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Obama calls Biden, "A Scranton Boy Done Good."
October 03, 2008 1:05 PM
ABC News John Berman, Sunlen Miller, and Ursula Fahy report:
Barack Obama heaped the praise on his running mate, Joe Biden, on Friday, lauding his debate performance against Alaska governor Sarah Palin; "How about hat debate last night?" asked Obama. Standing on a football field in Abington, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia, Obama continued, "didn't Joe Biden, a fellow some people call the 3rd senator from Pennsylvania, didn't he do a great job?" Biden, of course, is the senior Senator from Delaware, but he was born about 120 miles down the road in Scranton, PA, "a Scranton boy, done good," Obama called him.
Obama had less flattering things to say about Biden's debate-partner Gov. Palin, especially her contention that Obama’s economic plan is a "job killing plan."
"I wonder if she turned on the news this morning?" asked Obama sarcastically, referring to the new federal jobs report that showed 159,000 jobs dropped from American payrolls last month, the 9th straight month of losses.
"This is the economy that John McCain said, just two weeks ago, was fundamentally strong," said Obama, using a line that has become a favorite of his on the stump. "This is the economy that my opponent said made great progress under the policies of George W. Bush. And those are the economic policies that he proposes to continue for another four years." Then, speaking over the boos in the crowd, "So when Senator McCain and his running mate talk about job killing, that's something they know a thing or two about. Because the policies they've support and are supporting are killing jobs every single day."
It was a slight modification to a speech that Obama has been delivering by teleprompter in battleground states all week. Though today, in Pennsylvania, it fell a little flat on the crowd, compared to the rousing cheers he received in Michigan and Nevada.
RNC spokeswoman, Amber Wilkerson called Obama's economic proposal 'dangerous' and said it 'will obstruct job creation.'
"Unlike John McCain, Barack Obama thinks the answer to our nation's struggling economy is to kill job creation with higher taxes and oppose competitive tax rates that would keep jobs here in America," Wilkerson told ABC News' David Wright.
Obama also added a new, somewhat odd riff when discussing McCain's response to the financial crisis. Obama asserted that McCain is a recent convert to the idea of regulation, "He hasn't been getting tough on CEO's, he hasn't been getting tough on Wall Street," said Obama, "so suddenly a crisis comes and the polls change and suddenly he's out there talking like Jesse Jackson. Come on!"
It wasn't completely clear what connection Obama was trying to make between McCain and Rev. Jackson; perhaps it was only to suggest that lately McCain has been sounding more liberal. It should be noted there have been plenty of tense moments between Jackson and Obama, with the former suggesting he wants to cut off a part of Obama's anatomy for the way he was communicating with African-Americans. McCain, to this date, has made no similar suggestions.
Abington is in Montgomery County, a key swing county in Pennsylvania, where Obama narrowly lost to Hillary Clinton in the primary 49.25% to 50.64%. He lost the state as a whole by a much wider margin 9%, struggling with both seniors and white working class voters.
Obama was joined at the Abington rally Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell, a former Hillary Clinton supporter and Sen. Bob Casey Jr., who backed Obama in the primaries. Casey said Obama still has work to do to shore-up Pennsylvania, particularly with voters older than 65.
Casey also said the McCain campaign decision to pull-out of Michigan adds challenges in PA, "we just have to assume they will put more into this state, and we have to be ready," he said.
Obama heads home to Chicago on Friday night to celebrate his 16th wedding anniversary with his wife Michelle.
October 3, 2008 in Biden, Joe, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Palin, Sarah | Permalink | User Comments (79)
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Yes, Obama campaigning in Philadelphia suburb today, home for anniversary with Michelle tonight, and tomorrow:
"Free" concert in Philadelphia with Bruce Springsteen performing...
Price of admission to free concert:
MUST FILL OUT VOTER REGISTRATION CARD!!
Priceless.........
Posted by: SandyB | Oct 3, 2008 1:14:14 PM
Even though McCain Camp sucessfully neutered Gwen Ifil by a predebate attack on her credibility, we should not be fooled by Palin’s Acting/ sparring abilities (although she had her Notes with her,but isn't that Cheating?) to sucessfully weave and bob and her canny ability not to answer questions she does not like in contradiction to her also not being able to intelligently answer complex questions on the spot! It seems as if she feels the American people have no need to be given intelligent, thoughtful answers to the pressing questions of today, and that we would rather be winked at and called hockey moms and Joe Sixpacks while our economy is in ruins! We need our candidates to present truth, not lies and talking points of lies which have nothing to do with reality. We have been lied too enough in this country. We need leaders who are of high moral character and who think their word is thier bond.
******************************************************************************
Starting to question McCain’s mental fitness
McCain’s interviews have become increasingly angry, hostile and unhinged. He seems to be on the verge of some kind of mental collapse. A big part of McCain’s erratic behavior is due to Obama having gotten deep, deep, deep inside his head. If McCain’s brain was x-rayed, it would reveal Obama sitting comfortably upon McCain’s cerebral peduncles. But, it is more than that. I believe McCain’s increasing instability is being caused by the stress of the campaign and his 72 year old body not being able to get the rest that it requires to function properly. That isn’t ageism—that is a simple fact of life. I wondered how McCain, being in advanced years, would respond under the grueling pace of a general election. I think we are all beginning to find out and it really isn’t a pretty site. He is on the verge of some kind of mental collapse.
Posted by: Angellight | Oct 3, 2008 1:15:18 PM
Biden did a great job! Heaven forbid we ever have another situation like 9/11, but on that day the VP was in the bunker of the White House calling the shots as the President was on the East coast. Biden can handle any situation of that magnitude as a VP.
Posted by: Paige | Oct 3, 2008 1:19:36 PM
Come November most of the protesters here will vote for one of the two trained monkeys. Hint ZERO will change if you keep voting in the same bozos. Did your representative return YOUR phone call? Ha! Ten to 1 he returns the calls of his fat cat buddies.
Posted by: scott | Oct 3, 2008 1:27:22 PM
Obama = Dumb
Biden = Dumber
Posted by: carpe' diem | Oct 3, 2008 1:28:49 PM
Correct me is I am wrong on this but didn't Sarah say last night during the debt that people are working and they have jobs, that there is nothing wrong with our job market? I remember telling my family that Sarah must have missed the unemployment statement that came out.
Posted by: beck | Oct 3, 2008 1:29:46 PM
I guess Biden doesn't know what the role of a VP is, since he stated last night that the VP has NO constitutional authority...hmmm....the idiot continues like his mentor, NoBama.....these two are tweedle dee and tweedle dumber!
Posted by: carpe' diem | Oct 3, 2008 1:33:11 PM
Joe Biden and Barack Obama say it’s patriotic to pay more taxes. I think it’s patriotic to get off your ass, get a job, and make your mortgage payments on time.
Michelle Obama says the country should provide young people with college educations. I think PARENTS should provide young people with college educations.
Obama thinks the government should have a hand in healthcare. I think the government can barely deliver the mail.
Obama wants appoint Supreme Court justices who have “sympathy” for people, not corporations. I think Supreme Court justices should keep their personal opinions out of their judicial decisions.
Obama thinks taxes on capital gains should be raised “out of basic fairness.” I think raising capital gains taxes does NOT increase tax revenue, and therefore serves no purpose.
Obama thinks inheritance taxes should be raised “out of fairness.” I think raising inheritance taxes punishes those who have worked hard and saved all their lives.
Obama thinks corporate taxes should be increased. I think when corporate taxes are increased, corporations pass the costs onto their customers and/or cut staff.
Ex-Democrat
Posted by: Ex Democrat | Oct 3, 2008 1:34:11 PM
Gallup and Rasmusseen poll: Obama +7
Palin was better then expected but clearly out of her LEAGUE.
The most touching moment was Biden story of his wife and sons.
Posted by: Vanessa | Oct 3, 2008 1:35:21 PM
how about that joe exploiting the death of his wife and daughter to gain 'parent points'. that was sick.
i remember when hillary teared up on the campaign trail the media and obmaa supporters went absolutely raving mad.
Posted by: colorado | Oct 3, 2008 1:36:38 PM
This should not be about whether Palin was better than what was expected. Or whether Biden did or didn’t wipe her off the table with his knowledge and experience. It’s about who will be the second most powerful person in Washington. People say the VP decision isn’t that important. I beg to differ. The second most powerful person in the US government and not seen as that important? Do you want to run your company with a good CEO but a CFO who knows nothing of how finances work? Or a COO who knows nothing of commerce? Maybe not.
So I looked at the two candidates with two questions in mind:
1. Who would best be able to help a President achieve the change he is promising?
2. Who do you want to make the decisions and represent your country if the President isn’t there?
That should be easy.
http://angryafrican.net/2008/10/03/biden-vs-palin-you-betcha-or-what-i-want-in-a-vice-president/
Posted by: Angry African | Oct 3, 2008 1:36:47 PM
i don't think that joe does not have the emotional and mental health capacity to carry out the duties of the job should he have to take over the job of president.
wasn't his excuse for being a draft dodger based on mental health related issues?
Posted by: colorado | Oct 3, 2008 1:41:23 PM
I find it curious that you would connect Jackson's negative and severely unintelligibly ignorant statement as something that we can finally understand! And I quote "It should be noted there have been plenty of tense moments between Jackson and Obama, with the former suggesting he wants to cut off a part of Obama's anatomy for the way he was communicating with African-Americans." You need a check up from the neck up! Black people are not as stupid and shallowoly lacking as you think!
Posted by: J.C. | Oct 3, 2008 1:41:25 PM
what happened to the Palin the pitbull? she came out with a bunch of info. stuffed in hear head, I thought it was going to explode! now they say she sounded folksy, make up your mind! Joe was calm and respectful and looked ready to work from day one, I think I've seen enough stupidity from Bush/Chaney to last a lifetime...
Posted by: mary | Oct 3, 2008 1:42:03 PM
Obama is very sarcastic. Always has been. It's a pity the poor sheep are blindly following the wolf in sheep's clothing. He has one foot in Kenya and one in Islam. There is not ONE thing he has ever DONE to back up his pompous ideas! Watch and see. Obama will get elected because the media wants him to win. Sadly this will be the beginning of the fall of America....
Posted by: Sue | Oct 3, 2008 1:46:51 PM
Vanessa, the Gallup poll results were tabulated BEFORE last night’s debate took place, so it cannot possibly be a referendum on Sarah Palin’s performance. (Check their website). The same thing with Rasmussen. From the Rasmussen website, “Tracking poll results are based upon nightly telephone interviews and conducted on a three-day rolling average. Virtually all of the interviews for today’s update were completed before the conclusion of the Vice Presidential debate.” Vanessa, you left that bit of information out of your post. I’m interested in what the polls have to say in a couple of days. I did not get the chance to view the debate, but from the venom spewed over the Internet by the angry left, I’m assuming Sarah did quite well.
Posted by: Ex Dem | Oct 3, 2008 1:52:12 PM
Biden did excellently. He will be a superb advisor to the president and could step in himself as president, God forbid that's necessary. Neither can be said for Palin.
Posted by: hopesprings52 | Oct 3, 2008 1:53:10 PM
Gallup and Rasmusseen poll: Obama +7
Palin was better then expected but clearly out of her LEAGUE.
The most touching moment was Biden story of his wife and sons.
Posted by: Vanessa | Oct 3, 2008 1:35:21 PM
Yeah, Vanessa...Biden DID do a good acting job, didn't he? LOL!
Posted by: carpe' diem | Oct 3, 2008 1:53:59 PM
American voters need to raise their standards when it comes to our politican leaders especially during these difficult times. McGimmick is floundering on the issues and making things up as he goes along. Palin has no idea what she is talking about & is merely a parrot reading a script. America is in trouble and putting McCain & Palin in charge is a major mistake. Voters are too easily impressed with the hockey mom and joe six pack crap. Do we actually want a confused baked Alaskan a heart beat away from the highest office in the world? How can a hockey mom influence Iran or North Korea or manage our economy? We need strong leaders with credentials & ability not silly high school slogans and goofy, scripted rhetoric. We certainly don't need a cranky old man with nothing to offer as President.
Posted by: Jackson in NC | Oct 3, 2008 1:54:20 PM
Whooooooooooooaaa there, Senator Obama!! Did I hear you call a white man "Boy?" Sounds racist to me. I mean, what if Senator Biden called YOU "Boy?"
Posted by: Lee | Oct 3, 2008 1:55:04 PM
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