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Vintage Biden Detours to Delaware to Thank Home-State Backers, Bash Palin & Defend Obama
October 13, 2008 6:16 PM
Taking a detour from campaign travels in New Hampshire and Ohio, Sen. Joe Biden jetted back to his home state of Delaware tonight to speak at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Dover, delivering an emotional address in which he thanked his fellow Delawareans for their support, made repeated cracks about his veep counterpart Gov. Sarah Palin, and passionately vouched for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill..
“Barack Obama and I want to attack America’s problems,” the Democratic vice presidential nominee said. “It appears that all Sarah Palin and John McCain want to do is attack us. We want to attack problems. They want to attack us.
“In my debate with Gov. Palin, at least I think it was a debate -- I saw it on ‘Saturday Night Live,’” he cracked as the crowd erupted in laughter and applause.
“Damn, I wish I had his hair,” Biden then joked about SNL’s Jason Sudeikis as the crowd continued loving every minute of the Blue Hen’s speech.
“She brought up the length of my service. She said in the middle of that debate as she was winking at y’all, she said she’d been listening to my speeches since she was in second grade. Well, I guess, just like she can see Russia from Alaska, she can see Delaware from Alaska,” Biden continued, delivering another jab to his Republican opponent, although she never made that comment at the debate. “She’s got great eyesight.
“I was inclined to tell her in that debate, but I was trying to be a good boy, I know you were all surprised, I was, weren’t you? You were all surprised. You were, weren’t you?” Biden asked the audience. “Well, I tell ya what, when she looked over at me -- and by the way she’s a captivating candidate, she really is -- she looked over at me, she said, ‘Well, I was in second grade when Sen. Biden got first elected.’ I was inclined to say ‘But yes, Governor, you were in sixth grade the last time Sen. McCain had a good idea.’ You know, but I didn’t, I didn’t.”
The home-state senator, who held two campaign rallies in New Hampshire earlier today, delivered a vintage Biden speech that was at times a stand-up comedy routine, a touching expression of gratitude, and a vigorous campaign plea for the top of his party's ticket. After poking fun at Palin, Biden moved on to vouching for Obama’s character, denouncing Republican attacks about the Democratic candidate’s background.
“For those of you who wonder about Barack Obama, don't wonder, don’t wonder,” Biden urged the crowd. “I guarantee you, he feels as passionately about this as I do. He has the same measure, the same respect. Look folks, this is a guy who is the American dream, raised by a white grandmom and grandpop from Kansas, a grandfather who fought in Patton's Army, a grandmother who was the equivalent of Rosie the Riveter, building aircraft, a single mother.”
“Look folks, I'm getting tired of this stuff about Barack Obama," Biden said of what he called the "negative," "scurrilous," and "vicious" ads against the Illinois lawmaker. "But I guarantee you I know the guy and I know his family. And let me tell you something, this guy knows how much he owes this great country. And he knows it couldn't have happened anywhere else but the United States of America, so I don't want to hear about how different he is.
“I don't want to hear it,” Biden continued, pounding his chest for emphasis. “He's like me. He's like me! And all of you!”
With Obama’s final debate against McCain coming up Wednesday night in New York, Biden had an odd suggestion for the audience: watch the duel ... on mute.
“For this debate, for part of this next debate, do what I did for part of the last two debates: literally, turn the sound off. I’m not being, I’m not joking now,” Biden proposed. “Literally, turn the sound off and just watch. Watch the body language of both men. You can sense it folks. You know it, when there’s a command presence. You know it when someone has the confidence and the certitude about himself and what he believes in.”
At the annual fundraising dinner, at which Biden received the Alexis I. Dupont Bayard Award for distinguished service to the state, the senator thanked Delawareans for their support over the years. With his wife Jill, son Hunter, and daughter Ashley standing on stage alongside him, Biden noted how his supporters had helped him overcome the 1972 car accident that killed his first wife and daughter and the 1988 aneurysm that forced him to drop out of the presidential race.
“You were looking out for me not only then but many of you and especially candidates are looking out for me this year, this year,” Biden said. “You are my support and you are my sustenance and that is not an exaggeration. Beau, Jill, Hunter, Ashley and I, we love you for everything you’ve done for our family because honest to God you’ve made a difference in my life, thank you.”
Upon thanking the crowd, an emotional Biden stepped back from the podium, pausing as his family left the stage, leaving him to soak up the applause of his home-state following. On Tuesday morning, the senator returns to the campaign trail to begin a two-day Ohio bus tour, his second Buckeye State bus blitz in the past month.
October 13, 2008 in Political Radar | Permalink | Share | User Comments (115)
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Biden gave a great speech. I enjoyed seeing him get worked up. "I've had it up to here, I don't need lectures from Sarah Palin on patriotism." Good stuff. Awesome video.
http://www.congratstothewinners.com/2008/10/joe-biden-speech.html
Posted by: FriendlyFred | Oct 13, 2008 6:21:45 PM
-- “Barack Obama and I want to attack America’s problems,” the Democratic vice presidential nominee said. “It appears that all Sarah Palin and John McCain want to do is attack us. We want to attack problems. They want to attack us. --
Isn't that the truth, and is it no wonder! And as McCain said back in 2000:
MCCAIN: "I just have to rely on the good judgment of the voters not to buy into these negative attack ads. Sooner or later, people are going to figure out if all you run is negative attack ads you don't have much of a vision for the future or you're not ready to articulate it."
[The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, 2/21/2000]
You can only repeat 'Maverick' so many times until people start asking what exactly that has to do with anything.
Posted by: Concerned American | Oct 13, 2008 6:27:13 PM
'this is a guy who is the American dream, raised by a white grandmom and grandpop from Kansas, '
Yeah sure Biden. Obama basically called his grandmom and grandpop racists in a speech in April.
Looks like Biden cannot stop lying.
Posted by: Greg h | Oct 13, 2008 6:36:17 PM
McCain is toast! Go Joe, Go Barack!!! They are the great hope for this country. McCain is going backwards, and they are moving forward. Obama/Biden 08!!
Posted by: Fairfax | Oct 13, 2008 6:41:38 PM
Greg H. Get a life dude. You and your candidate are history. You need to come to grips with the truth. Barack Obama President USA.
Posted by: Jo | Oct 13, 2008 6:44:00 PM
Jo,
The election is still some 3 weeks and Barrack Hussein Obama has not yet been elected President.
Get a life and a grip.
Posted by: Greg h | Oct 13, 2008 6:46:37 PM
The negative direction this campaign has taken from both sides is despicable. But what I do not understand is why Obama does nothing to repute the allegations. Is there anything to Vera Baker? If not why not go public with the facts in lieu of just keeping many Americans guessing?
Posted by: William | Oct 13, 2008 6:47:33 PM
Look folks, this is a guy who is the American dream, raised by a white grandmom and grandpop from Kansas, a grandfather who fought in Patton's Army, a grandmother who was the equivalent of Rosie the Riveter, building aircraft, a single mother.”
I have to agree with you Gregh. I think Biden is racist. Since that word is being thrown around so much. Well, I am probably racist for posting this. I guess maybe if radical liberalism is a race, I am guilty. Go McCain/Palin. Don't believe the heavily weighted polls in most cases.
Posted by: Jessica | Oct 13, 2008 6:50:57 PM
Joe Biden lying again.
Posted by: xaix | Oct 13, 2008 6:51:05 PM
Greg h, I have relatives who are quite proud of their back-woods Tennessee racism.. doesn't change the fact that they are still my relatives, nor dos it imply that I share their feelings.
Your point was... what exactly?
Posted by: Concerned American | Oct 13, 2008 6:52:44 PM
JOE BIDEN IS A DOUBLE STANDARD PERSON.
ON PRIMARIES TOLD US THAT OBAMA IS
UN-FIT FOR COMMANDER IN CHIEF......
NOW IS OBAMA'S VP....GO FIGURE.....
BEST CHOICE IS:
McCAIN/PALIN '08
Posted by: Nicholas | Oct 13, 2008 6:53:51 PM
William,
I really have to wonder why Barack Obama hasn't talked about many of the statements made about him. That makes me believe that they are true. Him not speaking to, or flatly denying his shady associations and dealings in his past are making him look so guilty. Everybody knows that he's had SOME things to do with Acorn, Bill Ayers, etc, but he is just flat out denying and that doesn't look good at all and looks like lies. Just one person's opinion.
Posted by: Jessica | Oct 13, 2008 6:54:34 PM
-- s there anything to Vera Baker? If not why not go public with the facts in lieu of just keeping many Americans guessing? --
She has already come out and said that any allegations were false and that it is a non-issue.
Now, how about you go and ask Nancy Regan how she feels about McCain and his treatment of his first wife?
Posted by: Concerned American | Oct 13, 2008 6:56:22 PM
William,
In other words, I think I am agreeing with you. Why not say SOMETHING??? Sorry I wasn't clear there.
Posted by: jessica | Oct 13, 2008 6:56:23 PM
-- Everybody knows that he's had SOME things to do with Acorn, Bill Ayers --
Here is what ACORN says about McCain on the front page of their website:
Senator Allied with ACORN as Recently as 2006, Now Turns Cold Shoulder
October 13, 2008, Miami, FL - U.S. Senator John McCain's recent attacks on the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) are puzzling given his historic support for the organization and its efforts on behalf of immigrant Americans. As recently as February 20, 2006, Senator McCain was the keynote speaker at an ACORN-sponsored Immigration Rally in Miami, Florida at Miami Dade College – Wolfson Campus.
Here is a link to the flyer for that event:
Posted by: Concerned American | Oct 13, 2008 6:59:30 PM
Concerned American,
I am not saying that McCain hasn't rubbed shoulders with Acorn before. I am just making the point that Obama seems very entrenched in Acorn business and it looks suspicious to say that he hasn't done anything with them in the past.
Posted by: Jessica | Oct 13, 2008 7:02:27 PM
-- I am just making the point that Obama seems very entrenched in Acorn business and it looks suspicious to say that he hasn't done anything with them in the past. --
He never said that he hasn't done anything with them in the past. He was all over the news when he represented them in 1995 against the state of Illinois in a voter discrimination case.. backed by the US Justice Department and League of Women Voters. And they won.
He has been more than open about his past dealings, and it is just another attempt by McCain using more Roveian tactics to make it look like more than it is. And people like you continue to perpetuate it.
Care to discuss real issues?
Posted by: Concerned American | Oct 13, 2008 7:12:37 PM
Let's see, what did Biden say about McCain in the primaries? Oh yeah, he said he was qualified to be President. What did he say about Obama? That he wasn't. Joe Biden.Liar extraordinaire.
Posted by: mike | Oct 13, 2008 7:18:02 PM
As for Ayers.. another tactic by the GOP. They took a single element out of context; "This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood" and made it out as if that was all he said and was somehow hiding his association.
Here is the full exchange, in context (Stephanopoulous had already mentioned his meeting in Obamas house which helped launch his political career):
SEN. OBAMA: George, but this is an example of what I'm talking about.
This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who's a professor of English in Chicago, who I know and who I have not received some official endorsement from. He's not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis.
And the notion that somehow as a consequence of me knowing somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago when I was 8 years old, somehow reflects on me and my values, doesn't make much sense, George.
The fact is, is that I'm also friendly with Tom Coburn, one of the most conservative Republicans in the United States Senate, who during his campaign once said that it might be appropriate to apply the death penalty to those who carried out abortions.
Do I need to apologize for Mr. Coburn's statements? Because I certainly don't agree with those either.
So this kind of game, in which anybody who I know, regardless of how flimsy the relationship is, is somehow -- somehow their ideas could be attributed to me -- I think the American people are smarter than that. They're not going to suggest somehow that that is reflective of my views, because it obviously isn't.
Posted by: Concerned American | Oct 13, 2008 7:19:42 PM
LATEST POLLS
===========
By Andrew Quinn
Mon Oct 13, 3:58 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama has a 4-point lead over his Republican rival John McCain in the U.S. presidential race, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby tracking poll released on Monday.
Obama leads McCain by 48 percent to 44 percent among likely voters, down 2 percentage points from the lead he enjoyed on Sunday. The poll has a margin of error of 2.9 points
Posted by: Nicholas | Oct 13, 2008 7:20:13 PM
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