Behind The Scenes With Joe Biden

CBS News Anchor Katie Couric Spends The Day With The Democratic VP Nominee

(CBS)  He's the close-talking, free-wheeling, ice-cream loving Democratic nominee for vice president.

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.

[whbrummel]

After Katie Couric''s interview with both Palin and Biden, I am very disturbed by the differences in content.
As CBS News viewer, I expected more from Katie Couric in regard to the questions posed.

Time to move on... I''m finished with CBS News....

[whbrummel]

After Katie Couric''s interview with both Palin and Biden, I am very disturbed by the differences in content.
As CBS News viewer, I expected more from Katie Couric in regard to the questions posed.

Time to move on... I''m finished with CBS News....

[whbrummel]

After Katie Couric''s interview with both Palin and Biden, I am very disturbed by the differences in content.
As CBS News viewer, I expected more from Katie Couric in regard to the questions posed.

Time to move on... I''m finished with CBS News....

[whbrummel]

After Katie Couric''s interview with both Palin and Biden, I am very disturbed by the differences in content.
As CBS News viewer, I expected more from Katie Couric in regard to the questions posed.

Time to move on... I''m finished with CBS News....

[whbrummel]

After Katie Couric''s interview with both Palin and Biden, I am very disturbed by the differences in content.
As CBS News viewer, I expected more from Katie Couric in regard to the questions posed.

Time to move on... I''m finished with CBS News....

[liberalpatri]

Clearly, Senator Biden is a modest thoughtful individual who understands what the working people of America are going through with our present economy. It is also clear from the right-wing comments posted here that G.O.P. people just want to wallow in the role of the whiny victim (because they can''t stand facing up to the realization that their Reagan-inspired idealogy of de-regulation and fattening the wealthy is discredited by what it''s done to our economy).

[pharp5]

Once again your over paid Katie, either was unaware or did not care to correct Joe Biden on one of his many error''s in speech. I assure you had Ms. Palin made this mistake she would have jumped at the opportunity to correct her. But Katie, for your information neither the TV or Roosevelt were around for the market crash of 1929.

Joe Biden quote "art 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.''"

I guess that proves he does not know what he is talking about and CBS doesn''t care to correct him.

[smithjaylonr]

After viewing both the Palin and Biden interview I am disturbed by the differences in content. As an undecided voter and long time CBS News viewer, I expect more from Katie and CBS in regard to the questions posed. I had seen the Palin interview on television first, and thought I would be able to compare and contrast responses to the the same or similar questions from Biden online. In the future I hope disparities such as this are addressed prior to any live broadcast.

[wildnites58]

I will however give credit to Katie for not editing out Biden''s silly gaffe from her report. Thank you Katie.

[wildnites58]

Really Joe, FDR "got on television" snicker in 1929? Uh...Joe, There was no television in 1929 AND HOOVER WAS PRESIDENT. Everybody on knows that if Palin had made such a silly mistake the media would be ballyhooing it right through election day without letup. But Biden, Democrat gaffe machine, says it and it is all but ignored by the media. Did Letterman or Leno manage to even get a little dig on Biden after this latest gaffe? They''re always quick to go for the cheap laughs at Palin and her family''s expense. But will they roast Biden over this one? Of course not. Televsion is conducting organized, industry-wide smear campaign against Palin because they can''t bear to see a successful Republican woman attain next to the highest office in the country --- all while ignoring Obama''s lack of experience. Biden hasn''t been able to remove his foot from his mouth since the day he was announced as Obama''s running mate nearly a month ago and with all of his gaffes and mistakes you barely hear a peep from the establishment media, yet they hang desperately onto every word Palin utters hoping for just one little misspeak or malaprop. What sad times these are when our once trusted American media have become shameless shills for the DNC. And we haven''t forgotten Rather-gate, either!

[gman516]

gretagreen - you are a LIAR, and you are stupid. Palin does not support ANY of the things you listed. You are CLUELESS about wildlife management and you are a complete fool if you base your vote for president on how easy or difficult it would be for you to KILL your unborn CHILD should one or the other be elected. You''ll ALWAYS be able to do that by hook or by crook. Palin has her personal beliefs, can u respect those? I guess maybe like I respect obama''s belief that whitey is the devil and Reagan invented AIDs to kill black people.

[gman516]

Hey hi_iq1

I''ll bet my IQ is higher than yours, just based on your spelling alone. Well, that and the fact that you are stupid enough to think that obama will do anything to help you or the country.

[gman516]

"What''''s really scary is the ease with which those words passed through Joe Biden''''s lips, and the willingness of Katie Couric to accept them."

Yeah, like how the words "my muslim faith" flowed out of obama''s pie hole. Has ANYONE reading this EVER mistaken what their faith is?

[gman516]

LOOK WHAT THIS STORY SAYS:

"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.''"

FDR? 1929? TV? AND NONE of the CBS geniuses called the great Joe on this double-stupid-gaffe?

WHat if Palin had said that? Freaking Couric would''ve stood up and laughed and pointed and danced. "I got her I got her. Look at me I got her"

This is the death of America and journalism we are witnessing. I am disgusted and dismayed. But at least Dan Rather is happy that Couric is carrying on his lying in-the-bag-for-the-Dems tradition.

[ghmartin2]

claydowner wrote: "Senator Biden probably meant FDR talked on the radio not TV."
Problem is, the crash occurred in 1929; FDR was first elected in 1932! Radio, TV -- doesn''t matter. Biden''s statement was a total fabrication, and the longer CBS News ignores it, the lower CBS News'' credibility sinks.

[ghmartin2]

"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.''" -- Joe Biden

What''s really scary is the ease with which those words passed through Joe Biden''s lips, and the willingness of Katie Couric to accept them.

[chicnlittle]

"on his weekly radio address, Abrham Lincoln would discuss some of the same issues that I support"
Joe Biden

[chicnlittle]

Pick the one that doesn''t belong:

A) Franklin Delano Roosevelt
B) Lyndon Baines Johnson
C) James Earl Carter
D) John Fitzgerald Kenedy
E) William jefferso Clinton
F) Barack Hussein Obama

[chicnlittle]

A teacher gave Dan Quale a card printed by a firm that makes educational products. The card had potato misspelled. He was never forgiven. Joe Biden confuses when FDR took power, when televisions were in mass use, and what happened after the 1929 crash. Biden''''s screwup is completely ignored.


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Posted by downsteamjim at 08:52 PM : Sep 23, 2008

And then biden has the guts to say:

"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 ...

[claydowner]

Senator Biden probably meant FDR talked on the radio not TV. I have watched Senator Biden for years on the Senate Foreign relations committee. I have the highest respect for him as a highly competent public servant. Joe Biden has a strong command of foreign policy and national security issues. He will fight for middle class families from day one. I am glad he is on the ticket he will do a good job for the Obama Administration. I will welcome him as VP because I know he won''t hesitate to let President Obama know his views. I have no doubt he will meet with many foreign leaders to help restore America to its rightful place in the family of nations.