The World Newser is World News' daily blog. Here, you'll find our staff's thoughts on the day's news and the way we build our broadcast. Plus, we'll share reports from our team of correspondents in the field, as well as producers behind-the-scenes.
RECENT POSTS
- Charlie Gibson...On this Thanksgiving
- Quotes of the Day: 'It is my intention to finish the job'
- Start Your Shopping Engines
- The Hajj and Women's Dress
- Clem's Chronicles: Afghanistan/WH State Dinner/Holiday Travel
- Photos: White House State Dinners Through the Years
- Are We Becoming A Nation of Know-Nothings?
- Quotes of the Day: 'President Obama has the information he wants... to make his decision'
- Clem's Chronicles: Jobs/Afghanistan/Health Care Reform/Deficit
- Child Safety: Crib Recall and Other Recently Recalled Kids Products
- You Buying Less This Holiday?
- President Lou Dobbs?
WORLD NEWSER CATEGORIES
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
Biden Blasts 'Deafening' Republican Silence on Key Issues
September 05, 2008 3:19 PM
ABC News' Matthew Jaffe reports: In his most animated performance thus far on the campaign trail, Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., delighted supporters Friday at a campaign stop outside of Philadelphia, going on an extended rant against Republicans and their presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
"It's not so much what I heard in the Republican convention, when you heard John speak last night, not so much what I heard when I heard part of what the governor had to say, the vice presidential candidate -- it's what I didn't hear: the silence, the silence of the Republican Party was deafening," Biden said, the applause of the Langhorne crowd starting to build with each word.
"It was deafening on jobs, on health care, on environment, on all the things that matter to the people in the neighborhoods I grew up in!" roared the Scranton-born senator as the audience rose to their feet.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he continued, his voice lifting over the cheers. "Their America is not the America I live in, they see something different than I see.
"Do any of you recall either candidate on the Republican ticket utter the phrase middle class?" he asked the crowd.
"No!" they yelled back in unison, and so it continued, back and forth.
"Did any of you hear them utter the phrase health care and how we're gonna help?"
"No!"
"Did you hear them talk about aid to get kids to college?"
"No!"
"Did you hear them talk about AIDS education?"
"No!"
"Did you hear them talk about putting more cops on the streets to make them safer?"
"No!"
"I didn't hear a thing, a thing, about any of the things that matter to the lives of the people," Biden concluded.
Speaking in a middle school gym, the colorful Delaware senator compared Republican behavior at their St. Paul convention this week to the mean kids making snide remarks at school.
"They were like the kids, you know, when you went to school and you were very proud of the new belt you had and the shoes you had. And there was always one kid in the class who said, 'Oh, are they your brother's?' Remember that kid? That's what this reminded me of. 'Oh, I love that dress, is that your mother's?' You know what I'm talking about."
Not everyone in the crowd did, but Biden soon got his fans back on track, sending them into a standing ovation moments later.
"What do you talk about when you have nothing to say?" he asked, criticizing their attacks on the man at the top of his ticket, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. "What do you talk about when you can't explain the last eight years of failure? What do you talk about? You talk about the other guy!"
September 5, 2008 in Political Radar | Permalink | Share | User Comments (224)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Biden is the effing man! He and Obama have really taken the high road. Their opponents represent desperation.
Posted by: b | Sep 5, 2008 3:47:44 PM
Big Mouth Biden NEVER ceases to amaze me! Anyone could have listened to the Republican's speeches and brought up questions on issues. Biden, like his messiah, Obama, are running scared now and its evident. I loved watching Obama stammer and stutter last night with O'Reilly!
And, I can't wait until Palin rips Big Mouth Biden to shreds in a debate. This will be well worth it!
McCain/Palin 08!
"Country First!"
Posted by: david from texas | Sep 5, 2008 3:52:18 PM
Way to go Joe! Keep it up. The republicans definitely DON'T GET IT!!! They are not for the middle class, hard-working to make ends meet Americans! They are for the wealthy first, foremost and last!! The price of Cindy McCain's outfit for one night could have bought 3-4 houses for the less fortunate! I'm not against anyone being rich, but it just shows how out of touch republicans are with the working class and their struggles. Vote Democratic because eight years of republican rule are definitely ENOUGH!!
Posted by: realitycheck | Sep 5, 2008 3:53:39 PM
"Their America is not the America I live in, they see something different than I see.
You're right, Biden. The country the Republicans live in is not going to be run by a socialist like Obama...be for real!
Posted by: Avery | Sep 5, 2008 3:54:37 PM
You DemWits are really having to grasp for straws here if you are concerned more about Cindy McCain's dress than about the issues!
I'm LMAO at the NoBama supporters! Face it, Obama Bin Lyin is losing it and losing it FAST! I Love it!
McCai/Palin 08!
"Country First!"
Posted by: david from texas | Sep 5, 2008 3:56:53 PM
When did Obama talk about AIDS education?
Posted by: catleya | Sep 5, 2008 3:59:20 PM
McCain/Palin 08!
Posted by: david from texas | Sep 5, 2008 3:59:22 PM
Good effective speechmaking. The Republicans don't want to talk about the middle class because they don't want to explain how middle class wages have gone NOWHERE while expenses have gone up.
The Republicans don't want to talk about how the dollar has toppled under their policies.
The Republicans don't want to talk about how having a house, and giving your kids a chance to go to a university, and having savings for retirement is becoming increasingly difficult under their policies.
And the Republicans don't want to talk about people dying of cancer or going bankrupt or being left with $200,000 in debt, simply because they got sick and didn't have insurance. Jesus said 'heal the sick'. Republicans say 'socialist'.
And the Republicans don't want to talk about how virtually all the high wage blue collar, virtually all of the industrial, and increasingly even jobs requiring a college degree are going to other countries with lower wages.
Because to the Republicans, the falling fortune of middle class Americans is of no consequence. All that matters is the welfare of those making over $500,000 a year. If you average the wealthy and the middle class together, things don't look so bad!
Posted by: John's conscience | Sep 5, 2008 3:59:44 PM
MCBUSH is going to stop the corruption in Washington, since he is the oldest one running and the longest in the senate is he going to uncorrupt himself?
Posted by: Rose Szymanski | Sep 5, 2008 4:00:08 PM
"Do any of you recall either candidate on the Republican ticket utter the phrase middle class?" he asked the crowd.
Oh, Biden, Biden...because you are such a DemWit, you didn't EVEN listen to their speeches. They both referenced and talked about the middle class. Because you were so busy plagurizing your speech, you weren't paying attention. Joe, Joe...you're old and hard of hearing, we ALL know this. Now, be a good boy, take your Geritol and get some rest!
McCain/Palin 08!
Posted by: TJ | Sep 5, 2008 4:02:10 PM
Just Rant. No Economy related talk.
Posted by: Tim | Sep 5, 2008 4:03:10 PM
Obama doesn't have to talk about aids or health care or the economy he has lived it all one way or another.
Posted by: Rose Szymanski | Sep 5, 2008 4:03:26 PM
Good effective speechmaking. The Democrats don't want to talk about the middle class because they don't want to explain how middle class wages have gone NOWHERE while expenses have gone up.
The Democrats don't want to talk about how the dollar has toppled under their policies.
The Democrats don't want to talk about how having a house, and giving your kids a chance to go to a university, and having savings for retirement is becoming increasingly difficult under their policies.
And the Democrats don't want to talk about people dying of cancer or going bankrupt or being left with $200,000 in debt, simply because they got sick and didn't have insurance. Jesus said 'heal the sick'. Democrats say 'socialist'.
And the Democrats don't want to talk about how virtually all the high wage blue collar, virtually all of the industrial, and increasingly even jobs requiring a college degree are going to other countries with lower wages.
Because to the Democrats, the falling fortune of middle class Americans is of no consequence. All that matters is the welfare of those making over $500,000 a year. If you average the wealthy and the middle class together, things don't look so bad!
Posted by: . | Sep 5, 2008 4:05:55 PM
Republicans....IN THEIR OWN WORDS...
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=184086&title=sarah-palin-gender-card
Posted by: Raider | Sep 5, 2008 4:09:26 PM
A week ago, most Americans had never heard of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Now, following a Vice Presidential acceptance speech viewed live by more than 40 million people, Palin is viewed favorably by 58% of American voters.
Posted by: ObamasNemesis | Sep 5, 2008 4:11:52 PM
This is BRILLIANT!!!
Posted by: Samantha | Sep 5, 2008 4:12:43 PM
Over half of U.S. voters (51%) think reporters are trying to hurt Sarah Palin with their news coverage, and 24% say those stories make them more likely to vote for Republican presidential candidate John McCain in November.
Posted by: ObamasNemesis | Sep 5, 2008 4:14:06 PM
Of course, with all the political hoopla from the Denver Democrats, it's easy to forget the populist revolt against high gas prices at the pump. Sen. Obama never mentioned skyrocketing pump prices or their devastating economic impact on ordinary working-class folks. But this is the energy election. It will determine our future peace and prosperity. And Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has the energy answer: Our abundant country can produce more energy at lower cost if government gets out of the way.
Coming from the natural-resource rich state of Alaska, Palin is an experienced energy expert. She knows more about the economics of energy than Sens. McCain, Obama or Biden. And in this year of the oil-shock economy, Palin's role will be absolutely crucial.
Posted by: ObamasNemesis | Sep 5, 2008 4:15:36 PM
Americans who support McSame and the Mrs. who dare not speak to press apparently do not care about the big issues either.
No wonder the USA is going down.
So much for the Republican love of this country. They ruin it.
Posted by: dreck | Sep 5, 2008 4:19:05 PM
Palin is an energy expert. She has the plan to help America get out of this energy crunch. Obama, cannot light a candle in comparison to Palin....and especially, Biden.
I'm glad John McCain has Palin in his court. Its a sure win for the Republicans this year!
Posted by: ObamasNemesis | Sep 5, 2008 4:19:10 PM
Post a comment
