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Biden's on Tonight Show: 'What About this Joe?'
October 16, 2008 10:17 PM
ABC News' Matthew Jaffe Reports: In a taped appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" to air later Thursday, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., joked that Joe "The Plumber" Wurzelbacher, who was the man of the hour at Wednesday’s presidential debate, had not only stolen the spotlight from the two party nominees at the New York showdown, but also from him.
"Welcome to the show, I’m your host, Jay the Plumber," Leno had said at the start of the Burbank taping, before later noting to Biden that Joe the Plumber had replaced Joe Six-Pack as the talk of the political world, prompting Biden to wonder whatever happened to another famous Joe.
"What about this Joe?" the Democratic vice-presidential candidate asked.
"That’s right," replied Leno. "How about Joe the senator?"
"I hardly get any coverage," said Biden. "That’s why I wanted to be on this show."
Biden managed to sneak in a dig at Joe the Plumber, who doesn't have a plumbing license.
"I don’t know many plumbers who are making $250,000 a year and worried about it," the senator said. "We’re kind of worried about Joe the fireman, Joe the policeman, Joe the real plumber with a license."
Another person who has stolen the spotlight from Biden on the campaign trail is his Republican counterpart, Gov. Sarah Palin.
"You were also the star of the highest-rated TV show of the year," Leno said to Biden of his October 2 vice-presidential debate with Sen. John McCain’s running mate.
"No, I was the co-star," Biden corrected him. "They all showed up for Sarah, not me."
"She has really captivated a large part of the American public," the Delaware lawmaker added later. "So you know, I was just the bit player in that debate."
As for McCain, R-Ariz., Biden reiterated his contention that the GOP nominee has grown "more angry than he usually is" because he is uncomfortable with "the negative stuff" his campaign has been spreading about Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill..
"He seems a little more angry than he usually is," Biden said of McCain’s most recent debate performance. "I really do like John and we do go back a long way, but I don’t know. It just doesn’t seem - - John doesn’t seem comfortable right now."
Biden, a Philadelphia Phillies fan, was torn Wednesday evening between watching the third and final presidential debate or Game 5 of the NLCS, which saw Biden’s favorite ballclub battling for the National League pennant.
"I watched the debate when Barack was speaking, then I switched to the Phillies when John was speaking," Biden joked about he how he reconciled his prime-time programming dilemma.
The Phillies defeated the Dodgers 5-1 to advance to their first World Series in 15 years.
"The Phillies did great!", Biden exclaimed to the Burbank crowd. "Sorry, Los Angeles."
The program started with Leno and Biden backstage in the dressing room, with Biden promising "I’ve made some verbal gaffes, but not this time, not this time." The Democratic vice-presidential nominee then promptly made fun of himself by introducing the show as, "Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!"
During the ensuing interview, Leno played Biden his most recent gaffe, when Biden Wednesday spelled out for the Athens, Ohio crowd "a three-letter word: jobs. J-O-B-S." http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/10/oh-that-joe-n-6.html
"I knew I shouldn’t have had lunch with Dan Quayle," Biden joked. "I mean, I don’t know what happened there."
"I've made many a gaffe in my life and I suspect I'll make a whole lot more," Biden assured the audience.
Leno also poked fun at Biden for his close-talking, touchy-feely habits, showing a fake McCain/Palin ad of Biden taking the Amtrak train to work in Washington – as he always does – but instead bothering other passengers with his in-your-face style.
"You take the train to work and just want to be left alone," said the ad. "But here comes Biden getting all touchy-feely. First he squeezes, then he leans, squeezes, leans. We don’t need a squeezer and a leaner in the White House. Vote McCain-Palin. I’m John McCain and I approve this message."
The senator’s appearance came exactly one month to the day after his son Beau appeared on the late-night talk show September 16.
Following the taping, Biden made the short trip through Burbank to tape an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" set to air Monday. Later Thursday night, the senator will also hold two closed fundraisers in West Hollywood.
Actor Colin Farrell appeared on both shows with Biden, but in separate interviews. The senator went first on "The Tonight Show", but second on "Ellen".
October 16, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (92)
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Obama thinks you make poor people rich just by giving them YOUR money
Posted by: Obamagyn | Oct 16, 2008 10:44:17 PM
Obama says to Spread the wealth is another way of saying use YOUR money to make more welfare programs for the WELFARE QUEENS who never have any intention of working and never will as long as their is politicians like Comrade Obama
Posted by: scnner | Oct 16, 2008 10:46:01 PM
Go back and see what Obama REALLY said:
"“Over the last 15 years, when you weren’t making 250, you would have been given a tax cut from me, so you’d actually have more money, which means you would have saved more, which means you would have gotten to the point where you could build your small business quicker than under the current tax code. So there are two ways of looking at it – I mean one way of looking at it is, now that you’ve become more successful through hard work – you don’t want to be taxed as much.”
“Exactly," Wurzelbacher said.
Obama continued, “But another way of looking at it is 95% of folks who are making less than 250, they may be working hard too, but they’re being taxed at a higher rate than they would be under mine. So what I’m doing is, put yourself back 10 years ago when you were only making whatever, 60 or 70. Under my tax plan you would be keeping more of your paycheck, you’d be paying lower taxes, which means you would have saved…Now look, nobody likes high taxes."
"No," said Wurzelbacher.
"Of course not," said Obama. "But what’s happened is that we end up – we’ve cut taxes a lot for folks like me who make a lot more than 250. We haven’t given a break to folks who make less, and as a consequence, the average wage and income for ordinary folks, the vast majority of Americans, has actually gone down over the last eight years. So all I want to do is – I’ve got a tax cut. The only thing that changes, is I’m gonna cut taxes a little bit more for the folks who are most in need and for the 5% of the folks who are doing very well - even though they’ve been working hard and I appreciate that – I just want to make sure they’re paying a little bit more in order to pay for those other tax cuts. Now, I respect the disagreement. I just want you to be clear – it’s not that I want to punish your success – I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you – that they’ve got a chance at success too.”
THOUGHFUL. CONCERNED ABOUT THE MIDDLE CLASS. BARACK OBAMA.
Posted by: John McCain's conscience | Oct 16, 2008 10:55:48 PM
I worked for 39 years and I am not rich never was and never will be when half of my income pays federal tax. I am sick of people saying tax dollars goes for welfare, well health care better roads safer bridges and better education is welfare not in my book it isn't. Educating the public ON how to stay healthy, get better energy with what they have, conserve , alternative energy I want my tax dollars used in America and I think anyone with a brain between their ears feels the say way, I am tired of hearing and seeing my money being spent on a war that no one wanted with a country that can pay for it themselves.
Posted by: Rose Szymanski | Oct 16, 2008 10:55:58 PM
Joe Biden piles on even more crap about an average everyday American who had the temerity to ask "The One" an honest question and then tells the audience with sincere authority that John McCain is the one being negative.
Joe Biden what a shameless prig you are!
Posted by: sheryl | Oct 16, 2008 10:58:21 PM
Barack Obama:
"Obama said, "My attitude is that if the economy’s good for folks from the bottom up, it’s gonna be good for everybody. If you’ve got a plumbing business, you’re gonna be better off if you’re gonna be better off if you’ve got a whole bunch of customers who can afford to hire you, and right now everybody’s so pinched that business is bad for everybody and I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody."
"But listen," Obama said, shaking Wurzelbacher's hand, "I respect what you do and I respect your question, and even if I don’t get your vote, I’m still gonna be working hard on your behalf, because small businesses are what creates jobs in this country and I want to encourage it.”
IS THIS TRUE OR WHAT? When the middle class is doing well, the nation is doing well.
Too bad that John McCain is mostly concerned with those making $250,000 a year or more!
Thank goodness Barack Obama is mostly concerned with the middle class!
Posted by: John McCain's conscience | Oct 16, 2008 11:00:06 PM
Obama thinks that in this tough time NO ONE deserves to lose their home and their jobs and their health care.
If folks have billions or millions or even 250,000 they can help.
Where were you Obamagyn and scnner when we were bailing out mulitbillon dollar companies.
Now you have issue with America keeping food on families tables.
Talk about a communist. that would be you two
Posted by: Omentum | Oct 16, 2008 11:02:31 PM
Obama is only going to win becuase of the BLACK vote and no other reason.
Not becuase he like Lincoln or JFK or MLK. What a laugh the Liberal Media is saying.
If you take the 100 percent of the blacks who are going to vote Obama out of the equation Obama would lose in a landslide.
Posted by: Rose Szymanski | Oct 16, 2008 11:03:34 PM
sheryl,
If you think making $250,000 a year is 'average everyday', you seriously need to see a doctor.
I am an engineer and I don't make $250,000.
No one, even my friend who is a lawyer makes $250,000.
Most doctors don't make $250,000 a year!
During the last 7.5 years, REAL WAGES for the middle class have gone down.
During the same period, the wealth of the top 5% has gone up.
The MIDDLE CLASS needs a break. But John McCain is mostly concerned about those who are making $250,000 or more!
Posted by: John McCain's conscience | Oct 16, 2008 11:04:29 PM
Ever heard of corporate welfare. I see it everyday. Instead of food stamps they get golden parachutes.
I see it every stinkin day
open your eyes you idiot.
maybe you will see it too.
Posted by: Omentum | Oct 16, 2008 11:04:31 PM
I can't wait for Obama to win. WE blacks are moving on up.
Posted by: Omentum | Oct 16, 2008 11:05:42 PM
Joe Biden is "the salt of the earth" and a better choice for our VP could not have been made. I would sleep very soundly knowing his was the second hand on the helm. He is no hothead egomaniac, but a good, modest and thoughtful man. Republicans are just so full of venom and paranoia when it doesn't always go their way!
Posted by: Phoenix Lady | Oct 16, 2008 11:07:04 PM
I don't even live in America. I live in IRAN and donated 10 million dollars funneled over the internet to appear like it came from small time donors. Obama is the MAN
Posted by: Omentum | Oct 16, 2008 11:07:52 PM
i am sure folks will be able to tell the REAL OMEMENTUM YOU FREAK
OBAMA 08
Posted by: Omentum | Oct 16, 2008 11:08:03 PM
wow what a jerk job you are .... grow up will you
Posted by: Omentum | Oct 16, 2008 11:08:39 PM
I think terrorist who are planning spectacular terrist attacks on America can rest better when my pal Obama gets elected by SPREADING THE WEALTH.
In other words taking working peoples money and giving it TO OBAMA and people on WELFARE
Posted by: Phoenix Lady | Oct 16, 2008 11:09:40 PM
To Omentum:
The Black population is only about 10% of the overall population. I am a white, 60 year old grandmother, proud to be voting for Barack and Joe. You are a nasty and small minded bigot.
Posted by: Phoenix Lady | Oct 16, 2008 11:09:57 PM
Just like your candidate. rather distort character than talk about issues.
I guess its contagious
wow the GRAND OLD PARTY. of such honor moral stature and patriotism
what a joke of a party. Ronald Reagan is now spinning in his grave.
Posted by: Omentum | Oct 16, 2008 11:11:10 PM
And Obama is leading the polls by only 5 percent. The bradley effect and the 10 percent BLACKS who are going to vote in hordes this year so a brother is in charge.
You take that away Obama is only leading thanks to the blacks who are only voting for a BROTHER
Posted by: Phoenix Lady | Oct 16, 2008 11:12:32 PM
Sorry Phoenix Lady
some LOSER is impersonating me.
we are definitely on the same team.
BARACK OBAMA 08
Republican are on the blog ... you know those character assassinators.
You know the ones who have that ditsy lady and the old geezer running their party.
I APOLIGIZE FOR THE SORRY FREAK.
Posted by: Omentum | Oct 16, 2008 11:13:37 PM
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