Biden Calls Obama Ad "Terrible," Walks It Back (VIDEO)

Joe Biden told CBS' Katie Couric last night that an ad painting John McCain as unable to use a computer was "terrible."

"I thought that was terrible, by the way," Biden told Couric. "I didn't know we did it. If I'd had anything to do with it, we'd have never done it. And I don't think Barack, you know, I mean, I just think -- I don't think there was anything intentional about that." Watch:

Later, Biden walked back his comments:

"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."

But McCain's campaign has already seized on the remark. Spokesman Brian Rogers responded:

"While the New York Times and other media outlets were silent in the face of Barack Obama's shameless and dishonorable attack on John McCain, even Obama's own running mate has now condemned the ad as 'terrible,' admitting he never would have approved it. Barack Obama has brought the sleazy gutter politics of Chicago to our national stage, exposing his call for a 'new politics' as a lie and embarrassing even his own running-mate with the low road campaign he's running."

Comments

[qwr]

What we have in Biden is another Edwards. VPs are SUPPOSED to be attack dogs. Biden, like Edwards, acts as if he were at the top of the ticket. You know--McCain is my good friend, Hillary should be VP--everything to make BIDEN seem like the most generous person in the world. It's all about him.

[qwr]

If Biden were politically courageous, I would forgive his gaffes. But he isn't. He voted for the war, and he wants to make Georgia a center of conflict. Biden has done good things to stop violence against women. But on other fronts, he goes with the status quo. The truth is, there's no possibility of my voting for McCain. But Biden was a conservative choice from a candidate becoming more and more cautious and status quo.

[RadhaColalurver]

I agree with Biden. I hate to be as brutal as the ad, but that was some wince-producing stuff. Though it was not so atrocious to the level of McCain's "Obama wants to teach kindergartners Sex-Ed" ad, it was surprising coming from the Obama campaign.

It's also strategically a bad move for an ad. If you're looking for senior votes, this ad is a good way to kiss that good-bye. The seniors I know can't even find the power button on a computer, and I can see them getting livid over the ad.

Some people need to calm down here. Criticizing Obama does not mean disloyalty. The ad contradicted his message of a new kind of politics. In my view, the ad was Republican-esque and frankly childish. Obama and Biden are better than that. They are better than McCain/Palin.

[robeson]

No it's not a bad ad. McCain says he doesn't use a computer. The reasons are not clear. GW Bush said he didn't read much. We're living with his hell, not again.

[robeson]

As a senior I disagree with you 100%. The ad was spot on and not a lie like your sex ed comparison. Seniors like I don't want someone who can't find the power button. or the nuclear suitcase. We don't want someone who can't find their keys or Afghanistan, running things. We do not need to dumb down the position to adjust for GW Bush. Lack of ability, lack of health, and lack of morality are not off the table.

[kkuate]

I have entertained the thought that Obama made a mistake in selecting Biden as running mate.

And by the way, I also believe that McCain made a big mistake in selecting Palin.

Where is Gore when we need him? I think Al Gore has matured immensely since his 2000 presidential candidacy...

[BillCarson]

>Where is Gore when we need him?

Waiting for 2012?

[Agentlady007]

I think he's bringing the global warming issues to congress at the moment.
He's getting ready to launch his new magazine "Plenty"..

That's about it in a nut shell. (" I would not rule out 2012".)

[LaShon]

Biden should know these news anchors aren't their FRIENDS. Katie set the trap, and Joe took the bait.

[kylie]

Couric has always been a tool for the right-wing.
She is just like the majority of the msm.
No surprise there.

[realtalk]

Joe Biden may talk alot, but at least he DOES NOT lie like Sarah Palin does!!

[Rrhain]

Notice the Republican talking point: "Lipstick on a pig." The immediate response should have been, "Are you insane, Ms. Couric? Are you seriously claiming that a standard turn of phrase, 'lipstick on a pig,' a phrase that McCain used during his campaign against Hillary Clinton, a phrase that is the title of a book written by one of his own campaign advisers, that this common, everyday phrase is now somehow inappropriate to use? Please, Ms. Couric, let's have a real question about an actual issue."

And note the false equivalency: That somehow making a jab at McCain's admitted unfamiliarity is equivalent to the lies and smears of the McCain campaign. Again, the immediate response should have been, "Are you insane, Ms. Couric? Are you seriously claiming that the advertising strategy of the Obama campaign in the way it treats McCain is in any way comparable to the way the McCain treated ours? What is with this false equivalency? I realize that the media has learned that the only way to sell their product is to treat everything as if it were the end of the world, though, and I'm sorry if I'm not going to provide you with fodder to feed such hyperventilation. Please, Ms. Couric, let's have a real question about an actual issue."

[Seven7s]

For the last few montyhs it seems like Michelle and Axel Rod are the only one's in the Obama campaign that actually want him to win.

Bill keeps mentioning "what Hillary would have done," (as Chris Rock pointed on on Letterman). HRC gives the dryest "I'm here to save my a$$ not because I want to be here - type speeches and says the samething over and over, Biden just called his own running mate's ad "terrible."

Does he not know he's about to be in yet another republican attack ad commercial?

As for inserting HRC. They are hoping for Obama to lose so they can say, "I told you so." They know how racist people are in PA and OH and FL which is what she was trying to elude to withg her, "hard working white people" comment. In some terrible and sick way i think she was warning the electorate that rednecksa rent going to vote for a black man. And so far they are correct.

Either way HRC would have been a terrible choice but a good political choice. And apparently politics is the only thing that matters.

[Paralogos]

Hey, I agree with Joe. After watching that ad here on HuffPo, I even wrote to the Obama campaign, urging them to pull it. I know that Joe's supposed to stay on-message, but somehow, the fact that he's allowed to go off-message from time to time makes for a favorable contrast with the Palin Drone.

[DrFitz]

It was more weak than anything. The ridiculous faux outrage over McCain's supposed disability is absurd. The main thing was that it went after McCain in a way that wasn't effective relative to other ads running at the time and created a distraction along with an opening for the compliant media to say both sides are running ads that can be criticized.

[foxfan]

At least he's honest. Think how much respect Obama would have earned if he apologized to McCain and said he didn't realize that McCain had suffered those injuries.

[valleygent]

The news on this gaffe just hit CNN and we will hear about this gaffe until Nov. 4. Freakin dumb move Joe. Ok enough said. I'll completely forgive you if you soundly beat Palin in your debate. Performance based compensation, that' how I am judged at my workplace. Fair is fair.

[Zelda01]

Biden was sounding as if he was top of the ticket!! He needs to check himself. This is really making me wonder about him.

[qwr]

Why would Biden be anything different than the person he has been all these years? I always thought it was a bad choice by Obama. I think he chose Biden because Biden is too old to run for Pres in 8 yrs. This way, Hillary has some hope and would be more willing to throw O her support.

[itmaybetoolate]

Do Obama/Biden really want to win? We're in the middle of an economic meltdown - a crisis that should propel them to the WH. And they say this? For god's sake - they want people talking about this? Who gives a rat's potootie? They told the truth - he is old and out of touch. Add to that clinton's plea to leave poor palin alone and you really begin to wonder.

[synthfiend]

Why does Biden call the ad that actually tells the truth about his opponent terrible and yet stays silent about all the ads spreading lies about his running mate?

[bascombe]

THE DEMOCRATIC TENDENCY TO SELF-DESTRUCT IS MIND-BENDING.

Someone please make it stop!!!!!!!!!!!!