Biden On Russian Spy Swap: 'I Thought They'd Take Rush Limbaugh' (VIDEO)

BURBANK, Calif. (AP) - Vice President Joe Biden had to convince a skeptical Jay Leno that the United States didn't get a raw deal from Russia in the biggest spy swap since the Cold War.

Leno asked Biden Friday during a taping of "The Tonight Show" why the U.S. was sending 10 accused spies back to Russia while getting only four in return.

"That doesn't seem fair," Leno said.

"We got back four really good ones," Biden reassured Leno. "And the ten, they've been here a long time, but they hadn't done much."

Leno then showed a sultry photo of alleged Russian agent Anna Chapman and asked: "Do we have any spies that hot?"

Biden's reply, in a mock-serious tone: "Let me be clear. It was not my idea to send her back."

The vice president also said he had one more suggestion for the deal that was ignored.

"I thought they'd take Rush Limbaugh," he said.

The spy exchange took place earlier Friday on an airport tarmac in Vienna.

Biden opened the show in a comedy bit with Leno. It was his first appearance since taking office in January 2009.

Before becoming vice president, Biden had appeared on "Tonight" several times.

President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and White House senior adviser David Axelrod also have made appearances on the late-night show.

On Friday, Leno jabbed Biden for his tendency to make very public gaffes, pointing out an open-microphone expletive Biden uttered when Obama signed health care legislation in April.

Biden said he warned Obama before taking the job.

"I told the president two things when he asked me to do the job," Biden said. "I said, 'Just two conditions, Mr. President. I'm not going to wear any funny hats, and I'm not changing my brand.' And I kept my promise."

Biden went on to demonstrate that speaking style when Leno asked him who would win Sunday's World Cup final.

"I think the Netherlands are going to win, but what the hell do I know?" he said. "I thought LeBron was going to stay."

Watch Vice President Joe Biden talk with Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show":

Comments

[PrincipiaChamp]

09:17 AM on 07/14/2010

Love this man Joe Biden, brilliant, funny, affectionate, and no BS. Outstanding vice president!

[Just walkin the dog here]

11:43 AM on 07/13/2010

Simply, I like Joe. He's the elected official I would like to have a beer with. I'd probably end up snorting it through my nose. That would be epic.

[eklousia]

03:11 PM on 07/13/2010

I like him too. He is the type you would want to have a beer with. However, I think the "have a beer with guy" is better in the V.P. spot. It is nice to have a professorial sort in the no. 1 every once in a while.

[BravoFoxtrotDelta]

11:21 AM on 07/15/2010

We have the administration we want and that works well, but Joe Biden would have made an outstanding U.S. President. A sense of humor does not mean lack of professionalism.

Biden doesn't drink of course.

[StephJH]

11:18 AM on 07/13/2010

Joe Biden -- so real, so down to earth, what you see is what you get, regular guy ... and smart too.

[CanterburyTale]

12:12 AM on 07/13/2010

The Russians turneddown an offer for Limbaugh because he cannot fit into one airplane seat so they would have had to count him as two.

[reasonshouldrule]

11:07 PM on 07/12/2010

Joe Biden is smart, funny, and an altogether good human being. I'm glad he's our VP.

[PrincipiaChamp]

09:11 AM on 07/14/2010

Indeed!

[lvdragonlady]

09:54 PM on 07/12/2010

Nice one Joe, thanks.

[mountaingal]

05:19 PM on 07/12/2010

Maybe Rush is a mole from the old USSR. After all, he has an army of Ditto-Heads much like the old Soviet empire had--thousands with the Rush hive mentality repeating whatever racist and anti-women remarks Rush spews. Imagine seeing a street filled with this pod people--how the old KGB would have rejoiced seeing thousands of Americans without the will to think for themselves.

[JesseEHenthorn]

05:16 PM on 07/12/2010

Joe Biden is MY Vice President - with a sense of humor.

[ChampLessFuzzy]

09:07 AM on 07/14/2010

Brilliant in foreign policy, plus a great sense of humor :)

[txrunner]

04:39 PM on 07/12/2010

Biden refuses to change his brand????

Really, Biden a brand?

Maybe there should be additional regulations on certains brands.

[nixrox04]

04:29 PM on 07/12/2010

Why should the VP of the USA feel obligated to explain anything to an overpaid, boring night time talkshow host?

[madashellvoter]

02:31 PM on 07/13/2010

AGREED!

[mwat35]

04:13 PM on 07/12/2010

way to keep it classy mr. biden

[kinnycut]

04:05 PM on 07/12/2010

Good idea Joe, and then they can send the blow hard to Siberia to melt some snow.

[BVictor1]

05:08 PM on 07/12/2010

No, you'd want to send Sister Sarah there seeing as she can already see it from her house; easy walk you know?...

Then again, maybe you'd want to send here somewhere else; too easy a walk back.

[madrediterra]

05:10 PM on 07/12/2010

He said he was going to leave. We're all waiting ... If he opened his mouth in Russia he'd be shooting his mouth off in a mental asylum.

[armyof14USA]

12:10 PM on 07/13/2010

Be careful what you wish for, might as well get, but no refund.

[chandran007]

03:03 PM on 07/12/2010

I am from India and I like Rush Limbauh. I wish India had one like him to take on 80% of India ( the leftist c0mmie fundamentalist secularist Radicals)

[deirdreflanagan6]

03:09 PM on 07/12/2010

He's all yours...please,take him..
take all the outsourced jobs, the intellectual properties...but first take Fatty Limbaugh.....

[deirdreflanagan6]

03:12 PM on 07/12/2010

Aw...how nice...go ahead, help yourself...take him...he will require all the food that a large city survives on today...but what the heck, he's worth it...

[deirdreflanagan6]

02:56 PM on 07/12/2010

What a refreshing change from the 'Dickster'.....

[judiNJ]

04:44 PM on 07/12/2010

Amen!

[roannamac]

02:47 PM on 07/12/2010

Love me some Joe. Smart, funny, independent thinker. I was so glad the president picked him to be his partner.