Biden Tired of Palin's "Politics of Division"

By: Ryan Corsaro
Topics: Joe Biden

(CBS)

From CBS News' Ryan Corsaro:

(MESILLA, N.M.) - Joe Biden says he's tired of the type of politics of division he heard in Sarah Palin's comments last night, when she told a North Carolina fundraiser that she liked to visit "pro-American parts of the country."

"It's disappointing, and I hope it's a slip of the tongue and she doesn't mean it, but she said it. It was reported she said that she likes to visit, quote, pro-American parts of the country," said Biden, leading into a lengthy dissection of the remarks.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I, like your senator and governor, have been all over this great land. I've never been to a state, I've never been to a state that hasn't sent its sons and daughters to serve and die for this country. Right here in New Mexico right now, there are 1,400 Mexican sons and daughters -- New Mexican sons and daughters deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. Thirty-six of them have already given their lives for this country."

"Folks, it doesn't matter where you live, we all love this country. And I hope it gets through. We all love this country. Folks, one of the reasons why Barack and I are running is that we know how damaging the politics of division that continues to be practiced by the McCain, how damaging this policy of division has been. It's time to put this behind us."

"Folks, it is not a corny thing. It's real. We are one nation, under God, indivisible. We are all patriotic. We all love our country in every part of this country. And I'm tired. I am tired, tired, tired, tired of the implications about patriotism."

"Folks, that's the reason why Barack and I are running. We are absolutely, totally, thoroughly confident that we can get through these difficult times and like every generation before us be better for it."

Palin responded today to questions about her remark, telling reporters, "Every area, every area across this great country where we're stopping and where also the other ticket is stopping and getting to speak at these rallies and speak with the good Americans, it's all pro-America."

"I was just reinforcing the fact that there, where I was, there's good patriotic people there in these rallies, so excited about positive change and reform of government that's coming that they are so appreciative of hearing our message, hearing our plan. Not, not any one area of America is more pro-America patriotically than others," said Palin.

Biden not only went after Palin this afternoon, but also had the crowd laughing at Joe Wurzelbacher, now known famously as "Joe the Plumber" after being mentioned 26 times in the final debate between John McCain and Barack Obama.

"We're going to start with real meaningful tax cuts. I promise you, if you're unlike Joe the Plumber…be nice if he got a license," said Biden to cheers from the crowd.

"But, Joe the Plumber -- I know you got a lot of plumbers out here making over 250,000 grand," he said to supporters. "Raise your hands, please."

At that point, a young man raised his hand, which appeared to be in jest.

"There's a man," said Biden. "Go borrow money from him, the guy in the green shirt. He makes more than two-fifty. He looks like he's only 18 years old…which means he earned it the hard way. He inherited it."

McCain spokesperson Ben Porritt fired off an email to press members at the comments, saying "Joe the Senator continued his angry campaign today fresh from his performance attacking Joe the Plumber on national television last night."

"While Barack Obama attacks small town Americans for 'clinging' to guns and religion, his running mate is busy attacking hardworking Americans who oppose the socialist tax policies of Barack Obama. If anyone is paying attention to Barack Obama's running mate they will see a serial exaggerator whose only job is to conceal Barack Obama's profound lack of experience, record, and judgment," wrote Porritt, who titled his email "Biden Irrelevance Tour Continues".

Biden speaks in Henderson, Nevada tonight as he continues a weekend sweep of West Coast states, including California and Washington.

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by igorpdx October 18, 2008 10:56 PM EDT: Who would believe that the agitated and hysterical Congesswoman Michelle Bachmann would call for an investigation of "unAmerican activities" in The United States Congress?

This is like a time warp from the 1950''s when Senator Joe McCarthy created mass hatred, division, and riots in his "red scare."

I didn''t serve in the military in wartime to see this type of gestapo tactics put to use in American politics. This woman, along, with Sarah Palin, are either ignorant beyond reason or just plain evil. I would like to think they are just ignorant and very stupid.

Whatever they are, they are inciting violence, fear, and hate among good Americans of every political persuasion.

Not this time.

Vietnam Veteran
Khe Sanh 1968; Reply to this comment


by wlwatkins October 18, 2008 8:33 PM EDT: whose McCain?....St. Louis, Missouri has over 100,000 attend it''s Obama rally.
Mccain is all washed up and needs his negative, Bush ran political agenda set aside now.
Goodbye,John McCain...you still just don''t get it! A gamble you lost, but not with our country!; Reply to this comment


by tazj37 October 18, 2008 8:25 PM EDT: I''ve never been so disappointed over what is happening. As a 2nd generation republican, this is the first time I have voted for a democrat, and yes, that''s a big change for me. The McCain/Palin ticket is a sick joke, its unbelievable, and America''s worst nightmare.

McCain has almost destroyed the Republican party, and with a couple more weeks, he just may accomplish that.

Why did he pick Palin?, no one could be more dangerous, unqualified, or capable of inciting a riot. She scares the hell out of me.

I feel betrayed by the Republican party, and bid you farewell.; Reply to this comment


by tazj37 October 18, 2008 8:22 PM EDT: I''ve never been so disappointed over what is happening. As a 2nd generation republican, this is the first time I have voted for a democrat, and yes, that''s a big change for me. The McCain/Palin ticket is a sick joke, its unbelievable, and America''s worst nightmare.

McCain has almost destroyed the Republican party, and with a couple more weeks, he may accomplish that.

Why did he pick Palin?, no one could be more dangerous, unqualified, or capable of inciting a riot. She scares the hell out of me.

I feel betrayed by the Republican party.; Reply to this comment


by joshua850 October 18, 2008 2:32 PM EDT: About ''jimoase'':

He is a troll that seems to spend all day copying and pasting BS about Obama. Just google ''jimoase'' and Obama: http://www.google.com/search?q=+jimoase obama; Reply to this comment


by julez41 October 18, 2008 2:00 PM EDT: Joe Biden is funny, charismatic, and intelligent. He doesn''t practice the politics of division like Sarah Palin does. She doesn''t even to seem to realize how insensitive her words are. She is so truly unqualified for the position of Vice President.; Reply to this comment


by suezeeka October 18, 2008 1:47 PM EDT: Dear God in Heaven, please stop all this. It''s beneath intelligent, thinking, kind individuals who have our the best interests of our poor battered country at heart.; Reply to this comment


by bsb53 October 18, 2008 11:22 AM EDT: Obama will be in st louis today, go to www.ksdk.com; Reply to this comment


by irmcvet97 October 18, 2008 11:04 AM EDT: By judging those people with whom Obama is closely associated throughout his adult life, and someone said that she is never proud of her country in her adult life, you can draw a conclusion on whether he is patriotic or not.

Posted by RedAmerican1 at 01:10 AM : Oct 18, 2008

WRONG!! ABSOLUTELY AND NO DOUBT ABOUT IT WRONG!! We the PEOPLE were founded on the concept that IDEA''s and BELIEFS should NEVER be suppressed and that YOU and I were responsible for OUR beliefs and NOT those of someone else! GET and EDUCATION PLEASE because YOU are dangerous to the very foundation of this nation!!; Reply to this comment


by irmcvet97 October 18, 2008 11:01 AM EDT: I agree Joe! We need, for the health and well being of this nation, to END this politics of division. There once was a time when we voted FOR someone because that person excited us or made us believe. When the Neocon''s came along, suddenly we were back in the days of Joe McCarthy and voting out of FEAR. Didn''t work then and it sure as helll hasn''t worked for us.; Reply to this comment