Joe Biden clarifies "in chains" remark

Joe Biden speaks Monday at a rally in Durham, North Carolina.

/ (Travis Long/Raleigh News Observer/MCT via Getty Images)

(CBS News) Vice President Joe Biden has clarified a comment he made earlier today in which he said presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney would "put you all back in chains" by unshackling Wall Street.

The comment, to a crowd that appeared to be roughly half African-American, prompted strong criticism from Republicans. The Romney campaign said the comments "are not acceptable in our political discourse" and said they marked a "new low" for the Obama campaign. The Obama campaign deemed the complaints "faux outrage."

Speaking in Wytheville, Va., late this afternoon, Biden hit back at the Romney camp's claims that his comments were outrageous, saying, "If you want to know what's outrageous, it's their policies."

"The last time these guys unshackled the economy, to use their term, they put the middle class in shackles," he said. "That's how we got where we are. Nine million jobs lost, wage stagnation, 16 trillion dollars in wealth you all lost, in your home equity, in your 401ks, and your pension plans - you're the ones that got nailed. All of America except for the very few."

(Watch Biden's controversial remarks in video on left.)

Biden continued: "And I'm told when I made that comment earlier today in Danville, Virginia, the Romney Campaign put out a Tweet, you know Tweets, and went on the air, went on the airwaves saying 'Biden's outrageous in saying that - I think I said, instead of unshackled, unchained or - anyway, outrageous to say that, that's what we meant. I'm using their own words. I got a message for them, if you want to know want to know what's outrageous, it's their policies, and the effects of their policies on middle class America, that's what's outrageous."

Biden's initial comment centered on what he cast as plans by Republicans to allow banks to dictate the regulations they would be subject to.

Romney has vowed "to let the big banks write their own rules -- unchain Wall Street," Biden said in Danville, Va. "They're going to put y'all back in chains."

[kpburd]

I do hope the rumors around replacing Joe are just that. This guy makes me laugh almost every time he opens his mouth. Keep talking Joe! LOL!!

[stevich]

"I think I said, instead of unshackled, unchained or - anyway, outrageous to say that, that's what we meant. I'm using their own words. I got a message for them, if you want to know want to know what's outrageous, it's their policies, and the effects of their policies on middle class America, that's what's outrageous."

Biden wrongly compared remarks with policies. Remarks offend people.
Policies simply don't work.

[TimeToEvolve]

RobMe and Ryan: Chains we can believe in.

[TimeToEvolve]

Romney has vowed "to let the big banks write their own rules -- unchain Wall Street," Biden said. "They're going to put y'all back in chains."

Biden is 100% CORRECT ON THIS ONE! This is the Republicon greedy Ayn Rand ideas. This is what the Republicons are all about. Greed and corruption.

[wd54241]

Don't forget to embrace and tout the teachings of long time family friends of Obama! You know, Frank Marshall Davis and Saul Alinsky.

[RollotheNorman]

"Don't forget to embrace and tout the teachings of long time family friends of Obama! You know, Frank Marshall Davis and Saul Alinsky."

Actually 60 Minutes had a little piece on Saul Alinsky back in the primaries, since Newt keep referring to him so often. CBS compared Alinksky's rules to Newts tactics in rising to prominence in the House. Looked like Newt was the original Alinsky disciple.

[lobo62740]

We are used to Biden saying whatever. We expect it which makes him a laughing stock. This is planned. Another detour so that it takes the focus off this horrible tenure of Obama. However, the noose seems to be tightening on this administration.

[TimeToEvolve]

Have you seen all the good accomplishments of this administration. What a breath of fresh air after the utter disaster of the last Republicon administration.

[itallstrtedwwamu]

WOW jgg.000001 you are a true Republican discriminating against race. social standing and sex while commenting on a supposed racial innuendo and a faux republican indignation. CBS news please keep this comment as a matter of fact highlight it as to show what is their indignation drawn on, fear and hate of the collapse of their despotic greedy party.

[TimeToEvolve]

Biden and almost anyone with even half a brain makes Robmee look like Einstein. Not only is he a flip-flopping half wit but he has no plans or ideas to help anyone other than himself and his rich white male campaign donors.

[baser13]

Southern dialect mimics african american english the same way the chicken came before the egg. Think about it, then comment on what you believe is racist and what is somebody letting loose, speaking freely without the constraints of proper english. Language is universal and to think a certain dialect should be owned by a race or color is racist hypocrisy. Lets get back to reading it in context.. "The last time these guys unshackled the economy, to use their term, they put the middle class in shackles," he said. "That's how we got where we are. Nine million jobs lost, wage stagnation, 16 trillion dollars in wealth you all lost, in your home equity, in your 401ks, and your pension plans - you're the ones that got nailed. All of America except for the very few." followed by "they want to unshackle wall street, they want to put yall back in chains". READ the comments of your peers you'll see only name calling, play on words, and a twisted sense of racist cynicism, not one word why Romney is a better candidate for president or a defense to their budget plan whose main "economic recovery" proposals include lowering taxes on the rich, raising taxes on poor, and cutting medicaid by 33%.

[baser13]

ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION WHO IS THE BENEFICIARY AND WHO ARE THE BENEFACTORS

[wfw3536]

Where is the outrage from all of the African American organizations with Biden's racial remark. Now, if this were a Rep they would be demanding an apology, but I guess if you are part of the Obama administration you get a pass. Oh the hypocrisy.

[MurdochSucks]

Oh the idiocy, what racial remark? Republicans are really stretching here. What Biden said was completely void of racism. He was using the same terminology that Romney's camp has been using. He turned Romney's words against Romney and that is somehow racist? Maybe the fact that you cannot even recognize what racism is, demonstrates how deeply entrenched it is in your subconscious.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

The last time these guys unshackled the economy, to use their term, they put the middle class in shackles," he said. "That's how we got where we are. Nine million jobs lost, wage stagnation, 16 trillion dollars in wealth you all lost, in your home equity, in your 401ks, and your pension plans - you're the ones that got nailed. All of America except for the very few."
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Biden has a way of getting right to the point and not sugar-coating anything!
I LIKE him! : )

OBAMA/BIDEN : )

[swiftone186]

Is there anything more ridiculous than white Democrats talking down and talking black to voters — while whitewashing the devastating effects of their economic policies on those voters? Is there anything more poisonous than stoking racial grievances by shamelessly likening your political opponents to slavemasters — while presiding over a culture of dependency than chains future generations to massive debt?

Joe Biden isn't a BFD. He's a BFE: Big F'n Embarassment ( and second in command after PBO -REALLY??

The poisonous slavery allusion echoed the former pastor of Biden's boss. Rev. Jeremiah Wright, you may recall, used the same "chains" imagery to justify his "God Damn America" diatribe. "America," he inveighed in Obama's old Chicago-based Trinity United Church, put blacks in "chains ... and then wants us to sing 'God Bless America'? No, no, no. Not God bless America; God damn America!" Just More of te same!!