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Biden: 'Divisive, scurrilous' GOP will throw bathroom sink, too

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October 18, 2008 9:43 AM

ABC News' Matthew Jaffe reports: Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., Friday night made his first trip to Nevada as the Democratic vice presidential nominee, cautioning that in the 18 days before Election Day, Republicans will throw everything but the kitchen sink at the Democratic ticket. And if they’ve already thrown the kitchen sink, then they might throw the bathroom sink, too. And maybe more...

"You know what these guys are gonna do," Biden warned the 3,800-strong audience in a Henderson park, just outside Las Vegas. "You know, as that old saying goes – I thought they already threw the kitchen sink, but I think more is to come. I think other parts of the bathroom are coming. I don’t know, man, they’re going up and getting the bathroom sink. So look, we have a lot of reason to be encouraged, but it is far, far from over."

The senator continued to lash out at his Republican counterpart, Gov. Sarah Palin, for her statement at a Thursday Greensboro, N.C., fundraiser that she liked visiting "pro-America" parts of the country, even while he acknowledged that Palin had since attempted to clarify her comment.

"It doesn’t matter where you live," an animated Biden said, shouting and pounding the podium. "We all love our country, Gov. Palin. We all love our country! Barack Obama puts his country first! I put my country first! These people put their country first!"

With prominent Democrats like Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid decrying Republican tactics as "scummy", Biden hit out at GOP moves such as a robo-call which describe Obama as having "worked closely" with "domestic terrorist Bill Ayers."

"Gov. Palin may have stepped back from some of the divisive rhetoric today, but the Republican campaign has stepped up its attacks that are just as divisive," Biden said at the under-the-lights rally. "You may have seen Harry Reid's comments today. You may have heard about the scurrilous phone calls that are coming into homes in Nevada, and in New Mexico where I was, and in Virginia where I am going, that question Barack Obama's character and by implication question his patriotism. Let me tell you -- they don't hurt Barack Obama. They don't hurt me. But they hurt the American people, because they're going to attempt to distract you from the issues that matter to your daily lives. Ladies and gentlemen, Barack is a tough guy. He can take three more weeks of these attacks, but our country can't take four more years of Bush-McCain policies.

"Look, one of the reasons Barack and I are running is we know how damaging, damaging the policies, the division have been for America over the last decade," Biden continued. "Literally, literally it is the fabric of this country, the tactics of Karl Rove, it’s time to put them behind us! This election is not merely about getting the issues straight. This election is about uniting America."

As he did earlier in the day in New Mexico, Biden continued his attempt to tie Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to President Bush by quoting the expression, "If it walks like a duck, if it talks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, it’s a duck."

"Well baby, I think it’s a duck!" Biden exclaimed. "It’s an attempt to duck the reality, duck the reality that John McCain, on the critical issues of the day, is not fundamentally different than what the last eight years were."

The six-term senator also responded to a Wednesday debate comment by McCain in which the GOP nominee told Obama "I am not President Bush; if you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago."

"Look, I know we're not running against President Bush," Biden said. "But we're running against the economic policies of President Bush, and in that sense, I can't tell the difference between Bush and McCain!"

With Joe "The Plumber" Wurzelbacher still grabbing the post-debate media spotlight, Biden busted out a copy of Friday’s USA Today to read an article excerpt to the crowd.

"Let me read the first paragraph. It says, "It turns out Joe the Plumber, the unexpected focus of Wednesday night’s presidential debate, would likely get a tax cut if Barack Obama were president"," Biden said.

"Over the course of three debates, 20 months of campaigning, eight years of failed economic policy, there is not one fundamental economic issue on which John McCain has challenged the policies of George W. Bush," the Delaware lawmaker continued. 

For the first time on the campaign trail – if not ever - parts of the audience complained that they couldn’t hear Biden.

"Can’t hear me?" Biden asked a section of the crowd set back behind a fence. "Sorry."

"Are you Democrats?" Biden quipped. "Alright, I’m joking, I’m joking, only a joke. I hope there are some Republicans here. We need you."

On Saturday, the Delaware lawmaker heads to San Francisco for a day of fundraising, followed by a trip to Seattle Sunday and a two-day Colorado bus tour on Tuesday and Wednesday.

October 18, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (193)

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If Obama gets elected I hope everyone realizes you will have given him a clear path to socialism.Do you really want to give up your right to pursue happiness?Do you want Barney Frank, Chris Dodd and Nancy Pelosi running your lives???

Posted by: reddog0216 | Oct 18, 2008 9:45:02 AM

oh that Joe, the hair-plugged botox lose-That's kitchen sink. oh I get it another attack on "joe the plumber"

Guess what Joe-McCain is going positive. We have positive proof Obama was a member of a Socialist party.

Posted by: geevill | Oct 18, 2008 10:00:44 AM

If Obama gets elected I hope everyone realizes you will have given him a clear path to socialism
**************************************

I am sick of this argument, while you talk socialism, government interference, and freedom, your party is the one that promotes National ID Cards, and disenfranchisement of voters. Your party uses the government to promote big Corporations, privatize the War in Iraq, with Haliburton, Black Hawk and others. Your Party while claiming to be patriotic does more to dismantle our government then to support it.

Posted by: Thinking | Oct 18, 2008 10:01:21 AM

Socialist? Marxist? When did wanting to help build up and create a life better for lower and middle income people become a bad thing? Healthy people equals greater productivity equals fewer lost work days which means businesses will prosper. The republicans had their 8 years of dictatorship, not democracy and its time to move in a new and better direction.

Posted by: George | Oct 18, 2008 10:02:43 AM

Yah, the called Kennedy a "socialist" too. I don't recall that the worls stopped spinning back then.

What a bunch of rhetorical BS.

Where does it say in the Constitution, Bill of Rights, or the Declaration of Independence that America was a meant to be a purely market driven economy?

It doesn't. But it does say that when government becomes destructive to the ends of pursuing happiness and liberty (which it HAS), we have the right to alter or abolish it. And we are going to ALTER a tax code and allow ALL Americans to seek medical care.

Get over your fear of a word. You most likely can't define it anyway. What do you think McCain's $300 BILLION in proposed tax dollars to buy mortgages is? PURE SOCIALISM!

And if you didn't know this, America has NEVER been a free market economy. There has ALWAYS been government controls over econimic deveopment.

Posted by: Dog needs a bath | Oct 18, 2008 10:02:51 AM

Someone keep Joe away from the bunny ranch

Posted by: geevill | Oct 18, 2008 10:04:16 AM

Biden is an idiot who thinks jobs only has three letters. Now I know how the germans in europe felt when Young Hitler spoke of how it was the Jews in his country that caused their economy to slump. Then he started his campaign to redistribute the wealth and bring equality to the country. I guess after years of dumbing down americans with public education they don't teach what lead up to the take over of germany by the Nazi Party.

Posted by: ubu1991 | Oct 18, 2008 10:05:21 AM

Are you paying attention? - We are already having to socialize the banks due to the current administration!!!! We have seen the devastating impact of Republican policies playing out in our everyday lives, do you think we're stupid? Do you continue to want the policies of Bush, Cheney and Rove running your lives? They have just about run this country into the ground and destroyed the international reputation of the greatest country on earth. How can you defend the Republican ticket? If John McCain is such a maverick, how come he has not managed change in the TWENTY SIX years he has been in the US Senate? If he knows how to end the war, WHY HAS HE NOT SHARED THAT UP TO THIS POINT?

Posted by: gater23 | Oct 18, 2008 10:06:03 AM

Are you paying attention? - We are already having to socialize the banks due to the current administration!!!! We have seen the devastating impact of Republican policies playing out in our everyday lives, do you think we're stupid? Do you continue to want the policies of Bush, Cheney and Rove running your lives? They have just about run this country into the ground and destroyed the international reputation of the greatest country on earth. How can you defend the Republican ticket? If John McCain is such a maverick, how come he has not managed change in the TWENTY SIX years he has been in the US Senate? If he knows how to end the war, WHY HAS HE NOT SHARED THAT UP TO THIS POINT?

Posted by: gater23 | Oct 18, 2008 10:06:04 AM

How ironic that the same party that has continually taken away our rights and civil liberities, claims they are the party of "freedom".

But put a waving flag behind you, spew a couple meaningless platitudes, say "patriot" a few times and the lemmings will buy anything that follows.

The original patriots were not soldiers in uniform, they were ordinary folks who stood up against an oppressive government. A government who did not represent them and in which they had no representaion.

Eight years of Republican doctrines necessitates the new patriots stand up and remove them from power.

Posted by: Patriot 2008 | Oct 18, 2008 10:09:50 AM

The Republican party is frantic that more poor people have registered to vote and the Democrats may have a bigger say in govt. They want to continue to push the myth of the "trickle down" economics that have led us to the brink of disaster. When the wealthy received disproportionate tax cuts under the Bush administration, this was seen as "free market" policies at their best. When the wealthy are asked to reinstate and pay their proportionate fair share, they cry "redistribution of wealth". The American voters are not as stupid as the Republicans have been counting on them to be.

Posted by: winter99 | Oct 18, 2008 10:11:24 AM

What's wrong spreading wealth aroud? Zero is so Harvard smart, he knows what's good for ya. Trust him. He will take from the rich idiots like his friend Buffet and give you the poor, less-educated, gun and God-hugging lazibones their rich wealth. With Buffet's $50 billion he gave his rich friend Gates, Zero would have made 50000 millionaire out of his Chicago street that his used to organize.

It is this that Zero Believes In - from each according to his ability, to each according to his need. What a perfect world that Zero will help to lead us! Yes He Can.

Posted by: foolya | Oct 18, 2008 10:11:44 AM

ubu1991,

Hitler made his economy stronger than it had ever been dumbass. That's problem for you?

The reason Hitler was evil was because he wanted to invade other nations and impose his will on them. He thought that certain ethinic groups should be eliminated. And sure enough, THAT'S a Republican thing!

Which party promotes the fear of "secret' Muslims? Yep, the Republicans. Which party wants to impose Christian democracy in nations that are not Chrsitian. Yep, the Republicans.

Great analogy. Now go back and read a history book.

Posted by: Achtung | Oct 18, 2008 10:15:12 AM

Dog needs a bath ,

Your right and you are wrong.The more we allow to let goverment take control of our life the more we lose as a nation.You blame corporations for the problems in this country I blame people and the goverment.I own a Buissness and any increase I get from Uncle sam Gets past directly on to the consumer who ultimately suffers!!!

Posted by: reddog0216 | Oct 18, 2008 10:17:07 AM

It seems the only people being fooled are those that refuse to see total failure of the financial system, the housing market, and the long term future of our national security under the Bush Doctrine. The Republican party cannot admit that their greed, out of control drunk spending, and divisive rhetoric have totally alienated all but the farthest right wing of their party. Moderate Americans are insulted by statements such as those by Palin that only those attending her rallies are patriotic and Pro-American. Maybe she should take a cue from McCain's zinger and realize if she wanted to spout that negative, hateful crap she should have been in the Bush administration as Rove's protege. A day late and a dollar short.

Posted by: winter99 | Oct 18, 2008 10:19:05 AM

I am Voting Obama because of the following lies, I hear from Republican.

- I hear that Obama is a Muslim.
- I hear that Obama pals with terrorist.
- I hear that Obama dangerous and lacks experience.
- I hear that Obama is going to spread the wealth and all the businesses are gong to shutdown
- I hear that Obama health care coverage is Govt take over.
- I hear that I do not live in Pro-America places

I know who the real Barack Obama is from last 20 months and I do NOT watch Faux News to get my information.

You have to be of real low IQ who can't see how pathetic is our coutry with Republican policies.

Even intellectual(if there is such thing) conservatives are slowly realise that country need a change for better with Obama.

Posted by: SJ | Oct 18, 2008 10:24:22 AM

"What a perfect world that Zero will help to lead us! Yes He Can."

I wish *I* lived in a dimension where a candy bar is running for president.

Posted by: Rich | Oct 18, 2008 10:26:13 AM

I think the straight talk express drove off a cliff and is taking the McCain campaign and the Republican party with it. All this sleeze is just pitiful and shows how desperate McCain has become. How sad that a war hero who took the high road as a POW turns into a troll when he runs for president.

Posted by: bye bye GOP | Oct 18, 2008 10:28:50 AM

If Obama gets elected I hope everyone realizes you will have given him a clear path to socialism
**************************************

The Republicans have had How many years

TO TAKE OUT THE PLANNERS OF 9/11

but thought Iraq was more important..
You guys have the Untied States and
the world close to a 2nd Great Depression.......

at what point do you stop when every
American is Dead and in Hell?

Posted by: Anita Yova | Oct 18, 2008 10:34:49 AM

Government controlling your life-- I got two words for you: homeland security. The Repiglicans have just presided over the largest expansion of government in U.S. history-- and all for the purpose of keeping an eye on you and to listen in on your phone calls. It's the Repiglicans and their religious crazy friends who are interested in controlling your lives. It's one of the main reasons that Palin is scary-- she's so non- Alaskan in her desire to run your life for you. I hate you Repiglicans, I really do.

gerald clough
http://www.savagerun.com

Posted by: gerald clough | Oct 18, 2008 10:35:29 AM

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