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

[researcher]

he will help obama lose this one.

mc cain is his friend

perfect example of demos

ie spineless and lack courage

alll must go not just a few

third party anyone

at least the repubs know how to fight and win

well kind of

not in iraq or afgan

:-)

[postman606]

Seems that whe they win the rest of us lose.

[jacqmac]

You are obviously a PLANT by the Republican National Committee.
Sorry that you are so narrow minded that you only have friends who think like you do, IF you do, act like you do, and talk like you do.

Third parties can't fight anything and win. Run for dogcatcher or city council. That's how The Governor of Alaska got her job. Run locally, THEN come back in four years and field a REAL candidate.

[PumaAnn]

What a nutty post.

[RadLeftVetPatriot]

Y'right Senator.
This ain't about a feeble old guy anymore. It's about his feeble old ideas.

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Both sides need to stop attacking the other and start telling us what they're gonna DO to save America!

[kimbari]

We're still waiting to hear from McCain on that one...

[TNFarmer]

It may be a long wait. Anything he says now will be countered by many years of actual, factual performance, like a record of pushing deregulation and picking Phil Gramm as your economic "expert."

[pkafin]

nice quote!

[gobarackgo]

At least Biden talks to the press. More than you can say for Palin.

Shake it off, Joe. You're still our number one #2.

[valleygent]

SHUT UP Joe!!

[CaliTLC]

Leave Joe alone. He is fine. It is the Palin-McCain ticket that is running from the press. At least our V.P. candidate will talk to the press.

[valleygent]

Cali... you are way off and wrong...this was a huge gaffe...you don't become critical of your own campaign at this stage of the game. I am entitled to require more from those I support. Back off.

[joekutz]

Here we are getting all worked up about another story about nothing. It was nothing chastise Joe Biden all you like. There aren't any issues other than Joe's own sense of fairness. I can't fault him for that. Besides if the McCain camp runs with this they are wasting their time. McCain is computerless but more to the point he is clueless about our future. That is the issue and the context of this ad. Anything else is distraction which is the Republican game of finger pointing. Nope not falling for it this time.

[valleygent]

Wrong...! it is about perception...you don't concede points at this stage of the game it is ammo for the opposition. Wake up, Obama doesn't have a huge margin to coast on.

[GwenElle]

Too many Americans are looking for excuses not to vote for Barack. It's the race thing and the culture war thing. Joe does not to give cover to their prejudices by allowing them the rationale "Obama is not fair".

[kathy001]

The McCain campaign is so desperate to find something dirty on Obama that they will take the smallest thing and blow it completely out of proportion. Pretty much proof positive that that's all they've got. McCain's history, his flip-flopping, his complete ignorance of foreign policy - except Bomb!Bomb!Bomb! - and of economics, means that the ony reason anyone in their right (as opposed to wrong) mind would vote for him is if he can prove that the other guy is 'bad and scary.' What a shame if the American public buys into this bs.....again.

[valleygent]

WHAT THE "F" BIDEN?? WHO'S SIDE ARE YOU ON?? THIS IS A JOKE, OBAMA/BIDEN FINALLY GAIN THE UPPER HAND AND THEY BOTH MAKE GAFFES TODAY? SENSELESS. I GIVE UP.

[RadLeftVetPatriot]

Winners never quit...

[kimbari]

And quitters never win...

[valleygent]

No that's right...so what the heck is Biden doing being critical of his own campaign ads...? This is just inexplicable. I want them to win...do they?? I mean then he goes on to say he wasn't aware of the ads?? Does this seem logical to put forward at this stage of the game? This is defeatist stuff man.

[Dragonblaster]

Relax take a deep breath. It is great that we have an independent VP candidate. Obama wanted this. Joe Biden is not like the robotic talking point memorizer that is a female version of George Bush on the McCain side. We make the game. Not the press, not the Neo-cons. Celebrate a man that has his own thoughts regarding issues. It's an asset. You define what is cool in this election. Don't let the press scare you.

[valleygent]

Listen Dragon...You guys who talk about relaxing are just not politically saavy. I suppose Kerry was right to "relax" when he was being swiftboated. He listened to those in his campaign who speak in platitudes like you. Voters don't understand nuances like independent intellect or robotic talking points. They understand sound bites, Biden's comments here are perfect sound bites for the opposition. It was a dumb move all the way, and frankly I don't appreciate being hindered by those who are in our own camp. If he can't get it right, then just muzzle it until his own debate.

[aicon]

Nothing compared to the smears of McCains ads, plus, it s true... if McCain can't use the net... gimme a break... Grandpa should not run for President but go walk Cindis Poodles...

[soapington]

"Barack Obama has brought the sleazy gutter politics of Chicago to our national stage... " Oops, there goes Chicago!

[monyae]

Everyone just chill. WOW! JOE WILL BE JOE. He doesnt speak talking points and thats why he was chosen. relax.

[RadLeftVetPatriot]

Yup, yup.

He's right, too. Terrible ad. Beneath us.

[valleygent]

That's why Kerry chose Leiberman too?? Relax?? You obviously don't know much about election history. Think 2000. Think 2004. These guys should not concede any points at this stage of the race, they have no margin for error with the closeness of this race. Wake up.!

[mikie63]

Come on Joe. In this add you sounded more like Palin than Biden. Think of the consequences before you start to praise your friendship of McCain. Get back to the issues and off of your personal regrets.

McCain has lied, lied, lied continually this whole election period; that's what you should and could be saying.

I want you and Obama to be elected, OK??????

[jean22]

There wasn't a damn thing wrong with that ad. It illustrated (correctly) Mc*Can'ts inability or refusal to learn new things, move along with the times "think outside of the box". I loved it. Look forward to More like it!

[Bluejay00234]

I respect Joe's opinion, it's nice to see someone have one for a change, although I think he should have kept his comments in the camp. You don't talk about home buisness with out siders.

[valleygent]

This is ridiculous this guy should be muzzled. What good does conceding points about ads do the Obama camp??? NONE.

[L3ftofC3nter]

AGREED!

[BigMike75]

Joe, Joe, Joe, get a grip buddy. This is not a good move, and last week when you claimed that Hillary would've been a better choice than you, was an even dumber move. I don't what you hope to accomplish, by taking stands like this, compared to the ads McCain has run, that computer ad was rather tame, it's this same tepid attitude that has done Democrats in before, we're trying to wn an election here Joe, stick to the damn message, and leave the "universal statesman" act on the sideline.

[valleygent]

Absolutely Mike...here here.

[ajax2]

Joe, do you remember McCain stating he couldn't use a computer. Think Joe.