Biden Blasts Palin's "Pro-America" Comments: "I'm Tired Of Implications About Patriotism"

MESILLA, N.M. — Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden mocked rival Sarah Palin's comment in North Carolina that she loves visiting "pro-America" parts of the country, arguing that the entire nation is patriotic.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have never been to a state that hasn't sent its sons and daughters to serve its country," Biden said Friday in New Mexico as the crowd booed Palin's reported comments. "It doesn't matter where you live, we all love this country. And I hope it gets through that one of the reasons why Barack (Obama) and I are running is that we know how damaging the policy of division ... has been.

"We are one nation, under God, indivisible," Biden shouted to the crowd. "We are all patriotic, we all love this country."

According to published reports, Palin told a North Carolina fundraiser Thursday that the best of America was not in Washington, D.C., but in small towns like the one in Alaska where she served as mayor.

"Being here with all of you hardworking, very patriotic, um, very, um, pro-America areas of this great nation. This is where we find the kindness and the goodness and the courage of everyday Americans," the Republican vice presidential candidate said.

The Obama campaign issued a news release asking reporters what part of the country isn't pro-America.

While campaigning in New Mexico, Biden said Republican presidential nominee John McCain "has been bequeathed tactics of Karl Rove in the last few weeks" and warned that the final days of the campaign will get ugly.

Addressing a crowd of several hundred in the Old Mesilla plaza, Biden urged supporters to ignore what they hear from McCain and concentrate on the change that the Democratic ticket promises. "You're going to see some really tough stuff," Biden said.

New Mexico has become a critical battleground state where Democrats see a real shot of making up the narrow gap that gave the state to President Bush in 2004.

Biden said fewer than 6,000 votes separated Bush and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry in the last election, a gap that could easily be made up with a strong showing in early voting.

"Our job isn't going to be done until you cast your ballot," Biden said. "It's going to take all of us here today."

Comments

[Indie2008]

Palin is especially brazen to talk about patriotism. Evidently he is confident that that she isn't going to be asked about the AIP. By the way, since Mr. Todd Palin is inserting himself on the stage with her, someone should gicve him the opportunity to explain allegations of his ties to the group. Why is the media avoiding this subject, while letting McCain and Palin go on these rants?

[LeonBNJ]

Playing the 'Patriotism' or 'Flag' cards are SOP for too many Republicans since the 1960's. It works for them and covers up their polices that are very anti-American and very difficult to mitigate. Until enough good citizens reject the smoke and mirrors of such abuse of the concept of 'Patriotism' then it will continue.

[theordore]

This statement is sounds very emotional and lacking in reason. We all love our country. That is not in question. What is in question is when some politians put political gain above truth and the best interests of the country. For example, claiming the surge in Iraq would not work and didn't work after it clearly was the right thing to do and did work. In effect, wishing to lose a war for political gain is not patrotic in my book.

[ClevelandTom]

The surge has worked? Bush and McCain keep saying it has over and over again. But it is a dubious claim.

When Bush sought the funds necessary to send the surge troops to Irag, Congress asked for and received from him a set of goals that the surge was supposed to reach. Only about half of those goals have been met.

There have been two major developments in Iraq that led to reduced violence - the so-called Sunni Awakening movement and Sadre's decision to stand down his militias. The Awakening was a movement that started well before the surge started. Sadre's militia stand down may or may not have had anything to do with the surge. We'll see what he does with that force in the future.

[tedeger]

The surge clearly did not "Work." If you put a cop on every street corner, you obviously cut down on crime. In that sense only, the surge was somewhat successful. What "Worked" was that the Iraqis unilaterally decided that the only way they were ever going to get rid of the occupation would be to amend their manners. It was the IRAQIS who cut down on the depredations of Al Qaida, NOT Petraeus. Actually, however, giving credit where it is due, it was Bush stopping his Hitler act and letting the professionals run the show that created the climate in which it was possible for the Iraqis to begin to act like they had something to say about the administration of their own country.

[jean22]

"What is in question is when some politians put political gain above truth and the best interests of the country"

Yes like rushing to select an unqualified person as a vice presidential running mate at a time when our country is in such desperate need for the smartest and best qualified. Do you really think Mccain was thinking about the best interests of the country when he by passed smarter, more experienced, and more knowledgeable individuals to select palin.....­palin? I think he was more concerned about saving his sinking campaign.

[exflatlander]

Going hand in hand on this is is the Republican attack on public schools. I don't know what Ted Kennedy was thinking, but No Child Left Behind was intended as the coup de grace for a troubled system that has been under attack from the right since Ronald Reagan.

Schieffer mentioned the dollar-per-student amount in the debate as an indication that schools are failing. McCain jumped on that bandwagon, saying that you can't just throw money at things. I bet he wouldn't say that about our defense spending, though.

Money is being spent on schools which are still strained to the point of breaking to make sure that EVERY child gets 12+ years of schooling. The Americans with Disabilities Act includes special ed legislation. Doesn't matter how many problems that child has, or even if that child is cognitively aware. He/she still has a right to be in a classroom with a full-time, underpaid aid, next to him/her. Throw that in with the huge increase in need for special education. What can we expect with poor nutrition, drugged up and alcoholic pregnant mothers, physical abuse that has caused brain damage. This is the underbelly of "families" that the pols don't want to talk about, but which is driving up education costs. Republicans don't care about those kids; they just use them for political advantage, as Sarah is doing now, dragging her "special needs" baby to rallies until 11PM. Makes for good "show and tell."

[BigHeadTodd]

There are NO parts of the United States that are "more pro America" than any others. The notion that the misguided and poorly educated governor has that if you don't see things through her bizzare REACTIONARY disco ball and, heavens to betsy, if you DARE not vote the REACTIONARY ticket on Nov. 4 -- well, that just is so out of touch with the history of the United States and its people. The USA was founded on popular dissent and the overthrow of "one rule" politics.

I have deep empathy for the sane people of Alaska who will soon have this shooting star of the REACTIONARY party all to themselves again next month.

[maryyooch]

Pro-american is code for racist!

[partyofone]

Sarah Palin is moving from demagoguery to facism. Irrespective of your political leanings, this is dangerous stuff. Republicans would be wise to contain it now.

Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachman was on Hardball last night, equating liberal, leftist, anti-American and terrorist, and calling Obama all of them. Clearly spewing hatefilled talking points, she essetially defined "anti-American" as someone who does not think the way I do. She sounded like Joe McCarthy and the Committee on UnAmerican Activities in the 1950s.

Add mean Jean Schmidt of Ohio, and her narrow definition of partiotism, and the agressively dishonest Hillary Clinton of New York, and her divisive brand of populism, and you see troubling pattern of women in political leadership who count anyone who thinks different lyas THE ENEMY. This nation does not need leaders who seek to divide us.

Americans of every stripe who love their nation must speak up and speak out against these demagogues who are undermining fundamental democratici values and moving politcal rhetoric into a danger zone.

[pupbayer]

Poor Joe. He can't hear much better than he speaks. She said "more pro-Americ­a." If you've never been to small town American you don't understand what she means. Go to any small town in this country and you will see more American flags always displayed than you'll see anywhere else. You'll hear the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem at EVERY gathering even if there is only a handful of people. They do exhibit their patriotism more than suburban and urban areas. You don't have to be a brain surgeon to notice it. Words do matter. She never said any area was NOT patriotic.

[McChimp]

Pupbayer, way to stretch what Biden said and out right l i e, is this all you Republicans have?

No wonder you guys are losing.

[DannyEastVillage]

hey pub--another cup of Kool-Aid for ya'?

[exPatPatti]

what a bunch of cr@p.

[McChimp]

Sure all those flags display patriotism, z e ig h e i l Pupbayer..­.

what a load of BS, go f**k yourself kid.

[BigHeadTodd]

Pupbayer: Please visit any urban area of your choosing and you will see American flags a-plenty and hear the national anthem played too. I have lived in many small towns and huge cities. Americans are Americans. There may be a sense of feeling neglected if you live in a small town in a state where there is also one or more major cities due to the way tax dollars and budgets are distributed in any state, but it's an outright insult to real AMERICANS to try to divide and conquer us. She should issue an immediate apology and, then, slink back on a one-way ticket to the governor's mansion on Nov. 4.

[JohnFromColorado]

What Sarah Palin said was pure politics. It shows where they see they can make political gains.

Republican strategists look at the population and see a large group of people who believe if you disagree with them politically you must be un-American. So what do the Republican strategists do? They have their candidate say that that people that disagree with them politically are un-American.

On Hardball last night: "Rep. Bachmann suggests 'liberal' is anti-Ameri­can." Sound familiar?

This is a political strategy. For me the willingness to go there speaks volumes. Republican strategists and leaders have no respect for democracy. They are not un-American, but they are pushing anti-democartic ideas.

I don't hear comments like this from the Democratic side. Why? Democratics are the ones that believe in community, the whole community. Those that disagree politically are still part of our community. A large segment of Republican party membership don't believe this. They believe if you disagree with them you are un-American. You are not part of the community.

[theordore]

It isn't about disagreeing. It is about doing or saying things that are not in the best interest of the country. Some pollitiians get so caught up in winning that they will say or do anything. Some examples:

1. Cutting funding for our troops so they would be forced to come home.
2. Saying the war in Iraq is lost when it was not.
3. Deny the surge worked even when it is totally obvious that it did work.

All these statements compromise national secuity and the world perception of us. Short term politican gain at the expense of the country is not Patriotic in my view.

[ella52]

Okay how about

1Lying to the American people about Weapons of Mass Destruction and spending trillions on a war that never was aimed at the very people who bombed us!
2 Declaring the war was mission accomplished 6 months in only to have it still here 7 years later and dragging us deeper in debt and depression.
3 Saying the surge worked over and over and over without actually drawing down the troops to pre-surge levels.

You fell asleep 7 years ago and haven't been reading anything since???

[foxbat]

To your point #1, McCain voted against the exact same bill that Obama did when the bill contained a timetable. When the timetable was removed, then Obama made the stand against the bill.

On points #2 / #3, McCain supported the surge as a political move. He had absolutely NOTHING to lose by supporting a surge as the status quo of staying there with doing SOMETHING was just a recipe for disaster. It was a very calculated move to give him distance from Bush, while still allowing him to play the POW/"best for the troops" line if it didn't work. He also still had the 90% of the time line that he could use if he needed to tie himself to Bush.

Remember that there were SEVERAL conditions of the surge's success and the one that everyone focuses on is decreased violence. That, however, is similar to walking by a dike and seeing a leak. You put your finger in the dike and problem solved. The problem is, what happens when you leave? That "what happens when we leave part" hasn't been addressed at all. While you're right that the violence decreased during the surge, why haven't the 400,000+ Iraqi security personnel been able to "step up" yet and at least allow half of our guys to come home?

In terms of compromising the world view of us, the invasion of Iraq, Abu Garib, Guantanamo, etc. have all done a pretty good job of that already.

[JHancock]

Reality check: The war in Iraq was lost when the neocons dreamed it up. What is it with people that cream their pants over "victory"? Sure it's important when our country and people are threatened, but it is meaningless when it's just a ploy to get re-elected.

The true patriot does not waste our troops on stupid wars.

[ontime]

Just the same divisive "if you're not us, you're them drivel." Looks like divide and conquer won't work this time. When Obama is president he'll reach out to everyone to help repair the obscene damage done to OUR country. The truly patriotic will rise to the occasion.

[partyofone]

Well said. Obama overcame this "us and them" distorted, divisive, mean rhetoric in the primary campaign against the Clintons, and now is up against the even meanaer GOP machine. His capacity to stay on the high road in politics is admirable and enormously encouraing. The fact that Americans in large numbers are responding to his message of integrity and unity is also encouraging. I so hope that his victory in this election will put an end to the Bush-Rove-Clinton era of the politics of division and destruction, and campaigns as mean-spirited wars against enemies rather than a competition of vision, ideas, ans strategies between honest leaders. America can be great again, but not without closing the door on the last 20 years of politixal warfare.

[theordore]

Obama sounds great. The main thing he lacks is honesty. A few quick notes:

1. He is willing to lose a war for poltical gain.
2. Still denys the surge.
3. Lies about McCains health plan (check CNN fact checking)
4. Lies about his minister.
5. Lies abouit his ties to Ares.
6. Goes to Europe and puts down America.
7. Says free markets don't solve problems when they have little to do with the problem.
8. Quesitons capitalism and promotes socialism.
9. Lies about the 95% tax cut because of many deductions he is taking away (see Wall Street Journal),
10. it is not possible for him to spend all he wants to spend without getting more money in taxes.
11. All the shady people with whom Obama has had relationships have one thing in common, they are all anti-capitalist. They all hate the principles on which this country was founded. They prefer socialsim.
12. Obama has no understanding about dynamic analysis, he follows static analsyis and finding any kind of justification. He needs to review what President Hover did that took us into a depression, his unwitting plan is the same.

[GDUBinWhittier]

I live in Whittier, California. Can someone tell me if I am in a Pro-American part of the country or if I need to move?

Seriously.­..I'm beginning to think that Tina Fey is going around the country, posing as Palin, and making stupid comments to help McCain lose the election. Is there any other explanation? Can you imagine what Palin would be like on the World stage?

[xansam]

you live in california? you need to move, that is an elitist state and therefore you are not pro-american.

[exflatlander]

I live in Vermont, the one state Bush never visited. I guess you know we must be anti-American, despite a governor who sits in Bush's lap.

[GeeWhillikers]

Go, go, Joe!

Also, would everyone please take a second to vote for Obama in this poll?
http://nebraskavoice.blogspot.com

[KrautMan]

“Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.­”

Samuel Johnson

[whatsthatsound]

The truth, of course, is that not all of "us" ARE patriotic, at least not in the same way. There are those who are so desperate to win an election that they would stir up hatreds that could well lead to violence against an elected leader (they are doing this, surely, no matter how they deny it). There are those who feel so little love for this country that they will spend vast sums of its treasure, and far worse, squander the lives of its fiercest and most loyal defenders, in unnecessary wars. There are those for whom this country has been nothing but a well to be milked dry, gaming the system so that American consumer dollars are spent on foreign oil and outsourced goods in order to build up economies elsewhere, not here. Sarah Palin may wish to pal around with such people, and as a person living in a free country that is her right, of course. But you can tell an awful lot about a person from the company they keep.

[exflatlander]

Eloquently stated. Thank you.

[indypete]

If Moose-Tang Sally had the IQ of a soil sample she wouldn't say half of the dumb things that spill out of her pretty mouth and JB wouldn't have to waste his valuable time talking about it. Don't try to tell me the GOP couldn't come up with a smart woman to show how much they care about equality. They wanted a pretty face and an excuse to whine about sexism, so they found the most stereotypical airhead available.

[DannyEastVillage]

I really think that the only reason she was all they could come with for a VP candidate is because everybody in their party who still has a sliver of brain and/or integrity (though that seems less important) knew that no matter who runs, they were going to be saddled with the bushboy's record--and no one who values his or her political career was willing to have that tied around his or her poltical neck. No--anybody who's worth even talking to in the republican party had to decide to sit this one out. God willing, they're going to be wallflowers for a long, long time.

[indypete]

Amen to dat, braddah!

[Academic]

Only a discredit American media would give Sarah Palin the pass she's consistently being given on this ludicrous and disingenous non-issue of US patriotism. This is a woman whose husband is a fully fledged member of the fanatical and secessionist Alaska Independence Party, who herself gave the keynote address at that party's state convention, and yet here she is conveniently, now she's John McCain's VP pick, going around the same United States that she and her husband want to break away from, talking and actually getting away with all the nonsense about patriotism that she's spewing out on the campaign stump. Where is truth, morality, justice, fairness and objectivity? Where, importantly, is commonsense? Would any of you countenance the idea of let alone have a known and convicted paedophile advise you on child welfare? So why then are your Americans listening to this woman on patriotism let alone taking her seriously on what she's saying? We already know what the US media's agenda is in this election. What's yours? And can you look yourselves conscionably in the mirror and give an honest answer to this question?

Professor Dr. Stanley Collymore
London, England.

[Carolab]

You're right, of course. But what are we supposed to do about it? Send out e-mails to random persons? Or letters? Put flyers on doors? What? Our media is corrupt. We know it. We don't like it any more than you do.

[whatsthatsound]

The choir has been tongue-lashed by the preacher.

Next time I talk to myself in front of a mirror I'll be sure to tell myself how Professor Stanley Collymore removed the scales from my eyes.

[Daveip1966]

"Stanley Colloymore"?

Puh-lease!!

[Daveip1966]

or even " Collymore"

I tend to agree with what you say, but surely you could have picked a better nom-de-web than that

[Carolab]

I love my country. I just hate what Republicans are doing to it. So, I guess I am anti-(some­)Americans­.

[swo68]

If you think it's just republicans hurting America, you are extremely naive.

When Biden said "We Are All Patriotic, We All Love This Country," he was wrong. Not everyone is like that. People pander to their audience, including Biden and Palin.

And to the author of this post, do you include all of Barak's "ums" when quoting him? I didn't think so.

[suhud]

Is she on some of that meth Wasilla is so famous for?