May 1, 2009 11:34 AM

Biden Backlash Over Travel Comments Continues

By
Brent Lang
Topics
White House
(AP)
Vice President Joe Biden may represent a bigger threat to the transportation industry than a double billing of "Alive," a 1993 movie about a plane crash that forces Uruguayan Rugby players to resort to cannibalism, and "Speed," the 1994 flick that had Keanu Reeves racing to diffuse a bomb on a Los Angeles bus.

Transportation officials around the country found themselves scrambling this week to reassure worried commuters in the wake of Biden's controversial comments Thursday on NBC's "Today Show" that he has told loved ones to avoid subways and planes. Appearing on the morning program, Biden said, "I would tell members of my family - and I have - that I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now."

The airplane industry and the people responsible for running the country's network of buses and trains were not, to say the least, amused by Biden's impolitic advice.

"Of course, people should practice good personal hygiene habits and stay at home if they are sick as [President Obama] advised, but life must go on," Paul Flaningan, spokesman for Southwest Airlines Co. said, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. "Air travel has a vital role in our economy, which could use all the help it can get."

"Buses and trains are as safe as any other public area," said William Millar, president of the American Public Transportation Association, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Others used the vice president's statement to inform the public that precautions were being taken to address the situation.

"The MBTA has directed its cleaning crews to give special attention to places such as seats, hand rails on escalators and grab bars on subway cars and buses," Daniel Grabauskas, General Manager of Boston's T, said in an e-mail, the Boston Herald reports.

Biden's fellow politicos also rushed in to downplay their colleague's comments.

"It is safe to fly. There is no reason to cancel flights," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said, according to the Associated Press.

"I took the subway here, I take the subway every day," New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, according to the Washington Post. "This flu does not seem to be taking over the city. There's no sense that being in a confined space would increase the risk dramatically."

Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control, tried to clarify the vice president's remarks while reassuring travelers that it was still safe to use public transportation.

"There's not an increased risk there," Besser told the Associated Press. "If you have the flu or flu-like symptoms, you shouldn't be getting on an airplane or you shouldn't be getting in the subway, but for the general population that's quite fine to do."

Despite sparking a massive brushfire throughout the transportation industry and the blogosphere yesterday, Biden seems to be disinclined to heed his own advice. This morning, the vice president's office announced that Biden will travel to Southeastern Europe the week of May 18th and visit Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo.

No word yet on how exactly Biden will get there, though it's safe to assume his travel plans will involve some time spent in a "confined space."

Add a Comment See all 77 Comments
by robert0123 February 24, 2010 12:54 AM EST
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by dhutch88 May 3, 2009 4:21 PM EDT
Biden is a moron.
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by vincan-2009 May 3, 2009 12:18 AM EDT
Biden only said what many people already think. People have been exposed to over communicable diseases in closed places like airplanes. This flu has been overly played up though. Hopefully it will sputter out now.
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by truth_police May 2, 2009 5:47 PM EDT
Let's separate the Truth from the BS. Only reason we keep hearing about this is because money interests in the Transportation Industry have been affected. Thanx U.S. Media for the free advertising and for thrashing this point, ad nauseam, down the public's throat. We keep hearing similar laments as the "Pork Meat Industry" bemoans how the "Swine Flu" name has adversely impacted Pork Industry profits. It's just FREE money-interest propaganda advertising spewed out by the 'bought and paid for' media. It is NOT based on the facts or the Truth. The American Public Transportation Association (Millar) states above, "Buses and trains are as safe as any other public area." This statement is, ipso facto, patently false, and the U.S. Media should NOT become an instrument for spreading this false propaganda. The fact is that "public areas" that are small, confined and sealed-off, like buses, trains and planes, are infinitely more conducive to the spread of pandemic diseases than "wide open" public areas, like malls and sports stadiums. The fact is that the "Swine Flu" originated with pigs and jumped the species barrier so that the mutant strain now infects humans also. If that adversely impacts the Transportation and Pork Industries, so be it. You don't molest the Truth merely to accomodate a murderous, inhumane Pork Industry's profit concerns or to appease a dishonest Transportation Industry that cares more about profits than they care about the Truth or human health.
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by everlaw01 May 2, 2009 9:47 AM EDT
And you idiots were worried about Palin...now look what we have in the White House one heart beat from being president....get what you deserve I say...hope we don't have to find out what a true idiot he is
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by katg21 May 2, 2009 7:11 AM EDT
And everyone thought Bush was an idiot, Biden is a complete joke. Maybe Joe needs a teleprompter to follow him around too. Hell, I bet Bush would have been better received had he used the teleprompter more often. What qualifies someone to be president in a dems mind? First, he/she must look good; second, they must be able to sound good while speaking, even if it's from a teleprompter and they don't even understand what it is they're reading. Bravo idiots!
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by starleo146 May 1, 2009 7:27 PM EDT
Just look at the Obama AIG scandel, A whole bunch of new millionaires for political paybacks.
Posted by specialty8 at 2:28 PM : May 1, 2009
+ report abuse + permalink

I think Pailsen and Bush started the payoffs to AIG twice they bailed them out, so pay attention as to who didn't watch over all this the SEC chairmen of Bushs' administration just went to work and never looked at a thing so quit blaming Obama, he is only trying to get us out of a mess Paulsen and Bush and the SEC chairmen got us into along with Dodd and Frank.Obama didn't cause it all
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by starleo146 May 1, 2009 7:22 PM EDT
I do not see the big todo about Biden's remark, First of all everyone knows when a epidemic arises you stay away from crowds,, and travel ,,as to not bring that germ to other places,, I think the big todo is about airlines not making money, and people will stay away etc,,, buses, trains, etc,that is what everyone is upset about ,money again, not doing the right thing by taking precautions etc. So in my book Biden cared about the people more than industry, and said the right thing.didn't they have a problem with a airline passenger today on a flight to Boston. How many germs you think are transferred on a plane anyway, a lot. Anyone remember that TB incident. get real quit blaming Biden for everything. Her speaks from the heart and I enjoy that even if the language isn't of Wash.D.C.
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