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Barack Obama and his newly named VP Joe Biden attended their first campaign event together on Saturday afternoon in Illinois. They both spoke and here are the full kickoff speeches delivered by each.
Starting with Obama who introduces Biden, here is the entire video:
Story from Yahoo News:
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Barack Obama introduced Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware on Saturday as “a leader ready to step in and be president,” and the newly named running mate quickly converted his debut on the Democratic ticket into a slashing attack on Republican John McCain.
The GOP presidential contender will have to “figure out which of the seven kitchen tables to sit at” when considering his own economic future, said Biden, jabbing at the man he nevertheless called his personal friend.
It was a reference to McCain’s recent inartful admission — in a time of economic uncertainty — that he was not sure how many homes he owns.
Before a vast crowd spilling out from the front of the Old State Capitol, Obama said Biden was “what many others pretend to be — a statesman with sound judgment who doesn’t have to hide behind bluster to keep America strong.”
Democrats coalesced quickly around the 47-year-old Obama’s selection of a seasoned veteran of three decades in the Senate — a choice meant to provide foreign policy heft to the party’s ticket for the fall campaign against McCain and the Republicans.
Polls show Obama rates relatively poorly against McCain on foreign policy issues, and Biden is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with extensive experience in that area.
McCain called Biden a “wise selection.” But McCain indicated that he believed there was still plenty to criticize the Obama-Biden ticket on foreign policy.
The two will now be making their separate ways to the Democratic Convention in Denver.
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I love the way McCain acknowledged the wise selection with the caveat that there was still much to criticize the ticket on.
The show goes on!
Bobby
http://idlewordship.com
Can not blame McCain liking Biden as Obama’s V.P. Biden said he wanted McCain to run as V.P. for Kerry, I believe. Biden said Obama was not ready to be President. That was said this year I think. Obama breaks his dream of change with his pick. General Powell as V.P. would have scared me. Powell would have helped Obama. Yes, McCain thinks Biden is good choice. Which he is. But goes against everything Obama has gained his support on. As McCain has pointed out, Obama is a Star. His point of view changes in each scene. Worse thing Obama can say about McCain is he doesn’t know how many homes he has. I guess John doesn’t sit around thinking about that. His wife is a independent rich woman. Obama knows he has one home. Because he recalls a ex-felone helping him get that home. With the help of Obama’s pot belly spendng to his wife’s hospital, she got a hugh raise ( check their 2007 tax return ).
Biden also knows McCain does not blindly follow Bush. So should not hear any more of that non-sense
Does anyone else find it interesting that there are a series of substantial holes in this Obama/Biden ticket right off of the bat?
In th 2004 Presidential race, Joe Biden said that Senator McCain should run as John Kerry’s Vice President. Cue the tape to three years later and Biden is once again showering McCain with praise saying, “I would be honored to run with or against Senator John McCain”.
WHAT?!!!
Now let us take a look at Joe Biden’s series of personal attacks on Barack Obama’s run for the White House. Joe Biden has said MANY, MANY times that Barack Obama is “not ready to run for President”. Joe Biden has also said that he does not think that the Presidency lends itself to “on the job training”. A theme that has been inserted by many others who found themselves running against Obama.
Joe Biden has also injected Obama’s being half black as a topic for discussion. He described Obama as a “clean” man whose rise to fame was like a “story book”. We don’t have to think far back to recall a certain Ex President stating a historical fact regarding Jesse Jackson’s run in the 1980’s, and the amount of unfair negative fallout it produced.
Then there is the speech given on Saturday. The speech that introduced Joe Biden to America as Obama’s running mate. This is where the contradictions REALLY start to fly. Joe Biden rips into John McCain for not remembering how many homes he has. He says to the audience that, “my kitchen table is a lot like yours”, and then suggests that Senator McCain cannot relate to the average American because he can’t remember how many kitchen tables he has.
Let us keep this all in perspective. Barack Obama earned more money last year than Senator McCain. Obama earned over 4 Million Dollars while McCain earned a little over four hundred thousand. Yes, Senator McCain is married to a wealthy woman, but when push comes to shove he still personally earned less money than Obama. I am also very interested to see how many homes Joe Biden enjoys, as I am sure that he wants for very little.
By far the biggest “OH MY GOD” moment of Saturday was Joe Biden’s reference to the Bush/Cheney energy plan. Joe Biden blasts the President for his energy plan which was written in secret by big oil. He somehow tries to paint Barack Obama as someone who will take on these big special interests. What Joey Biden forgot to mention was that Barack Obama VOTED FOR DICK CHENEY’S ENERGY BILL which was written in secret by the oil companies and gave them many free passes including tax breaks. Anyone else find it funny that right out of the starting gate Biden has done anything BUT help Obama with a cohesive message? Maybe if the media could stop drooling over Obama they would have time to present these contradictions to the American people.
Meanwhile Senator John McCain is sitting pretty and is enjoying a comfortable rise in the poles.
I am pretty sure the Reps were ready to release an attack ad for all the the possible names, including Hillary. Or does anybody think that had Hillary been chosen the Reps would praise Obama?
I think there is much to criticize both Obama and McCain on the decisions they have made in the past. I, as an independent, am looking to the debates. I will not make up my mind until the last debate is over.
Well said, Raymond. Democrats as a whole are breathing a premature sigh of relief that someone with some experience is finally on the ticket, but it will work against Obama for all the reasons you state and more.
Interesting to note, as well, is the difference in income between Obama and McCain - personally, not combined. The main difference there is Obama’s book sales, which he keeps. McCain had book sales as well, but has always donated those proceeds to charity. He also donates the last pay increase in the Senate to charity. He voted against the pay increase, and has never accepted it - of course Obama gladly did. Obama’s charitable donations have been touted as well below the norm. Those things speak to character, and habits that we’ll see repeated in the White House.
Joe Biden was an excellent choice - for the Republicans. Biden’s foreign policy experience is irrelevant on two levels. First, his policies directly conflict with Obama’s. Secondly, it doesn’t matter what they are, as long as Obama is still at the top of the ticket. When the call comes at 3 a.m., Biden will be overseas at a funeral somewhere doing what VP’s do, which is not much of anything. Biden doesn’t change who Obama is or isn’t. And to choose him as a running mate when Biden received the LEAST votes of any of the other Democratic candidates shows a definite deficite in judgment skills on Obama’s part. If people weren’t supportive of Biden as President, why should they support him as VP.
I notice the Convention Center looks a lot like an American Idol stage. And that Obama has declared “Eau Claire” a state, and again said in the same breath that “we are going to change this country and the world”. That citizen of the world thing again, he just can’t restrict his fame to America, it seems.
I don’t buy this wealth thing. There is nothing wrong with McCain being rich and not keeping track of his assets. He can and should argue he is busy with work 24/7 and trusts his wife do the balance sheet. And there is nothing wrong with accepting legitimate raises, after all, we all want to live better with time, don’t we? I also don’t buy the celebrity thing. Why shouldn’t we want the world to like our leader? Do we want the visit of our leader into a foreign nation go unnoticed? Do we not want the rest of the world wear “I love America” T-shirts?
Where are the issues? How is a given candidate going to make people’s lives better? Let’s just wait for the debates and judge them on what they offer.
Independent, you’re right, there is nothing wrong with being wealthy - whether you earned it yourself, inherited it, married it, or won the lottery. McCain married it, he doesn’t own it, and he doesn’t own all the homes that Obama is so fixated on. His wife does, and she inherited it. Much ado about nothing. And there is nothing wrong with accepting legitimate raises, McCain’s issue was that the raise was not legitimate and the members of Congress had not earned a raise from the american people. He stood on principal, and he was right.
Are you an American in France? Personally, I’d like to hear from a “common person” abroad on what the views of the candidates are there, not from talking media heads. Is France really gungho Obama? And why?
Babs, Europeans favor Obama, that’s a fact. I think it is largely due to Bush. Europeans hate Bush, especially for Iraq. Here, this war is seen as a unilateral initiative of the Bush administration. Additionally, on his foreign trips, Bush has said so many gaffes that, by and large, he is seen as not so smart a person.
Thus, Europeans will like whoever is further away from Bush on policies. Although, in general, apart from what the US has done in the middle east over the last 8 years, the US is seen as a very efficient economy and an exemplary democracy. So, yes, folks here do like Obama.
In fact, many people here who follow the US elections express their surprise over the “elitist” concerns among ordinary Americans regarding Obama. They say the president should not be an ordinary person, but someone who is better educated, more skilled, etc., than the rest of the population.
Very interesting, Independent, thanks for answering me. From what you say, though, I’m wondering how they will accept Biden as an appropriate running mate for Obama in view of the fact that their main concern with Bush seems to be over Iraq. A few of the things we will hear - I’m sure, again and again - over the next couple of months is Biden’s praise of McCain, especially in foreign affairs. Like this article today at Politico (excerpt):
“In an April speech at Washington’s Georgetown University, Biden spoke highly of McCain’s recently unveiled foreign policy plan.
“To his credit, John repudiates some of the Bush administration’s approach to the world,†Biden said. “He recognizes that the power of our example is as important as the example of our power … that allies we respect, not disdain, can advance our interests. He is especially eloquent about his abhorrence for war — as John is uniquely placed to be.â€
Biden, who voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq but opposed the surge, said repeatedly in 2004 that things would have gone better there had the administration listened to calls from him, McCain and others for more troops.
“John McCain and Joe Biden said, send more troops, we need more troops,†Biden said in an October 2004 appearance on CNN’s “American Morning.â€
Days later, Biden said on CBS’s, “Face The Nation,†that he’d “feel a lot better†if he knew Bush “was going to start to listen to John McCain instead of the secretary of defense, because they have totally different — no, I shouldn’t say totally — many — have very different views of how to proceed.â€
On your last paragraph, it would have been interesting to know how they felt about our Georgia farmer who became President, if they feel the President should not be “an ordinary person”.
McCain wife has a pre-nub. Smart Lady. She increased the value of her Father’s beer company One son is in NAVY and one works at beer company. McCain does not belive in PORK BELLY SPENDING. OBAMA got pork belly spending for his wife hospital. Obama wife got big pay raise. Please check released tax records to confirm Mrs Obama income.
Independent–Like you I give my opionion. As you do. Bush was elected twice. Yes he errs. Soo. I do. Don’t you. You say it is fact europe wants Obama. You are the expert. hummmm. Hiltler appealed to the masses to hate the JEWS. Maybe you have heard this before–By knowing the past you are not likely to repeat the past mistakes. I take pride in America helping stop 100,00 citizens from being killed in old Iraq. aMERICAN WILL NOT KEEP IRAQ. We do not keep iraq oil money. We spend our money there. And America coming to the aid of Europe in WW11 and 11.. I think foreighn aid should stop from America. Georgia should be a warning to you. Maybe I am wrong. America did not keep land in the two wars. Remembering Germany was devided because of two wars. Russia keep the satilite nations. Talk bad about America. OK. wHY NOT ASK RUSSIA FOR HELP NExT TIME. Would you be happier. Sorry I am not going to proof this. It is upsetting to respond to this for me
That’s right Bill. Hitler appealed to the masses too, we gotta be reeeeal careful of leaders who appeal to large bodies of people. We should never forget the lessons learned or the lives lost in WW2.
So I suggest an immediate end of democracy here in America - it is not safe to let the masses decide our leaders! Look what happened with Hitler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What we need, is to find the least popular guy in America and appoint him temporary ruler (so that Bush, who was elected by wooing the masses will no longer hold the reigns of power), and he can choose a game, like poker. There will be a massive tournament, and the winner can rule America for the next 4 years, and gets to choose what game the next election will be decided by, so he’ll have the edge to be re-elected.
Thus no American leader will even attempt to appeal to the masses, and we can safely avoid the next Hitler forever. As a side effect, we also won’t have to compare American political leaders to genocidal tyrants anymore, which I can’t help but feel is a bit demeaning.
INDIMINDED- yOU MISSED MY POINt. Did you read Independet then my response ? 1 iNDENDENT KNOWS HOW EUROPE THINKS. a BAD AND INCORREECT STATEMENT. i SPEAK FOR MYSELF. AS SHE speaks for herself. 2 sHE CARES LESS ABOUT HISTORY OF candidates. that is where my Hiltler came from. We must know the past to help the future. 3 She hates Bush because of Iraq. If we were to keep it like Russia has done in past, I would agree, but we helped the people of Iraq. 3 I did not say American should not elect President. That was you raving. Are you medicated
Whoever the next President is, they should do their damndest to stop CAPSLOCK abuse on forums.
What’s funny is, Obama chooses a safe choice like Biden and the Reps go all nutty over it, and we wouldn’t expect them to do any less
Come McCains choice for VP and the Dems will go all nutty over that choice.
What is it with elections that make people go completely nucking futs ?!?!?!
NZ- THIS IS FOR YOUR PLEASURE. BIDEN WANTED MCCAIN TO RUN AS V.P. FOR KERRY A FEW YEARS BACK AS DEMOCRAT. BIDEN SAYS MCCAIN IS CAPABLE AS PRESIDENT. BIDEN SAID OBAMA WAS NOT READY TO BE PRESIDENT, RECENTLY. YOU CALL BIDEN SAFE CHOICE. WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION. BIDEN IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE A HEAD-ACH FOR OBAMAB IN THIS ELECTION. IN MY OPIONION. Don’t you think.
I don’t think anyone has claimed McCain isn’t capable as President, it’s what kind of President he’d be that raises questions. Unfortunatley McCain is 8 years too late.
McCain would’ve made a good VP choice for Kerry as McCain could’ve brought some Republicans along with him and McCain deep down really doesn’t like Bush. A bi-partisan ticket would’ve been a winner. McCain isn’t much the maverick anymore though, he’s having to toe the GOP line, which is a shame, but all’s fair in love and politics I suppose.
RZ You can read McCain’s mind ???. You know he really does not like Bush.??? You know what McCain thinks ??? I can not read your mind. You are gifted. Your maverick statement I will let pass. That is a personal bdlief and you have every right to it.
Thanks Bill I am gifted ;o)
Back in 2000 when McCain and Bush were fighting for the Republican nomination, Bush went dirty on McCain and character assassinated him, for which Bush tried to deny any knowledge of it and McCain said to him “Don’t give me that shit”. Neither McCain or his wife Cindy voted for Bush in 2000. ALL true but you probably won’t believe it.
Read —-> THIS article.
Going back on the Biden issue. oAnother plus in Bidens favour for VP, and I really don’t mean this flippantly is, Biden lost a wife and child and raised two children on his own before meeting his now wife Jill. Don’t you think Bidens hard luck story cancels out McCains?
You don’t seem to get it about gifted. You don’t get it about what you said about the video lady. You don’t understand abou you asking me if I have a gun. I have never shown any sort of anger on this site. If I have, point it out to me. . You seem to get flustured. I do not vote for McCain because of his horrible treatment as POW. sAME FOR BIDEN. ….Excuss me, I did not mean to be all caps…. Although I am sorry for his lose. I was raised Democrat. But changed some years back. One main reason I vote for McCain is this. Obama got some pork belly spending given to a hospital. His wife works there. His wife got a big raise. Can check their income tax records.2 Crook helped him buy a house. I wonder why a smart man with lawyer wife needs help from someone I don’t believe is in real estate.3 Biden said not to long ago that Obama is not qualified.4 Biden has said McCain is qualified.5 Biden admits John is his own man, and thus not a third term, yet in DNC Biden basically says he is. I know that is politics, but is a lie…Lots of Congressmen do pot Belly spending, except John McCain. How come a smart Obama does it so sloppy that that fact comes out. That is my reason for…ME…to vote McCain. I Personnal like Bush. Congress passes legislation, and Bush is being blamed for that. We will get along great if you continue to write as you did this time. I respond to others being insulted..I am that way.
rz- I just read your article you had. Yes McCain was mad. But John is a forgiving man. He forgave his capture in Viet Nam. Had a relationship especially with one. He stayed longer refusing early release.He suffers daily. Can not raise his hands much. He does not hold hatred, I believe. In my mind Biden has done McCain wrong. The two families are close from what i hear. Yet Biden says McCain would be a third term Bush. I believe Biden has said in past that would not be so. Maybe John Sees Biden becoming another Bush in the prevous election.. I can only guess. I believe McCain is a good man. Will do his best to follow through on the stuff on his web site. I expect a surpise in his choice for vp.
Bill Hedges, you asked for a response in this trhead and ill give it to you:
First you said:
“Maybe you have heard this before–By knowing the past you are not likely to repeat the past mistakes.”
Then why has America not learned from all their failed wars? Why do they not see that war as a concept doesnt work? How many innocent people have to die before the US stops putting their will upon other countrys by military force?
Let me give you an example, the Iraq war:
The only reason for this war is that you where pissed off about 9/11 and someone had to pay.
Can you tell me in what way this war has benifited America?
Are the Iraqi people responsible for 9/11?
“I take pride in America helping stop 100,00 citizens from being killed in old Iraq. aMERICAN WILL NOT KEEP IRAQ.”
You say that America will not keep Iraq. But the fact is that you have occupied it beceause you didnt agree with their government. So America will physically leave but install a pro american government. This means that you dont let other countrys decide your own future.
See it as China invading the US, installing a communist pro china government and then leaves.
“And America coming to the aid of Europe in WW11 and 11.. ”
yes, and thats why our countrys are friends but thats not an excuse to behave as bullys. Fact is that since the USSR collapsed, america was the only superpower (country that spend billions on an great standing Army) left in the world.
“It is upsetting to respond to this for me”
Reality is hard, you are blind to see your own faults.
You see bill, As long as war is profitable your gonna continue to see it. Thats the big problem.
One main reason I vote for McCain is this.
“1. Obama got some pork belly spending given to a hospital. His wife works there. His wife got a big raise. Can check their income tax records.”
Do you have any proof that these things are connected or are you just guessing/hoping its a fact.
2 Crook helped him buy a house. I wonder why a smart man with lawyer wife needs help from someone I don’t believe is in real estate.
Again, Do you have any proof that these things are connected or are you just guessing/hoping its a fact.
3 Biden said not to long ago that Obama is not qualified.
“They where involved in a race. Its obvious that they say these things. The democratic primarys where a race between good candidates who agreed on most issues. So things got personal.
McCain was a weak candidate who faced even weaker candidates in the primarys.
The deabtes where ridiculous. Every serious question was dodged and they dindt even talk about healthcare and poverty. How out of touch kan you be.
4 Biden has said McCain is qualified.
So now you DO listen to Biden? Biden says Obama is qualified to. So whats the difference.
5 Biden admits John is his own man, and thus not a third term, yet in DNC Biden basically says he is.
I know that is politics,
First its a fact that McCain now supports many issues he was against in the senate, its a fact he has agreed with Bush on 95% of the issues and its a fact that he has said that the economic policys of Bush where good.
“but is a lie…Lots of Congressmen do pot Belly spending, except John McCain. How come a smart Obama does it so sloppy that that fact comes out. ”
McCain does not do prok barrel spending but he does suggest billions in tax cuts and wants to continue the war. How about that for spending.
Tax cuts itself are not bad of course, but cutting taxes when you cant afford them is inresponsible spending.
“That is my reason for…ME…to vote McCain.”
The post is long so ill post the reason im pro Obama:
1. He cares about healtcare for americans
2. he cares about the poor
3. he understands how the world works(talking to people you dont agree with, against Iraq etc.)
McCain doesnt have foreign policy experience, he has military experience. Those are two differend things. The fact that McCain wants to throw Russia and China out of the G8 says enough that this guy doesnt understand the modern world.
4. Obama is pro Israel but also sees that Israels behaviour is out of bounds.
5. Obama wont torture people
6. Obama isnt a religious nutcase. McCain isnt but the republican party he represents is. His VP wants to teach creationism in schools. I thought even christians had found out that, even though the lesson from the bible like respect and caring for the poor are important, the stroy that god created the earth is 7 days etc. etc. is nonsense.
7. Obama understands tht multinationals have to much power in politics and that their behaviour should be controlled.
The reasons for not liking Obama is beceause he is religious, pro israel, pro wars (just not Iraq), expanding military etc. etc.
correction:
“The post is long so ill post the reason im pro Obama:”
should say:
“the post is long so ill keep the reasons why im pro Obama compact.