, offers "steady hands" and "the most respected economic team of advisers ever" to lead the nation past its current financial crisis, while Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., offers only "an uncertain hand" and "the same economic advisers that got us into this place."
"The tools to deal with this problem are available to us," Biden said at Jordan Valley Park in Springfield, his fourth and final Missouri event in the last 24 hours. "It’s within our capacity to deal with these problems, particularly this economic crisis, but here’s the question for the American people. It’s simple and straightforward. Into whose hands are they gonna place these tools? Into whose hands are they gonna place these tools? The steady hands of Barack Obama backed up by the finest pool of advisers this country has ever seen? Or, or, what I think is fair to say, you’ve observed the uncertain hand of a McCain administration, backed up by some of the very same economic advisers who got us into this place in the first place."
Biden, D-Del., who noted that he has "never seen people as apprehensive and some literally as fearful as where we are today," said that only a leader with "a steady hand" can help the country recover from this economic crash.
"We’ve been through tough times before, ladies and gentlemen, and we’ve emerged from those tough times in our history stronger than before we went into those tough times. And we’ve done this, we’ve done this when we’ve done it because we’ve had leaders, leaders who have had a steady hand, sound ideas to get our country back on track."
The six-term senator recalled a comment he made to President Bush about the importance of leadership in times of crisis.
"President Bush once said to me in the Oval Office, he said "Well, at least I’m leading". On a different matter. And I said "Mr. President, look behind you, I don’t see anybody following you." So folks, you can’t lead if people do not follow. And Barack Obama is a leader."
"Don’t think for a moment, folks, that we cannot get ourselves out of this problem," Biden reassured Show-Me State supporters. "We have done it time and time again. We know how to get this job done, and we’re gonna get through, we’re gonna get through and turn the country around."
While Biden had harsh words for McCain on the economy, his remarks about the Republican's running mate Gov. Sarah Palin bordered on condescending.
"She's kind of, she’s kind of neat, isn’t she?" Biden asked the audience, who responded with scattered boos.
"We had a debate, I think it was a debate," the Delaware lawmaker continued. "And, at one point, at one point she turned to me and said "Well, I was only in second grade when Sen. Biden was elected to the United States Senate." What I refrained from saying was the last time, you were in sixth grade the last time John McCain had a good idea. You know look, the only new idea John’s come up with in this campaign is a very, very bad idea: the one he announced to spend $300 billion of your money to continue to bail out the banks and the people who took the risk."
But Gov. Palin didn't make that comment during the St. Louis debate, but rather at a September 29 rally in Columbus, Ohio.
October 10, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (261)
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-- Has obama gotten any of the oil companies to give every citizen of illinois 1200 dollars???? --
Something that McCain has stated over and over again he will not do. He will not enact windfall taxes. He is for the wealthy and big corporates and his tax policy is a continuation of what we have had for the last 8 years.
Posted by: Concerned American | Oct 10, 2008 4:04:32 PM
-- You mean the ones who advised him to give fannie and freddie less regulation and the ones who allowed him to deregulate the glass steagall act?? --
No, that would be primarly Phil Gramm, McCains advisor. And it was eventually passed in a non-partison fashion in Congress so it could not be vetoed.
Posted by: Concerned American | Oct 10, 2008 4:06:03 PM
Posted by: Concerned American | Oct 10, 2008 4:06:03 Pm
Uhm check the facts yes gramm pushed it but clinton had the power to veto it!!!
What nothing about fannie and freddie????
Posted by: reddog0216 | Oct 10, 2008 4:08:51 PM
The bill that ultimately repealed the [Glass Steagal Act was introduced in the Senate by Phil Gramm (R-TX) and in the House of Representatives by James Leach (R-IA) in 1999. The bills were passed by a 54-44 vote along party lines with Republican support in the Senate and by a 343-86 vote in the House of Representatives. Nov 4, 1999: After passing both the Senate and House the bill was moved to a conference committee to work out the differences between the Senate and House versions. The final bipartisan bill resolving the differences was passed in the Senate 90-8-1 and in the House: 362-57-15. Without forcing a veto vote, this bipartisan, VETO PROOF legislation was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on November 12, 1999.
Posted by: Concerned American | Oct 10, 2008 4:10:04 PM
I cannot believe Cindy McCain would say this today:
she called Sen. Barack Obama's 2008 campaign "the dirtiest campaign in American history."
after the way her husbands campaign has been pounding the airwaves with untrue,demaning ads. The McCain campaign pledged a clean cmapaign, and they started the negative ads.
Posted by: formerhillary | Oct 10, 2008 4:10:05 PM
Apparently Johnny can't keep his temper under control - especially when he is out gambling at a casino. See:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-10-09/john-mccain-shooting-craps-pissed-off/
So much for character. So much for family values. So much for integrity. If anyone wants this old dude McCain running the economy or the country, God Save America!
Posted by: Jane Sixpack | Oct 10, 2008 4:11:49 PM
Not all African American in this country believe Obama is Messiah
Posted by: Ken Coleman | Oct 10, 2008 4:12:15 PM
The FM's? You mean S.190[109th] Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005; which was originally authored by Sen. Charles Hagel and co-sponsored by Sen. Sununu and Sen. Dole.
The bill never made it out of committee (Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs), which was at the time controlled by a Republican majority and chaired by Republican Senator Richard Shelby.
Posted by: Concerned American | Oct 10, 2008 4:13:28 PM
Anyone who thinks the repeal of Glass-Steagall was forced on an unwilling Bill Clinton need only read Rubin’s testimony. A year later Sandy Weill set in motion the forces that would finally end Glass-Steagall.
Weill proposed the most audacious financial merger of in American history: he would merge one of the largest insurance companies (Travelers), one of the largest investment banks (Salomon Smith Barney), and the largest commercial banks (Citibank) in America. The problem was the merger was illegal in terms of Glass-Steagall. Independent Community Bankers of America CEO Kenneth Guenther captured the audacity of the deal
Posted by: reddog0216 | Oct 10, 2008 4:14:38 PM
Posted by: reddog0216 | Oct 10, 2008 4:08:51 PM
Fact is, the economy was in a BOOM during the Clinton years. 20+ million new jobs. 500 billion+ surplus. That's the Obama's economic advisors.
Posted by: Vanessa | Oct 10, 2008 4:17:16 PM
The FM's? You mean S.190[109th] Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005; which was originally authored by Sen. Charles Hagel and co-sponsored by Sen. Sununu and Sen. Dole.
The bill never made it out of committee (Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs), which was at the time controlled by a Republican majority and chaired by Republican Senator Richard Shelby.
What is this????
Posted by: reddog0216 | Oct 10, 2008 4:17:22 PM
obama the magic negro is going to prison.
I'm Tony Rezko, and I approve this message.
Posted by: Rezko | Oct 10, 2008 4:18:53 PM
Claim: McCain championed legislation that would have prevented the current financal meltdown and the Democrats killed it
Fact: False/Misleading
In his September 19th speach in Arlington, VA., Sen. McCain states:
"Two years ago, I called for reform of this corruption at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Congress did nothing. Senator Obama did nothing, and actually profited from this system of abuse and scandal"
What he is referring to is a Senate bill (S.190[109th] Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005) which was originally authored by Sen. Charles Hagel and co-sponsored by Sen. Sununu and Sen. Dole. It was not until after a 2006 Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight Report to Congress outlining problems with the two organizations that Sen. McCain decided to add his name to the bill as a co-sponsor. The bill never made it out of committee (Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs), which was at the time controlled by a Republican majority and chaired by Republican Senator Richard Shelby. The statement about Congress and Sen. Obama doing nothing is true, but misleading, since there was nothing that they could have done until the bill came to the floor of the Senate, which it never did.
Posted by: Concerned American | Oct 10, 2008 4:19:58 PM
Posted by: reddog0216 | Oct 10, 2008 4:08:51 PM
Fact is, the economy was in a BOOM during the Clinton years. 20+ million new jobs. 500 billion+ surplus. That's the Obama's economic advisors.
Posted by: Vanessa | Oct 10, 2008 4:17:16 Pm
When was the 10th worst stock market crash in history?????
Posted by: reddog0216 | Oct 10, 2008 4:20:29 PM
How many voters turned against Bush after it was too late?
How many will no longer support Obama after he gets elected?
Do we really have time to try him out on our time and money?
Posted by: rodney | Oct 10, 2008 4:20:50 PM
Would you put your money in McCains hands to invest: for deregualtion; for investing SS in stock market; for taxing health benefits; calls us "My fellow prisoners"; changes his policy everyday....
Wow, he is a sure thing,huh?
YOU BETCHA.........
Posted by: militarymom | Oct 10, 2008 4:21:02 PM
Claim: McCain championed legislation that would have prevented the current financal meltdown and the Democrats killed it
Fact: False/Misleading
In his September 19th speach in Arlington, VA., Sen. McCain states:
"Two years ago, I called for reform of this corruption at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Congress did nothing. Senator Obama did nothing, and actually profited from this system of abuse and scandal"
What he is referring to is a Senate bill (S.190[109th] Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005) which was originally authored by Sen. Charles Hagel and co-sponsored by Sen. Sununu and Sen. Dole. It was not until after a 2006 Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight Report to Congress outlining problems with the two organizations that Sen. McCain decided to add his name to the bill as a co-sponsor. The bill never made it out of committee (Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs), which was at the time controlled by a Republican majority and chaired by Republican Senator Richard Shelby. The statement about Congress and Sen. Obama doing nothing is true, but misleading, since there was nothing that they could have done until the bill came to the floor of the Senate, which it never did.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s109-190
Posted by: Concerned American | Oct 10, 2008 4:19:58 PM
How about Clinton lower the standards in 1995????
Posted by: reddog0216 | Oct 10, 2008 4:22:04 PM
Yeah, some people never learn, huh?
Posted by: YelloDog | Oct 10, 2008 4:22:27 PM
Rodany...do you want 4 more years of this crap?...that is what McCain is offering.
he thinks nothing is basically wrong....
Zeezzzzzzzzz
Posted by: formerhillary | Oct 10, 2008 4:22:33 PM
Real nice, Rezko. When all else fails, resort to hate language.
Posted by: William J. LePetomaine | Oct 10, 2008 4:23:19 PM
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