Biden Cracks Blumenthal Joke At Veterans' Barbecue

Vice President Biden poked fun at Richard Blumenthal's Vietnam-record scandal during a poolside barbecue for wounded veterans Tuesday night.

"I didn't serve in Vietnam. I don't want to make a Blumenthal mistake here. Our attorney general from Connecticut, God love him," Biden said, according to Leo Shane, the pool reporter on hand.

Shane doesn't report how the 50 people in attendance at the Vice President's official Naval Observatory residence -- veterans and their family members, plus the U.S. Navy Band and Food Network chef Sunny Anderson, herself a vet -- reacted to Biden's joke. He does write, however, that Biden later added, "I have a bad habit of saying exactly what I think."

The full pool report appears below:

VP Biden and Dr. Biden hosted a poolside BBQ for wounded warriors from the Mologne House (and their families, about 50 total). US Navy Band's country-bluegrass group was on hand to provide music, and Food Network's Sunny Anderson was the chef for the evening.

Anderson is a retired senior airman and had her uncle, Maj. Gen. Rodney Anderson, on hand. Menu included grilled pizza, honey mustard pulled pork with apricot BBQ sauce, Patriotic trifle and double chocolate chip squares, none of which was offered to your pool reporters.

Troops in attendance included several amputees and at least one young man using a guide dog to navigate the crowded pool patio.

VP and Dr. Biden arrived at 620 pm. Quotes below, but double check against the transcript later tonight.

Most notably, while talking about the experience of troops returning from Vietnam, he joked "I didn't serve in Vietnam. I don't want to make a Blumenthal mistake here. Our attorney general from Connecticut, God love him." Later on he added "I have a bad habit of saying exactly what I think."

He started off the dinner saying "it seems an understatement to thank you for your service and sacrifice." Spoke about his own son's military service, how he prayed every morning he was deployed in Iraq, so he could relate "just barely" to what their families went through.

"We have one truly sacred obligation: ... To prepare and equip those in harms' way and to care for them when they come home." Talked about the money the White House has invested in the VA. "We've put the taxpayers' money where our mouth is."

After more words of appreciation, Dr. Biden spoke for a few moments about her work with military families and her recent trip to the Mologne House to meet with some of the same troops. As the pool reporters were ushered out the pair went from table to table talking to the guests.

Staff tells me the beer on hand was Yuengling, Sam Adams and Bud Lite, if anyone is still tracking that. Several of the wounded troops were gathered around that table before the VP's arrival, laughing and posing for pictures with the residence in the background.

Comments

[BravoFoxtrotDelta]

07:21 AM on 05/31/2010

Arriana, or your sophomoric interns, succssessfully disrespected these wounded veterans and their families as well as our vice president. The Bidens not only have shown the utmost in kindness, respect, and gratitude to U.S. military past, present, wounded and in active duty, to neglect to highlight this wonderful event is unconcsionable. Joe and Jill Biden appear at and host every event possible in their busy schedules as away to say they appreciate those who serve, have served, and have given the ultimate sacrifice. The Bidens support military families and veterans 100%. On this poignant weekend HP, you could have done much better here.

[SparkyDash]

07:24 AM on 05/28/2010

What an odd headline...oops, sorry, typical HP grabber.

What is fortunate is, unless there's a demogogue or two in the midst, no one gets a rise anymore from the vice president's words when he is casually addressing others, in fact most simply love Joe Biden...and most have learned to question a headline like this purposely written to push someone's button. Joe Biden has always been self-effacing, he knows Blumenthal well and will be campaigning for him.

The unfortunate part of this, again aside from any minor pseudo and misplaced heavy breathing, is that this event, and the many events the Bidens plan and host for our military and their families, HP should have focused on the 99.9% of the event and wonderful words the vice president and Jill Biden had to say in support for everyone there in attendance as an inspiration of a good headline. This one makes no sense for a pleasant story.

My family of military veterans going back decades, love what the Biden's do as a routine for veterans and our families and we would appreciate a better coverage of Joe and Jill's numerous events in support of all military. They have always shown great heart and I for one would have loved to have read more of that.

[Skunkman]

09:05 AM on 05/27/2010

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is a decent, honorable and hard-working public servant. He has been treated shabbily by the national news media.

First, using carefully edited video, The New York Times did a "hit piece" on Richard Blumenthal. Turns out that, although normally clear about not having fought in Vietnam, he sometimes indicates, or leaves the impression that he did.

But how significant an issue is this? He has been a staunch fighter for veterans' rights, as he has been a fighter for the "little guy" in many areas through the years. Isn't that more important than the fact that on a few occasions he misled (as opposed to the many occasions when he was clear)? I'm going to judge him on his actions, not on a few misplaced words.

I don't know why the national media is attacking Mr. Blumenthal. But I'd suggest that if they want a juicy story, they'd find more material looking at Linda McMahon, who, with her husband, built a fortune on pornography, violence, drugs and abusing the bodies of wrestlers who were left with serious brain injuries

[bascombe]

09:20 AM on 05/27/2010

the national media functions as the neocon attack dog.
1. "It's always ok if you are a repuglyKKKan"
2. Ronny Raygun should be canonized
3. Anything Democratic is bad

[SparkyDash]

07:27 AM on 05/28/2010

Mr. Blumenthal will be fine, even with the media doing their best to run a sexy story, facts and the gentleman's extensive background of good works will prevail.

[UltraClassic]

03:34 PM on 05/26/2010

Biden displays what we all know about democrats, to them, this is a big joke. No "stolen valor" here.

[Skunkman]

11:39 AM on 05/27/2010

OK big hero, UltraClassic: I'm a Liberal Democrat & a disabled old
Korean vet who lost his right hand & has his guts ripped apart. We
weren't Democrats or Republicans just a lot of young men trying to
stay alive. You owe an apology to ever vet who is a democrat.

[SparkyDash]

07:28 AM on 05/28/2010

And there are many. Thank you for your service and your sacrifice Skunkman, you are appreciated.

[latrobe]

03:33 PM on 05/26/2010

Joe is the best thing that happens to Obama. I pray every day for Obama's health because if anything happens to him Joe is it.

[ALRIGHTALREADY]

03:21 PM on 05/26/2010

Heh heh heh ....... so when ever anyone lies to advance themselves while exploiting others, they ARE PULLING A BLUMENTHAL .....John Kerry pulled a Blumenthal when the Swift Boat for Truth guys caught him

[KillerWolf777]

03:46 PM on 05/26/2010

You mean the guy's who didn't serve with Kerry who came out to question his service? I remember that smear against a DECORATED WAR VET

[YankeeCanuck]

04:56 PM on 05/26/2010

You mean when they made stuff up.

[socalcde]

03:19 PM on 05/26/2010

I don't dislike Joe, but I was shocked that he was the running mate choice for Obama. Maybe they should try putting a "Top Kill" plug over him.

[SparkyDash]

07:30 AM on 05/28/2010

You're in a very tiny minority, so don't hold your breath.

[lastwordss]

03:18 PM on 05/26/2010

in the state of connecticut, which is full of wall street thieves and military-industrial thugs, blumenthal is praised as the greatest AG who never ruffled their feathers.

[jrfromdallas]

02:36 PM on 05/26/2010

Way to stay classy Joe!!

[motoGpifupleez]

02:06 PM on 05/26/2010

RightWinger/Republicans desperately want Blumenthal to be an issue.

The problem they face is that the video record of him saying that he DID NOT serve "in country" far outweighs the times he said otherwise.

He has been a tireless worker on behalf of veterans issues for his entire career, and Veterans know that. They aren't going to be swayed by the manufactured outrage of FOX "News".

[PassAGrilleJ]

03:30 PM on 05/26/2010

"The problem they face is that the video record of him saying that he DID NOT serve "in country" far outweighs the times he said otherwise."

Problem? If he didn't serve in Vietnam, the "number of times" he said he did should = 0

FAIL

[Skunkman]

11:28 AM on 05/28/2010

Yes we Connecticut Vets appreciate AG Blumenthal & I appreciate your post motoGpifupleez.

((Fanned))

[farley1]

01:59 PM on 05/26/2010

Man! LOL! Dude!

What you smokin'?

[itsreally happening]

01:56 PM on 05/26/2010

glad he can joke about it....don't find anything funny about liars

[larce1948]

02:46 PM on 05/26/2010

So, you pretty much hate all politicians. Me too. Biden is interesting when he goes off script. Most wont even try. Rand Paul is now getting a crash course on how to be media friendly, speak much but say nothing.

[merlynnmann]

01:51 PM on 05/26/2010

Biden make palin look like Albert Einstein

[littleolwinemakerme]

02:54 PM on 05/26/2010

Horse pucky.

[PrimusElijah]

03:04 PM on 05/26/2010

Joe is prone to gaff's, because he say's what's on his mind. Palin is prone to gaff's because she has trouble remembering what people have told her is on her mind. There is a difference.

[roblabrousse]

04:02 PM on 05/26/2010

Very funny!!!!

[212 The Real BiPartison]

01:35 PM on 05/26/2010

Biden, the gift that keeps on gaffing.

[75thRanger]

01:32 PM on 05/26/2010

I hate to admit this but I can't help but like Vice President Biden. I don't agree with anything he stands for politically but I just like the guy.

[wowalib]

01:51 PM on 05/26/2010

I agree with you totally. I really, really disagree with his politics but feel like I could comfortably sit down and drink a beer with him.

[wowalib]

01:53 PM on 05/26/2010

What is a remf?

[75thRanger]

01:58 PM on 05/26/2010

a military term for someone who is not in the fight and fill support roles:

A R.ear E.chelon M.other F.*****

[farley1]

01:59 PM on 05/26/2010

Rear Eschelon Mo Fo.