Joe Biden On Anger Over Economy: 'We're In Charge, So They're Angry'

Vice President Joe Biden told a Florida radio station Thursday that the Obama administration, not the Bush administration, is responsible for the state of the economy.

"There’s a lot of people in Florida that have good reason to be upset because they’ve lost jobs," Biden told WLRN's Phil Latzman in an interview. "Even though 50 some percent of the American people think the economy tanked because of the last administration, that's not relevant."

"What’s relevant is, we’re in charge. And right now, we are the ones in charge, and it’s gotten better but it hasn't gotten good enough. And in states like Florida it's even been more stagnant because of the real estate market," Biden continued.

"And so I don’t blame them for being mad. We’re in charge, so they’re angry."

Listen to the full interview here.

In a Gallup poll earlier this month, a majority of Americans for the first time held Obama to blame for the economy.

Biden stressed, though, that while Americans might blame the Obama administration for the economy now, the 2012 election would not simply be a referendum on the current administration, but a choice between Democrats and Republicans.

"Right now -- understandably, totally legitimate -- this is a referendum on Obama and Biden and the nature and state of the economy," Biden said. "It's soon going to be a choice."

Asked about Biden's comments, White House press secretary Jay Carney said Thursday that Obama was OK with election being a referendum on his record on the economy.

"The president fully expects that when people cast their ballots in November of 2012, that they will be making their decisions based on their assessment of his record, what he’s done, what he’s accomplished," Carney said. "And obviously comparing that and what his vision is for the future -- which is critical as well -- for where he wants to take the country going forward, and comparing that to whoever is the candidate for the Republican party. So the answer is, yes. It's more than that, but, yes."

WATCH:

Comments

[wizzardly]

12:02 AM on 10/16/2011

I gotta give Joe his due....He's right. I am unemployed since 2011 no one else to blame but him I'm one of the 400,000+ every month. I am waiting for his big job projection from Stimulus. I hope every unemployed person is a vote against Obama.

[Berlet98]

12:40 PM on 10/13/2011

There’s a common thread running through two recent news developments. Interwoven through Vice President Joe Biden’s politically-exaggerated prediction of rapes and murders and Iran’s farcical anger over being implicated in terrorism is the spectre of the man who, in one way or another, emboldens them both, Barack Hussein Obama.

Drudge.com featured two juxtaposed, starkly-contrasting pictures on Wednesday, one of candidate Obama’s October 27, 2008 rally in Pitttsburgh showing his wildly passionate supporters overflowing an arena, the other of his October 11, 2011 appearance in the same venue before mostly-empty seats. Drudge’s caption: “Enthusiasm Gap?”

The photos reflect more than an enthusiasm gap.

They reflect the reasons Joe Biden has gone off the deep end and why the equally-nutty Islamic Government of Iran is tempting fate: Both Biden and Iran know Obama is a one-termer. As a result, Biden has lost what was left of his mind and Iran is figuring it’s now or never to humiliate and terrorize the United States.

Pulling the bizarre card in Flint, Michigan, the always intemperate now totally screwy vice president was ostensibly making a pitch for Obama’s $447 billion American Jobs Act, which his own senate Democrats have effectively buried, when he predicted that more rapes and murders will occur if it isn’t passed.

As if that were not sufficient to scare politicians into backing another massive waste of money, after citing crime . . .
(Read more at http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=5708.)

[ChampLessFuzzy]

06:45 AM on 10/05/2011

You're a good man Joe :)

[swfi]

10:28 AM on 10/04/2011

Amazing, no mention of Biden not knowing who Van Jone was, yet Bachmans mistake all over the HP. No wonder most comments on this site only see thier side

[BravoFoxtrotDelta]

06:38 AM on 10/05/2011

Keep up...word on the street is that people will forget about other people, especially if they have zero interactions with them. Apparently, most on HP thought it was pretty unimportant in the greater scheme of things.

[PrincipiaChamp]

06:42 AM on 10/05/2011

True that :) Why it was considered news is beyond me, LOL

[ChampLessFuzzy]

06:47 AM on 10/05/2011

Probably because no one gives a ratz that the VP didn't know. I don't imagine they even passed each other in the hall.

[BravoFoxtrotDelta]

04:30 AM on 10/03/2011

Good job, Joe. Thank you for always telling it like it is and not hiding from a challenge.

[BravoFoxtrotDelta]

04:32 AM on 10/03/2011

Dude or dudette, stop drinking all that right-leaning kool-aid, you'll feel better and post far less ugly comments.

[SparkyDash]

05:14 AM on 10/01/2011

The vice president is one of the freshest voices and honest straight talkers in elected office today. His complete interview is worth the time to listen. Even Fox agreed that the nation blames Republicans and Bush for the hideous mess we're in and for what Obama inherited. What Joe stated, and very atriculately, was at the end of the day, he and the president understand the responsibility they have to this nation to make things right again. I love that in Biden...I respect that in the administration.

[SparkyDash]

03:23 AM on 10/03/2011

Ah, poor little sweetie pie. Get your goat? Sorry, but you would be quite incorrect by several degrees. Please don't attempt your foolishness with those of us who know better. Slate? LOL. Do you realize why you have to cite tr@sh like Slate?

And your deroguetory comments are a perfect comment on you as opposed to the VP. Please, don't feel too pumped up about how you are viewed :)

[Captain Crunch]

03:59 PM on 09/30/2011

Joe, I know what you mean. And you are going to work on it through 2016. I hope it recovers sooner though.

[ChampLessFuzzy]

06:44 AM on 10/05/2011

Nice :)

[nedwards1161]

01:59 PM on 09/30/2011

The sleaze brothers are up to something, they are not to be trusted.

[1tourist]

01:35 PM on 09/30/2011

Collectively, you have all accomplished gridlock. Would firing everyone change that? Who Knows?

[1tourist]

01:30 PM on 09/30/2011

If you are dumb enough to believe that cutting anyones taxes will do anything more than increase the debt, as rushing out to hire people without demand is unlikely. and if there were demand, unemployment wold take care of itself. The Repubs are only interested in one job, the presidency. When you vote for them, you will get what you deserve, just like the downgrade the Tea Party gave you with that debt limit fiasco.

[ggliddygirl2005]

02:25 PM on 09/30/2011

Taxes = money for the government

Tax Cuts = money for the American worker and his family

The American government cannot control their spending and more money given to them is not going to solve anything ... it never has and it never will. Money goes farther into helping the economy when the American taxpayer gets to keep more out of their paychecks.

The government wastes more money and is not responsible enough. Would you if you had someone else's money to burn? Of course you wouldn't.

The American taxpayer knows what he needs better than any government.

Tax cuts = not losing my full time job, not having to pay 100% of my health care premiums (boss currently pays 1/2) which would cause me to have to drop the coverage completely, keeps customers happy by not trickling the tax increases on to them, allows our company to go out and purchase new trucks for deliveries, office equipment & supplies, hire people, and give pay increases, bonuses and whatever else. Companies know what they need better than any government.

I don't see what's so difficult to understand about this.

[mgray34]

03:26 PM on 09/30/2011

More Tax Cuts = LESS money for government which = less money for important services and other GOOD things the government does which enhances society.

This "all government is bad" rant only hurts us in the long run. According to current events, Corporate America is not doing so hot on looking out for the best interests of Americans either. Both government AND capitalist methods are having problems now.

[accautotrainer]

04:01 PM on 09/30/2011

Actually, with over eight years of failed Bush economic policy coupled with the same when a GOP President is in office, honestly, we don't see why its so difficult for you folks to see.

If you folks would have your way the entire government would be eliminated, that is, until your Governor demands funding for his or her state. It is so nice to play the game but we all know how it ends. The GOP bad mouths the current Administration yet, behind the backs of every American is calling Washington asking for their cut of the money.

Here is another example: I live down in Baton Rouge, LA. The Government wants to give a grant to the local airport which they are providing to all local regional airports so travelers do not have to travel nearly 60 miles to get a good direct flight. What did the tea party activists shout out: We DON"T NEED the money! Let the private air carriers pay the fees to provide the flights. Oh, okay! That is, until they raise their fares! Double minded folks!

[election2012]

12:50 PM on 09/30/2011

So he's saying that government aught to take responsibility. It's a philosophical statement. That assumes most people are aware that Bush's big-spending ways contribute the most to the national deficit in recent years, and that reversing that damage is going to take some time.

[beckym1488]

09:31 PM on 09/30/2011

Obama doubled the troops in Afghanistan. I'm sure that's Bush's idea too, right.

[election2012]

12:11 AM on 10/01/2011

Facts and figures regarding who contributed to how much of the deficit.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/opinion/sunday/24sun4.html

[StanleyBing]

12:41 PM on 09/30/2011

Joey Plugs, the gift that keeps on giving.

[Ezio]

12:04 PM on 09/30/2011

6.8% to 9% + unemployment is not improving the situation.

[mgray34]

03:28 PM on 09/30/2011

False statistic...

The unemployment numbers were already rising before the President took office. Because of the negative momentum of the economy those numbers would have been where they are now no matter WHO was elected.

[Touche007]

04:28 PM on 09/30/2011

Yes the numbers were rising before he took office.

[Blufftonian]

12:03 PM on 09/30/2011

"We're InCompetent, So They're Angry"

FIFY

[StanleyBing]

12:41 PM on 09/30/2011

F&F

[Touche007]

04:30 PM on 09/30/2011

Incompentence is giving people tax cuts w/o paying for them.