Biden gaffe-watch: Palin better looking than him
It didn’t take long for Joe Biden to step in it. This, just off the Jake Trapper’s Political Punch Blog at ABC News:
Oh, That Joe! (Number 4 in a Series) — Biden on Difference Between Him and Palin: “She’s Good Looking”
August 31, 2008 2:52 PM
In his introduction of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., just now on the rooftop of the Toldeo Public Library, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., commented on the pulchritude of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Sen. John McCain’s newly-named running mate.
Palin was once a contestant in the Miss Alaska contest, and no less an authority than Rush Limbaugh has called her a “babe,” though of course Gov. Palin is a governor and former mayor and mother and I’ll bet this is the last time Biden comments about her looks.
“From our perspective the whole deal is how does the government help you get back up without getting in the way?” Biden asked. “There’s a gigantic – gigantic — difference between John McCain and Barack Obama, and between me and I suspect my vice presidential opponent. And that is that – ”
The crowd laughed.
“Well there’s obvious differences,” Biden said, beginning to ham it up. “She’s good looking,” he said, laughing. “You know there’s obvious differences. But there’s a whole lot — ”
A woman shouted: “you’re gorgeous!” to Biden.
“Where’s that person?” Biden asked. “Who said that? Who said that? Would you say that again for my wife?”
“You’re gorgeous!” the woman yelled.
“Oh, I tell you what, would you make sure Jill hears that?” Biden joked. “You know what I mean? I just want to make sure she hears that. I haven’t heard that in a long, long, long time. And hanging out with this lean, young-looking guy is making me feel pretty old, you know what I mean?”
Biden continued his riff. “I thought I was in pretty good shape til I hung out with this guy, you know what I mean?”
“Joe’s looking good,” said Obama.
“Yeah, I’m looking good alright, I tell you what,” Biden said. “But look, folks, let me end with, on a serious note here. On a serious note — I was a pretty good football player, man,” he said to Obama “We oughta talk a little bit after this. Okay? –But look, on a very serious note …”
He then continued with his very serious note.
– Jake Tapper and Matt Jaffe
Here are some of his greatest gaffe hits:
Concerning the candidacy of Senator Obama: ”I mean, you got the first mainstream African American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.â€
On the influx of East Indian immigrants to Delaware: “[Y]ou cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent.â€
On the day Obama introduced him (August 23), he referred to Obama as “Barack America.”
The nastiness at Andrew Sullivan’s Daily Dish hit an all time new low: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/things-that-mak.html
Repeated plagiarism, lying about a drunk driver killing his first wife (a tragic accident nonetheless), other comments along the way, now this. Sigh
Hold on. I’m missing something. Much can be said about Governor Palin that is less than flattering, but she is good looking. How is this a gaffe?
Joe, take it easy on Bareback Andy. The AIDS virus attacks brain cells, and that’s on top of the manifest concupiscence darkening his intellect.
As much as I hate to admit it, John in Nashville is right. How is Biden’s correct observation that Palin looks better than him a gaffe?? I am as big a fan of Palin as you will find and I simply don’t see the gaffe in recognizing the obvious. She is a good looking woman. There is nothing to be ashamed of in recognizing that obvious fact. Lets not be too super sensitive here.
As much as I hate to admit it, John in Nashville is right.
I think it’s a gaffe, because, when seen in context, the comment illustrates just how shallow Biden is in his thinking, and the dismissive regard he has for Gov. Palin.
What’s the first thing that comes to Biden’s mind with respect to differences he has with Gov. Palin? “Uh, she’s eye candy.” What an idiot.