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Biden Blasts Palin's "Pro-America" Comments
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ShareOctober 17, 2008 5:44 PM
ABC News' Matt Jaffe Reports: In his first visit to New Mexico as part of the Democratic ticket, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., Friday ripped his Republican counterpart Gov. Sarah Palin for stating that she liked to visit “pro-American” parts of the country.
"We believe that the best of America is not all in Washington, D.C.,” Palin said at a Greensboro, NC fundraiser Thursday. “We believe, we believe that the best of America is in these small towns that we get to visit, and in these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard-working, very patriotic, pro-America areas of this great nation. This is where we find the kindness and the goodness and the courage of everyday Americans: those who are running our factories and teaching our kids and growing our food and are fighting our wars for us, those who are protecting us in uniform, those who are protecting the virtues of freedom.”
Speaking in the historic plaza in downtown Mesilla, a small southern New Mexico town not far from where his son Beau is training to deploy to Iraq, Biden wasted little time in jumping all over the Alaskan governor’s remarks.
“It's disappointing, and I hope it's a slip of the tongue and she doesn't mean it, but she said it, it was reported she said that she likes to visit – quote – 'pro American' parts of the country,” the Democratic vice-presidential nominee said. “Ladies and gentlemen, I, like your senator and governor, have been all over this great land. I've never been to a state, I've never been to a state that hasn't sent its sons and daughters to serve and die for this country.”
“One of the reasons why Barack and I are running is that we know how damaging the politics of division that continues to be practiced by the McCain, how damaging this policy of division has been,” continued Biden before the crowd of 2000, his voice rising with every word. “It's time to put this behind us. Folks, it is not a corny thing. It's real. We are one nation, under God, indivisible. We are all patriotic. We all love our country in every part of this country. And I'm tired. I am tired, tired, tired, tired of the implications about patriotism.”
Not only did he blast the McCain campaign’s “politics of division,” but Biden also continued to tie the GOP nominee to President Bush by noting that “if it looks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, if it walks like a duck, it’s a duck.”
“In one of the most recent debates, John McCain felt the need, felt the need to declare that he was not President Bush,” the Delaware lawmaker said. “There’s that old expression 'he doth protest too loudly.' You know, he may not be George Bush, but my mother when I was a kid – and you’ve heard me say this before – but when I was a kid and you want to go hang out in the corner, and the guys your mother didn’t want you to hang out with, and I’d say 'well, mom, I know what those guys are gonna do, but I’m not like that.' She says 'honey, if it looks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, if it walks like a duck, it’s a duck.' Well ladies and gentlemen, in these last three debates it looked like a duck to me, folks.”
“After 23 months of campaigning, eight years of failed economic policy, there’s not one fundamental, not one fundamental economic issue, on which John McCain has challenged the policies of George Bush,” Biden added.
It was on this question of economic policy that Biden continued to downplay the story of Joe “The Plumber” Wurzelbacher, noting that the nation’s most famous plumber - who doesn't have a license - can’t be too bad off as long as he is making upwards of $250,000 per year.
“We're going to start with real meaningful tax cuts," Biden said. "I promise you, if you're unlike Joe the Plumber - be nice if he got a license - but Joe the Plumber, I know you got a lot of plumbers out here making over 250 grand. Raise your hands, please.”
One supporter nearby raised his hand.
“There's a man - go borrow money from him, the guy in the green shirt,” Biden joked. “He makes more than 250. He looks like he's only 18 years old, but he must -- which means he earned it the hard way, he inherited it.”
In a state that Democrats lost by fewer than 6,000 votes four years ago, Biden followed the lead of the man at the top of his ticket, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., – who cautioned supporters in New York Thursday not to get “cocky” – and warned voters that the election is “very far from over”.
“We have reason to be encouraged because of what’s been going on, not just in the polling but the reception we’ve been getting around the country, but I want to make it clear to you: this election is very, very, very, very far from over,” Biden said. “This administration has bequeathed, I think, the tactics of Karl Rove to the McCain administration, you’re gonna see some pretty, pretty tough stuff, pretty tough stuff in these last two weeks, so we cannot let up.”
October 17, 2008 in Biden, Joe, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Palin, Sarah, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (368)
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Conservative David Brooks has Palin pegged. He describes her as a cancer in the republican party. She ascribes to the politics of hate, anti-intellectualism and now we here, anti-city.
Exactly which parts of America has she decided she wants to be VP over?
This woman is truly vile and hateful.
Posted by: Citizen Voter | Oct 17, 2008 5:53:36 PM
Sarah Palin and her husband have nothing to offer this country.
Posted by: DMR | Oct 17, 2008 5:56:42 PM
I would be one of "those" people. Guess what? I wouldn't vote for her if she were my only choice. But she's counting on all those votes that Bush got for his second term. And sadly I see the yard signs...But keep making stupid comments like that, and hopefully Joe will call her on them. It's about time somebody lays on the heat. She's getting a free ride on McCain's coattails. Hopefully he'll fly her back to Alaska in November.
Posted by: Bea | Oct 17, 2008 5:59:02 PM
I'm with Citizen Voter.
Posted by: doug | Oct 17, 2008 5:59:47 PM
Biden is spot-o here. This "pro-America" stuff could have a real backlash if played up enough by the Obama campaign. It's essentially a later version of Obama's "bitter" comments. Look at the dust-up that caused...
Posted by: matt | Oct 17, 2008 6:00:13 PM
If she represents what their raising in Alaska, then I hope they do separate from the U.S., we don't want them.
Posted by: deb | Oct 17, 2008 6:01:23 PM
Obama/Biden better let up on how tough it is gong to get.....sounds like they might be worried about some October surprise! I hope not, I am an Obama supporter. Just focus and VOTE! Obama 08
Posted by: Chipo1965 | Oct 17, 2008 6:03:08 PM
Just another reason why the McCain campaign doesn't trust Palin in mainstream media interviews ... she shows her true colors and puts her foot in her mouth. Palin needs to go back to her small town and leave the running of the country to the big boys.
Posted by: annaloh | Oct 17, 2008 6:03:13 PM
Posted by: Citizen Voter | Oct 17, 2008 5:53:36 PM
I can't wait until Novemeber 4th. All of us need to get out and vote for Obama so this cancer(Palin) does not spread.
Posted by: Jwench | Oct 17, 2008 6:03:18 PM
McCain-0Palin '08 ... it's gonna' be great!!
Posted by: Francisco Cardenas | Oct 17, 2008 6:08:30 PM
Vote early! Dont wait until election day, if your state allows it, get it done.
Posted by: Chipo1965 | Oct 17, 2008 6:09:16 PM
And if McCain doesn't keel over within his first 3 years, she and Todd would arrange an "accident" - have no doubt!
And if convicted, she would just say "I'm happy to have been cleared of any wrong doing whatsoever, ..... also."
Posted by: Arthur T. Free | Oct 17, 2008 6:09:50 PM
I've been watching this campaign unlike any other in my lifetime. Although I am Libertarian I am going to Vote Barack Obama!
Congrats to both campaigns
Posted by: FriendlyFred | Oct 17, 2008 6:11:36 PM
As an American I am offended by her comments. Doesn't this sound like something an elitist would say?
There is one America, and in America we get to engage in a civil discourse of our beliefs and opinions. Just because I disagree with your politics, does not mean one of us is not an American.
This shows that she is not worthy for the office she seeks.
Posted by: Offended | Oct 17, 2008 6:12:30 PM
This is a good topic to get a new story circulating. Barrack and Biden are just trying tp keep McCain/Palin from getting any traction.
Posted by: Chipo1965 | Oct 17, 2008 6:13:08 PM
Bout' Time. Why have the dems gone so soft on this pathetic wench and her weird little lap dog of a hubby.
All she does at her rally's is use "god" and "our brave troops" and then smear "liberals."
She hasn't said a meaningful thing about any issue.
God I wish the Dems would attack every stupid, hypocritical thing these disgusting GOP tools do and say.
I am sick of the way they attack us "liberals" and the best Obama can do is call it a "distraction" and shrug his shoulders.
I can't see why any undecided voter would vote for a party that is so unwilling to stand up and defend itself.
Posted by: POWMadeAK47 | Oct 17, 2008 6:13:51 PM
I hope Palin is out on the trail every day between now and the election. This woman is a fool, and she is PROUD of her ignorance. Go back to Alaska. Maybe you can enroll in a Masters of Political Science program and graduate in six or seven years.
Posted by: That Guy | Oct 17, 2008 6:14:50 PM
What does she mean pro-American parts of our country. I didn't know that we had parts that weren't pro-American. Why doesn't she keep her stupid comments to herself?
Posted by: Jwench | Oct 17, 2008 6:14:56 PM
I really hope that Palin is an isolated case, otherwise we might have to get rid of Alaska... Oh wait... Palin supports that too (AIP). Palin: "pro-American" - what she means:"pro-Republican."
Posted by: JD | Oct 17, 2008 6:15:39 PM
Creeping American fascism.
Posted by: David | Oct 17, 2008 6:15:42 PM
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