
Sept. 22, 2008
Behind The Scenes With Joe Biden
CBS News Anchor Katie Couric Spends The Day With The Democratic VP Nominee
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CBS Exclusive: Joe Biden
Joe Biden is known for not holding back and, in an exclusive interview with Katie Couric, he talks candidly about the upcoming debate and the attack ad against McCain he thought was "terrible."
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Eye To Eye: Joe Biden
"Only On The Web": In a CBS exclusive interview, Sen. Joe Biden talks with Katie Couric about his thoughts on unfair campaign ads and Sarah Palin.
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Sen. Joe Biden speaks to Katie Couric while on the campaign trail in Ohio. (CBS)
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Katie Couric spent the day behind the scenes of the Joe Biden campaign. (CBS)
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In-Depth
Joe Biden
Learn more about Barack Obama's vice presidential pick.
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Photo Essay
Biden's Background
A look at U.S. Sen. Joseph Robinette Biden's life and career
Sen. Joe Biden is not holding back, CBS News anchor Katie Couric reports.
"You say what's on your mind. Have you found that you have to be uber-careful and disciplined in terms of being out there on the campaign trail?" Couric asked.
"No. I feel passionate about what I'm doing and saying. I know the Republicans are going to take anything I say, no matter what it would be or anybody, and take it out of context," Biden said. "They are going to take any piece and if I have to parse through every single thing I'm going to say, then I'm not me."
On the trail, Biden is unmistakably himself, from occasionally cursing to getting emotional, as he did in Canton, Ohio, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
CBS News was with him last Thursday during one of the rockiest weeks in history for the U.S. economy, something that wasn't lost on the six-term senator.
"Part of what being a leader does is to instill confidence is to demonstrate what he or she knows what they are talking about and to communicating to people ... this is how we can fix this," Biden said. "When the stock market crashed, Franklin Roosevelt got on the television and didn't just talk about the princes of greed. He said, 'look, here's what happened.'"
Relating to the fears of working-class Americans is one of Biden's strong suits, as he did before union members in Akron, Ohio.
That's something that comes easily for this son of a car salesman from Scranton, Pa.
"What was it about what he said that really resonated with you?" Couric asked some members of the audience.
"I think he expressed what most people feel at the moment. He seems to relate to our pain," said Bob Wise.
"This is true middle class Akron, Ohio," said Tim O'Daniel.
"I want him in office because I think he'll do things for women," said Yvonne Marzik.
In fact, women, who usually lean Democratic, have suddenly become one of the most coveted voting blocs of this election.
"Polls show that Sen. McCain and Sarah Palin are making inroads among white female voters who are less educated," Couric told the candidate.
"I don't believe that," Biden said. "Every election people are making up their minds later and later because there's more and more at stake. Everyone should just be a little patient here. Eventually Sarah Palin is gonna have to let everyone know what she thinks, what her record is."
Couric asked: "How is it preparing for the debates?"
"Well it's kind of hard to prepare, because I don't know what she thinks. There's been no - I just don't know a lot about her, so therefore I'm assuming; I have to assume for purposes of the debate, that she agrees with John on everything," Biden said.
"Are you worried that you're going to have to pull your punches a bit because of her gender and you don't want to seem like you're bullying her? It's a different dynamic when it's a male/female thing, isn't it?" Couric asked.
"I don't know, is it? We're sitting here doing it right now, aren't we? Look, all kidding aside," Biden said. "So maybe it's a generational thing but I don't start this thing thinking 'Oh my God, this is a woman, I had better treat her differently.'"
But the way the campaigns are treating each other is raising some eyebrows - especially coming from two candidates who pledged to take the high road.
Couric asked: "Are you disappointed with the tone of the campaign? The 'lipstick on the pig' stuff, and some of the ads - you guys haven't been completely guilt-free making fun of John McCain's inability to use a computer."
"I thought that was terrible by the way," Biden said.
"Why did you do it then?" Couric asked.
"I didn't know we did it and if I had anything to do with it, we would have never done it," Biden said. "And I don't think Barack, you know. I just think that was …"
Did Obama approve that ad?
"The answer is I don't think there was anything intentional about that," Biden said. "They were trying to make another point. That's very different than deliberately taking a vote Barack Obama had to teach children about how to deal with child-predators and saying he was teaching them sex education in kindergarten. Very different in degree."
Update: Late Monday, Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton released the following statement from Biden:
"I was asked about an ad I'd never seen, reacting merely to press reports. As I said right then, I knew there was nothing intentionally personal in the criticism of Senator McCain's views which look backwards not forwards and are out of touch with the new economic challenges we face today. Having now reviewed the ad, it is even more clear to me that given the disgraceful tenor of Senator McCain’s ads and their persistent falsehoods, his campaign is in no position to criticize, especially when they continue to distort Barack's votes on an issue as personal as keeping kids safe from sexual predators," said Joe Biden.
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Did they check with McCain-Palin and clear it with there campaign?!
They''ve been so busy promoting McCain-Palin the past three weeks, they''d forgotten there''s the ''other'' competitors in the race---you know, what''s their names?!
Earmarks %u2013 just this year Joe Biden requested over $340 million in pork. Obama has not released any information on his earmarks yet. The McCain campaign has asked for how much earmarks Joe Biden has requested since 1972 when he started%u2026must be a staggering sum since he requested just $340 million this year. The Obama campaign called for a request checking John McCain back since 1990 and could not find any evidence that McCain had ever requested or received any earmarks. Who is giving away your money?
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/22/ms-nbc-bidens-earmarks-a-legitimate-issue/
Perhaps Katie Couric could show us a clip from the television broadcast that Senator Biden referred to. Perhaps his comment came from the same fantasy world his claim that his wife and child were killed by a drunk driver - absolutely untrue. His wife tragically pulled out in front of a semi-truck. The police investigation indicated the semi-truck driver was not drunk, had not been consuming alcohol nor did he have any history of alcohol abuse.
Will Obama Democrats stop playing politics long enough to pass the economic rescue package?
Democrat LBJ had the balls to sign the 1964 civil rights act and if you don%u2019t think that took guts from one of the Texas good ole boys, you are seriously smokin%u2019 crack. Michiganrfs...yes Hoover was president when the stock market failed in 1929 the Republicans were in office 1897 TO 1933 before (Wilson 2 terms & Teddy Roosevelt 6 years Republican, but a populist is ever there was one).FDR was the one who did something about it. Read dammit, wiki if you can''t find a legitimate source..
Posted by jeff607 at 08:02 PM : Sep 22, 2008
The sooner the better. It was really dumb to pick Biden. DE has 3 electorial votes. Obama would have had them anyway.
Had he picked Hillary he could have locked the election. Hillary is virtually "bullet proof: from the republicans because they have been whining about her for 16 years, nothing new to distort.
Wait to about a week before November 4 and see the smears the repukes come up with. And she''s a hellava lot smarter than Joe Biden.
THE THING WITH CHARLES GIBSON AND PALIN WAS REWORKED BEFORE IT WAS AIRED. ANOTHER CASE OF CRY-BABY-LIBERAL-NEWS-PEOPLE.
Just love how you pick these raving lunics and Biden appart with the simple truth. We need more people like you.
Posted by willymack4 at 09:35 PM : Sep 22, 2008
You are right, thanks for bring that to the Front.
He is accused of having more than 10 cars and 7 houses so what more can the man want.
Obama on the otherhand can not wait to become rich like Billy Boy Clinton by "talking with our enemies" and selling out America. McCain is more like John and Bobby kennedy who were probably assinated by friends of LBJ.......who by the way expanded the war in Vietnam.
I am amazed how you continue to bribe the guards so you do not have to be back in your cell block before mid night.
Now everyone knows for sure you are in Prison. We are sad you are a criminal but happy prisoners can only rant and rake their cups along the bars. You lost your right to vote when you were convicted, you and your opinions do not really count.
Why is it when you have to confront the truth, you have to resort to calling the republican candidates wives ***? Gay men ususally refer to women using that kind of language. Can you tell us if you were gay upon arrival in prison or were abused and now like it.
emelder: Watch out for those gun toten bible thumpers.
wjksea
Your sources are so quotable ...... a friend of a friend, etc. But that is ok, as long as you THINK
people believe you. How do the dems get the money into prison to pay you for being on this site 24 hours a day.
Guess they send it in hidden in the crack.
Your sources are so quotable ...... a friend of a friend, etc. But that is ok, as long as you THINK
people believe you. How do the dems get the money into prison to pay you for being on this site 24 hours a day.
Guess they send it in hidden in the crack.
Sexuality is a sensitive area for you isn''''t it willy? A typical right winger, attacking and kicking below the belt at every turn.
If the shoe fits, wear it....ah sorry, pink slipper in your case.
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD EH UM AH
Huh? Does Biden or C B S have a clue? I''m starting to worry about half the people in our country.