From The Road
October 10, 2008 3:16 PM

Biden's Politeness With Palin Is Over

By
Ryan Corsaro
Topics
Joe Biden
(CBS)
From CBS News' Ryan Corsaro:

(SPRINGFIELD, MO.) - While Joe Biden talks about the "big issues" the country is facing - the worsening economic crisis, the need for energy independence, the disappearing pensions for American workers – it's also worth noting that he has changed his tone on Sarah Palin to one that borders on condescension and mockery.

Prior to the debate, Biden said he "respected" Palin and limited his comments to saying "I don't know much about her" when he spoke publicly.

In Green Bay last month, Biden said, "Sarah Palin has made a couple really good political speeches, and she makes a very strong impression and a confident impression."

In Sarasota, Biden was asked how he would treat Palin during the debate, to which he replied, "Well look, the answer is one word: with respect. I mean it sincerely, with respect. She is the governor of a state. She warrants respect, and the only thing that I have to find out and you will have to find out is, what are her views."

During their debate, we did not see the Biden that used cutting remarks as he did with Giuliani last year, when he said the former mayor only knew how to create a sentence with "a noun, a verb, and 9/11".

And while the reaction from critics and voters was that Biden kept his cool and did not come across as arrogant, patronizing, or sexist in their debate, he certainly has a different view and tone when looking back on it now.

"Last week I had a debate, at least I think it was a debate, with Governor Palin," said Biden to huge roar from a crowd in Tampa, Fla.

Biden now peppers lines like that in all of his speeches – lighthearted swipes at Palin, saying to a crowd in Springfield, Missouri, "Isn't she neat?" to howls of laughter.

On Thursday in the state's capital, Jefferson City, Biden said, "Sarah Palin in my debate turned to me – she's really good – Sarah Palin turned to me and she said 'Well, I was only in second grade when Senator Biden was elected to the Senate.' It's true."

Biden then wound up a one-liner and pitched it to the audience. "Well, I should have turned to her and said, Sarah, you were in sixth grade the last time John had a good idea."

He got a standing ovation from supporters. It just so happens, Palin did not use the line about being in second grade in their debate, but at an earlier rally.

While Biden treads the line between directly criticizing Palin and using her to go after McCain, it's clear he's making an effort to acknowledge Palin in a joking only context.

"You can't change, you can't change your approach to global warming if, as my opponent said in our debate, and paraphrase her, she's not quite sure what causes it," Biden said to laughs from the audience in Missouri, and continued to impersonate Palin, saying, "'I don't know how that happens.' 'I don't know where it comes from.' If you don't know where the cause of the problem, how do you solve it?"

Later in Liberty, Mo., Biden joked. "I understand that earlier this year your debate team, your debate team won the Missouri state championship here at William Jewell. I bet John McCain and Sarah Palin right now wish they had asked you for some tips."

"I could use a few myself," he added self-deprecatingly.

Add a Comment See all 41 Comments
by reuelt October 12, 2008 9:17 PM EDT
Let me put it this way:-
Biblical Daniel became ruler by simply surviving the "Lions den". As I used to sing the Sunday school song (Daniel was a man of Prayer):-"God just shut the lions'' mouth so they could not harm him".


If Biden "the lion", could not "eat" up a "christian lady" in that debate, then the VOTERS are ready to make that lady the Vice President.

The "lion" can now roar and show his teeth all day long - it doesn''t matter. But just feed him some red meat.


Reply to this comment
by intankinated October 11, 2008 10:32 PM EDT
Strange how you can always pick out the McCain/Palin supporters from these blogs. They pop off catchy taglines from TV commercials, and like their heroes - paint their verbage with shallow claims and no specifics.

Blondshag, do your homework. Mccain was involved in the Lincoln Savings & Loan scandal that brought him before the Senate Ethics Committee, while his buddy (Keating) spent time in jail. The man has 7 houses, and his wife attends rallies dressed in $300,000 outfits (including jewelry). He''s aligned himself with Bush for the last 8 years - our soldiers are still dying in the sand, the economy is in shambles, and all the right wingers can do is point the finger away from themselves. Well even Palin had the courage to say all administrations make huge blunders.

Likewise, Palin is in the hot seat for abusing her powers as governor, her family are multi-millionaires who have donated a mere 1.5% to charity in the last two years. She and Todd were members of a political action group (Alaskan Independence Party) whose purpose was to secede from the US. Let''s check out those ties.

These two are going to reform American? Laughable. Although I respect McCain for his service to our country, his selection of Palin is the biggest elephant joke of all time.

Reply to this comment
by lillietoo October 11, 2008 6:11 PM EDT
I''m a female myself, and none of the comments this article attributes to Senator Biden is even remotely condescending or disrespectful. And not only does any reasonable voter who has witnessed Palin''s performance in interviews and the debate agree with Biden''s assessment of her skills, but his comments significantly pale in the light of the fear-inspiring, racially-tinged, red-meat hatred Palin has been spewing for the last week.
Reply to this comment
by lillietoo October 11, 2008 6:09 PM EDT
I''m a female myself, and none of the comments this article attributes to Senator Biden is even remotely condescending or disrespectful. And not only does any reasonable voter who has witnessed Palin''s performance in interviews and the debate agree with Biden''s assessment of her skills, but his comments significantly pale in the light of the fear-inspiring, racially-tinged, red-meat hatred Palin has been spewing for the last week.
Reply to this comment
by Blondshag October 11, 2008 5:37 PM EDT
Someone is kidding America.

Obama has always put himself above all....even America.

Biden was only waiting for the right time to break out if fork tounge..and turn into the real person that Biden is.

OBAMA AND BIDEN ARE ONE IN THE SAME...EGO ABOVE AMERICA. NOT COMMITTED TO AMERICA EITHER.

TIME for John McCain and Sarah Palin to "REFORM WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT!"

America is not the warehouse for AMERICA SOCIALISM. Socialism does not work!

Finally, it is time for America to WAKE-UP about BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA.
WONDER WHY OBAMA --- DOES NOT USE HIS REAL NAME. That answer in itself will answer Why-Barack Hussein Obama is not the president for America.

Obama is not Committed to America.
BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA is committed to WHO? You got it!

GO----JOHN MCCAIN!!!

GO----SARAH PALIN!!!

Reply to this comment
by Blondshag October 11, 2008 5:37 PM EDT
Someone is kidding America.

Obama has always put himself above all....even America.

Biden was only waiting for the right time to break out if fork tounge..and turn into the real person that Biden is.

OBAMA AND BIDEN ARE ONE IN THE SAME...EGO ABOVE AMERICA. NOT COMMITTED TO AMERICA EITHER.

TIME for John McCain and Sarah Palin to "REFORM WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT!"

America is not the warehouse for AMERICA SOCIALISM. Socialism does not work!

Finally, it is time for America to WAKE-UP about BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA.
WONDER WHY OBAMA --- DOES NOT USE HIS REAL NAME. That answer in itself will answer Why-Barack Hussein Obama is not the president for America.

Obama is not Committed to America.
BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA is committed to WHO? You got it!

GO----JOHN MCCAIN!!!

GO----SARAH PALIN!!!

Reply to this comment
by noamnestymc October 11, 2008 4:54 AM EDT
"It will be all over in the Morning" I''''m talking about Palin''''s political career. She has proven the states case with her badgering interviews, lies and deception. Her character clearly proves a women who would be vendictive to fire monegon because he wouldn''''t fire Wooten. I know Romney and the other GOP who thought McCain would pick them are laughing. McCain is going down in history as giving the presidental election away
Posted by kellyfromsp at 08:53 PM : Oct 10, 2008
**** I agree with your post! I think the republicans gave away this election, especially after nominating the guy that co-sponsored an amnesty bill with teddy kennedy. If amnesty mccain was smart, Romney could have put Michigan in play, instead, they now pulled out of michigan. Amnesty Mccains one chance to win the election between now and Nov 4th, would be to sign a pledge that no illegal immigrant than came into this country illegally would given amnesty/citizenship! Palin is a joke, she abused power! Amnesty Mccain stole the republican nomination. I could have stomached a president Romney or Huckabee... but never president amnesty Juan Mccain! I am a former Republican turned Democrat because of Amnesty Mccain supporting illegal mexicans more than he supports americans!
Reply to this comment
by cb089 October 11, 2008 4:13 AM EDT
Wall Street Journal called Joe Biden a PNONY liar:
BR
During the VP debate watched by 70 million viewers, Joe Biden "invited Americans to join him at Katie''s restaurant in Wilmington to witness middle-class struggles. Just one problem: KATIE''S CLOSED IN THE 1980s. The mistake is more than a memory lapse because IT EXPOSES HOW PHONY IS MR. BIDEN''S attempt to pose for this campaign as Lunchbucket Joe."
BR
Palin should mention the WSJ article in one of her speeches... "I read in the WSJ that..."
BR
More Biden lies and/or "memory lapses" below:
BR
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122325448093406451.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/06/usnews/whispers/main4505101.shtml
http://newsok.com/bidens-boo-boos-misstatements-mar-debate-performance/article/3308160
Reply to this comment
by hungry4goodg October 11, 2008 3:47 AM EDT
Sarah''s own words are painting an increasingly ugly self-portrait. Americans aren''t fooled. We know why Sarah has become even more sarcastic and nasty...as her poll numbers drop. Sarah has been amusing to gossip about, but as Sarah becomes more and more bitter...her entertainment value falls and Sarah herself becomes more and more stale...another of Sen. McCain''s failed publicity stunts.
Reply to this comment
by billturetsky October 11, 2008 2:25 AM EDT
"3)We are voting for President!"

That''s more than naive - actually STUPID - the VP BECOMES President - and in this case a *** good chance it would happen.
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