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Biden: It's the economy, John

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor October 11, 2008 11:06 AM

Vice presidential nominee Joe Biden picks up the baton in today's Democratic radio address, accusing John McCain of trying to change the subject from the economy and promoting Barack Obama's plan to aid the middle class.

"Nothing less than our future prosperity and security are at stake in this election," Biden says. "That’s why it’s been so disappointing that our opponents don’t seem to want to talk about the economy."

Biden repeats the next favorite quote from the McCain camp (besides McCain himself declaring early in the crisis that the fundamentals of the economy were strong): "We are looking forward to turning a page on this financial crisis,” a strategist said.

"He didn’t mean solving the crisis," Biden said. "He meant ignoring it and attacking Barack Obama. Well, most Americans don’t have the luxury of ignoring the economy.

"The only new idea Senator McCain has offered in this financial crisis is to have taxpayers pay top dollar for bad mortgages all across America. John’s plan doesn’t demand that the outfits that helped dig us in this hole actually help families get out of the hole. Instead, it rewards them for their bad behavior and guarantees that American taxpayers will lose even more money than they’ve already lost.

"Barack and I want to take a different approach. In this housing crisis, we’re going to make it easier for families to stay in their homes – we’re going to do it by changing the bankruptcy laws, and allowing judges to reduce the amount of money actually owed on the mortgage – not just the interest, but the amount of money owed to the bank. Beyond that, we believe the values of our homes and the economic health of our communities are tied to one thing: jobs. And that’s why all of our plans for the future are about creating jobs."

Biden goes on to mention Obama's proposals to rebuild infrastructure, support renewable energy, and invest in education.

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Why would America REWARD complete Republican failure ?

We wont.

Posted by PulSamsara October 11, 08 12:28 PM
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It is the economy and it scares us all. I have lost 20% of my IRA and I'm worried about my small self-owned business. Each day reading the news, it is worse. I finally moved my IRA funds to bonds.

Senator Obama and Biden have some of the most well-respected minds around them (economists, financial wizards, etc.). His economic program is getting good reviews.

Yesterday, I voted by mail for Senators Obama and Biden.

Posted by lucy2008 October 11, 08 12:29 PM
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I hate to say it but what Biden says is true. LOOK FORWARD John McCain. Too much effort attempting to discredit your opponent (with sometimes half truths). Remember, we're listening to help ourselves decide who's going to be our next President. Think LEADERSHIP!!!!!! www.LikeSoup.com

Posted by Jim Campbell October 11, 08 01:07 PM
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Is this an ad for the Obama Campaign or is it a news article?

Posted by TCM October 11, 08 01:09 PM
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How dare Biden actually talk about economic solutions that can help so many of us?

Doesn't he understand that it's so much more important for the McCain campaign to pump out its sleazy distortions?

That One/Biden '08

Posted by That's the One October 11, 08 01:11 PM
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Thank you. Mr. Biden. Mr. Obama could also have hammered on an endless list of associations, and what he said she said allegations and created confusion about his opponents character but he's stuck to appropriate themes. The information is out there for both Sarah Palin and John McCain or frankly any of us. But other than pushing back some, Obama has stuck to the issues. Again, it's out of touch for McCain to create bogus claims and make Mr. Obama out to be a terrorist, socialist, hater of America to a population that culturally many think in black and white and not expect to incite hostility. Poor judgement, poor leadership. Taking a sorry VP pick and using her looks to portray an opponent, a fellow American as someone evil is transparent and symbolically an unfortunate center piece on the mantle of a long career and legacy for a lifetime.

Posted by mindkind October 11, 08 01:22 PM
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Whoever comes into office, I, along with most people I know, want them to:

1. Regulate Wall Street so that the wheeler-dealers pumped up on adrenaline don't go gambling my money carelessly and try to maximize profits by playing illegal games by hocking mathimatically unfeasible financial "vehicles."

2. Regulate lenders and bankers so that they can no longer use deceptive lending practices and mislead people into taking loans they cannot afford to pay back.

3. Hold the CEO's financially responsible for their malfeasance, by limiting their pay and making them return the money they made, to pay reparations for their mistakes that cost their stockholders money. The CEO's should also be made to pay the majority of the Bailouttax dollars, since they caused the crisis with their malfeasance.

Posted by SpeakOutPeople October 11, 08 01:39 PM
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Have no fear when Barack Obama and Joe Biden are our leaders you will see the BRIGHT SUNSHINE we have been hoping for.

Posted by Zola Daniels October 11, 08 01:59 PM
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McCain is a sad, desperate, washed up old man, who once upon a time, maybe, could have been something more, my friends. Sad.

Posted by D Miner October 11, 08 02:50 PM
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Well said, Joe. Unfortunately McCain and his vicious and clueless sidekick do not know that. As Palin demonstrated on the Couric interview, these people cannot add or subtract like you and I. They are not educated enough nor qualified enough to lead the country out of this economic meltdown caused by the reckless 8 years of the current administration headed by another uneducated man. Having a lunatic like Hannity doing his bit to pursuade simple folks to vote for McCain/Palin ticket also does not help America. People like Hannity and Palin are bad for America and should be chucked out of the country. But then again, nobody will want these two raging maniacs.

Posted by hotlawyer October 11, 08 02:52 PM
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Go Obama/Biden!

Posted by Maria October 11, 08 03:00 PM
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McCain is a hypocrite. He saw his hateful tactics are backfiring and now he sees the need to turn out the fire he started himself! Guess what, his true colors have been exposed! How does Obama get called anti-American by guilt of association yet Palin allows her Husband, who is a seperatist from Alaskan Independence Party to have access and conduct his personal agenda from a Governor's office?

Posted by vituvingy October 11, 08 04:10 PM
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Type your comment here...
Funny that its their party that got us into this mess.
Osama will raise taxes and destroy the middle class.
Why elect someone with no experience and ties to domestic terrorists ?
Wake up America !

Posted by steve October 11, 08 06:57 PM
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Senator Obama and Senator BIden definitely understand economics and the economy crisis which we have been led to by lobbyists and greedy bank lenders. They are thinking of average everyday working people who are losing their homes to foreclosures and who are having a tough time due to the huge number of people losing their jobs. They are absolutely correct in creating more and more jobs and keeping people employed. How can anyone survive when they get layed off due to our jobs going overseas?? We have people who are working two and three jobs to makes ends meet and it is tough, tough to do so.

Posted by NinaK October 11, 08 07:26 PM
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why doesn't Biden or Obama state the truth? That the bills that have cause this trouble went passed by dem presidents cater and clinton. and that for the last 2 years the controlled congress ( dem's) have not done a thing to correct the problem or to have stopped it before it got this bad..

Posted by peter October 11, 08 09:55 PM
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Way to go Joe!

Posted by Cataplasm October 11, 08 10:18 PM
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Biden said " it's economy, John", do you know what this means? This means we are not as good as you guys, but we still get more votes. We can link you and Palin to the economy, war and Bush and we will get elected. It is as simple as that. Voters probably have sensed that prior to election day.

Posted by No nonsense October 12, 08 12:46 AM
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McCain is a war hero, he will serve the country with dignity and Palin seems sincere and trustworthy. She sure represents hardworking americans, McCain and Palin deserve to win in November.

Posted by serious voter October 12, 08 12:54 AM
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Go McCain-Palin!

Posted by serious voter October 12, 08 12:59 AM
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