Biden Labels McCain Attacks As "Republican Garbage"

By: Ryan Corsaro
Topics: Joe Biden

(CBS)

From CBS News' Ryan Corsaro:

(MEDIA, PA.) - Ladies and gentlemen, Joe Biden says he is "sick and tired of this Republican garbage."

Biden lashed out angrily at John McCain on several points this evening in Pennsylvania, including accusations that Obama and Democrats do not support the military.

Biden, in an attempt to show McCain as contradictory in his support of veterans, pointed to McCain's refusal to vote for a new military G.I. Bill, proposed by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., and passed in the spring.

"George Bush initially opposed it, John McCain stood with him and he called Jim Webb's effort, quote, too generous. Ladies and gentlemen, if John McCain had his way on that G.I. Bill, those military personnel who served two tours in Iraq or Afghanistan would not qualify for the same benefits that anyone in the 'regular Army or Marine corps' did."

"Ask yourself the question, who supports our troops? Who supports those National Guard personnel? Who supports those reservists who make up 40 percent of the people?" asked Biden, and turned to Gov. Ed Rendell, D-Pa., in the crowd.

"I don't have to tell you that, Governor. You see them dispatched every day from your state, and you're there like I am when that flag-draped coffin comes home for some."

As he speech went on, Biden's tone turned from critical to one of disgust.

"I am sick and tired of this Republican garbage," Biden said to applause from the crowd of 3,000 supporters. "I am sick and tired of being told that we don't care."

While the McCain campaign called Biden's comments "absurd", a McCain campaign aide speaking on background, when asked if Biden was accurate in saying that McCain had called the G.I. Bill 'too generous', said "I don't know."

McCain, who is a veteran, said last spring that he feared the bill would deter soldiers from re-enlisting.

In addition, Biden accused McCain and President Bush of sharing economic views that were based on a "bankrupt philosophy".

Pointing to statements McCain had made the day before that the fundamentals of the economy being strong as the Dow Jones began a day of record losses, Biden accused McCain of re-assessing his views shortly after.

"At 10 o'clock, as we Catholics say, John had an epiphany," said Biden. "John said the economy is in economic crisis. Now what happened in one hour between the economy being sound and an economic crisis looming?

Biden called McCain's response was a "political realization, not a policy conversion."

"Today he's talking about the greed of Wall Street. Yesterday, the day before, a week before, two years before, he was on Wall Street, heralding the fact that he was proudly shredding whatever regulation and oversight that in fact worked to manage these markets that now he calls greedy," said Biden.

While he had cheerfully introduced his young granddaughter Natalie when he took the stage on a beautiful September evening, Biden's mood became stormy as he described the tone and honesty of attacks on Obama by the McCain campaign.

"They misrepresented Barack's vote to protect young children against sexual predators. They knew it was a misrepresentation. All the press has said it, yet they're running ads saying Barack Obama wanted to teach kindergartners about sex education and sex."

Biden, who volunteered to speak publicly in defense of John McCain when rumors spread during the 2000 election about McCain's adopted child, said he was disheartened that McCain had hired the same people to run his campaign.

"You know, it genuinely disappoints me to think that John McCain really does approve this message. It really is genuinely -- I mean this sincerely -- it is genuinely disappointing," said Biden somberly before the evening sky began to turn purple.

"I did not think we would get here."

Biden promised that both he and Barack Obama would provide a difference that was more than political sloganeering.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we need, not change as a slogan, we need a fundamental alteration of how we operate this country. Yeah, this campaign's about change, but it's even about something more than that. It's about what we value as a people."

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by agrippamom September 19, 2008 4:37 AM EDT: Yes, he absolutely said the GI Bill''s provisions were "too generous". I remember when he said it. Jim Webb is my Senator; he went to work on that bill almost from the first day he entered the Senate, and worked hard on it. Throughout the process, both Bush and McCain stubbornly REFUSED to support it; I watched many interviews with Webb, who simply couldn''t understand McCain''s attitude. McCain failed to consider that most of our soldiers are VOLUNTEERS, not professionals, but they deserve those benefits just the same. I listened to McCain''s twisted logic and ridiculous explanations and excuses: it all boiled down to a hard-hearted man who never seemed to look at our soldiers as real people. He has the same problem with average Americans. Let''s face it: as a soldier, he was the son and grandson of admirals, graduate of the Naval Academy (although almost at the bottom of his class), and far removed from the average Joe. As a human being, he''s; married to an heiress; has 10 houses; has a megamillion dollar bank account; wears $520 shoes; and has a wife who wore $300,000 draped around her the night of Sarah Palin''s acceptance speech ($280,000 was for her earrings alone). He couldn''t understand how tough it was for our veterans before the bill passed, any more than he can for middle and lower class people now. Empathy, sympathy, and human understanding don''t equate if you have no point of reference, whether for an ordinary soldier or an ordinary citizen.; Reply to this comment


by missglo September 17, 2008 3:32 PM EDT: Go get them Biden! We are in agreement with you 100 per cent.; Reply to this comment


by mrtutto September 17, 2008 1:15 PM EDT: Sarah Palin is only going to the United Nations for a meet and greet and you can be sure that this will appear in her resume as foreign policy experience.; Reply to this comment


by jeffc2008 September 17, 2008 11:12 AM EDT: Good laugh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c; Reply to this comment


by rickwar September 17, 2008 11:08 AM EDT: Love this comment:

"The Dems have controlled the Congress and have been dismissive and disinterested in anything that has been affecting our nation, including the economy."

Reality check:

For less than 2 years

And who controlled it for 12 years prior as the seeds were set? That would be Republicans, house and senate.

The average time it takes to get a bill passed? Nearly two years.

Who was involved with the Keating 5 ethics investigation?

That would be John McCain and far from being "cleared" here is what the report stated: "John McCain was cleared of having acted improperly but were criticized for having exercised "poor judgment".

Poor judgement then, por judgement now, poor judgement as president if he gets there.

Does this sound familiar? "The U.S. Savings and Loan crisis of the 1980s and 1990s was the failure of 747 savings and loans"

"The core allegation of the Keating Five affair is that Keating had made contributions of about $1.3 million to various U.S. Senators, and he called on those Senators to help him resist regulators. The regulators backed off, to later disastrous consequences."

Republican controlled house and snate, no oversite no ethics.

The ethics committee was heavily Republican, guess who got off? John McCain the only Republican. Duh!

More Republican Kool-Aid in the lobby!; Reply to this comment


by mavsreader September 17, 2008 10:51 AM EDT: Republicans claim to be big on accountability. Yet, when it comes time to take some, it''s always someone else''s fault.

Show me someone who is accountable,I''ll show you s/he''s not republican.; Reply to this comment


by credibility2 September 17, 2008 10:34 AM EDT: The Dems have controlled the Congress and have been dismissive and disinterested in anything that has been affecting our nation, including the economy. The only things the Dem controlled Congress has been concerned about is getting pay raises and a reduced work week and trying to push their socialist agenda, including their candidate for president. Biden is a fool and has to make lies up so he can appear to be interested in being Obama''s running mate. I''d say he''s very uncomfortable right now since he''s realzing each day what a moral sell-out he is standing next to a political and social fraud like Obama. Power corrupts and Biden has been forever corrupted by the likes of being Obama''s running mater. The Dems are far worse than the Repubs have ever been.; Reply to this comment


by ttkkdd September 17, 2008 10:06 AM EDT: Way to go Joe!!!
Deport McSame and Palin to Georgia!; Reply to this comment


by lordmi September 17, 2008 9:53 AM EDT: to amnstymccain - the emtiest thing here is You along with Ticket of idiots - McWar &Pit Bull.
Enough Idiots!
Get out from the way.; Reply to this comment


by lordmi September 17, 2008 9:52 AM EDT: Joe, beat them More and more and more
for every phrase
for every false
for every peny spent for Pit Bulls pleassures
Every moment - beat GOP''s Garbage.
And we will do the same in our locations.
Yes, we can.; Reply to this comment