Video: Biden says “It’s a depression”
posted at 8:48 am on October 20, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Via Jim Hoft at Gateway Pundit, we have Vice President Joe “Loose Cannon” on video raining on Barack Obama’s Chip Diller “All is well!” approach to the economy. While the White House touts statements from some economists who believe the recession has ended, Biden told an audience that we’re not only coming out of the problem, it’s worse than you think:
Sean Hannity begs Obama to lend Biden just one of his teleprompters, but remember what happened the last time Obama lent Biden a TOTUS? Better to just keep Joe at an undisclosed location as often as possible.
Biden didn’t limit the embarrassment to economics, either. As Andrew Malcolm reports, Biden also got a chance to exercise his fabulist impulses by rewriting the script on how exactly he came to be Obama’s flunking flunky. In his previous version, he accepted when Obama called him at the dentist’s office, in the middle of a root canal, when Obama promised Biden that he’d have a substantive role in the administration. In the new version, Biden made Obama ask twice and changed the promise into something less self-serving:
“I initially said no,” Biden said tonight, according to press pool notes, “that I wasn’t interested.”
Biden said the freshman Illinois senator asked the longtime Delaware senator to think about it.
According to tonight’s version, “a couple months later,” a persistent Obama repeated the offer in a hotel room in Minneapolis.
According to Biden, he looked at Obama and said, “Are you really committed to changing the course of this country?”
Biden recounted tonight, “He reached out, shook my hand and said, ‘I am[.]‘”
Anyone think Obama might be wishing he’d picked Evan Bayh instead?
Blowback
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Not to nitpick, but hasn’t the Obama administration been saying the recession is over?
Or do they mean the recession is over and the depression has begun?
Finish your term, Mr. Obama, and get on the international speaking circuit where you can get rich as was the plan all along.
Please, sir. Your assistance is no longer needed here.
jeff_from_mpls on October 20, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Biden’s starting to make Spiro Agnew look good.
Nethicus on October 20, 2009 at 8:53 AM
What’s the body count on TOTUSes these days? Or is it TOTi, plural? Had Joe B.’s go gone-with-the-wind at the AFA, then el Presidente’s took the fatal plunge from his perch when he could no longer stand producing lies… Now Joe is out there live without a net. Can’t a guy from Delaware get some help round here…
ted c on October 20, 2009 at 8:54 AM
So porkulus has worked better than Biden ever imagined, yet we’re in a depression? Geez, I’d hate to see what shape we’d be in if it had failed.
Doughboy on October 20, 2009 at 8:54 AM
Yes… and the BBC declared it over in June.
I NEVER watch Stephanopolis’ show, but I was flipping by and I think either Krugman or Dionne was casually saying that the recovery is on baby!
mankai on October 20, 2009 at 8:55 AM
Imagine. After our Empty-Suit-in-Chief there’s Biden and Pelosi, in that order. We truly are being led by the officers of a ship of fools.
bradley11 on October 20, 2009 at 8:55 AM
The sheriff rides atop his jackass, backwards.
ICBM on October 20, 2009 at 8:55 AM
If he keeps this up, they’ll have to issue his Secret Service detail butterfly nets.
trubble on October 20, 2009 at 8:56 AM
here’s come the New New Deal and the Third World War!
JohnBissell on October 20, 2009 at 8:56 AM
This guy is the perfect choice for Barack Obama.
Stan had Laurel. Abbott had Costello. Sigfried had Roy.
Two wacky, clownish stumblebums, yukking it up across the stage.
This is all a joke right?
At some point, an actual administration will emerge? I hope?
NoDonkey on October 20, 2009 at 8:57 AM
Alright!!….you go on Joe “Loose Cannon”! Tell us something that we haven’t already figured out. Joe is the leak the white house needs to plug. You just can’t buy this type of entertainment. One day is great and we are healing and the next day we are in a depression. Go figure!
shawno on October 20, 2009 at 8:58 AM
I think this one is pretty weak. Biden was talking about how if you’re out of work, it’s a depression for you. After all Reagan said:
PackerBronco on October 20, 2009 at 8:58 AM
He’s been in office exactly 9 months today. Unfortunately this is what we’re stuck with for the next 3 1/4 years.
Doughboy on October 20, 2009 at 8:58 AM
They told me if I voted for McCain the result would be an idiot vice-president a heartbeat away from the presidency.
I guess they were right.
Of course, it’s all Bush’s fault.
Drained Brain on October 20, 2009 at 8:58 AM
It is over!
Now it’s a Depression.
mankai on October 20, 2009 at 8:59 AM
Heh, at first I was like, “Whoa aren’t you confusing him with Palin?” But then I remembered that you wrote “Finish your term,” so, obviously, no.
Proud Rino on October 20, 2009 at 8:59 AM
I suspect Biden’s sudden reappearance was coordinated between the White House and news outlets like Newsweek, where the favorable PR was supposed to reintroduce Joe as a sage senior voice of wisdom on the issues of the day like the economy and foreign affairs.
Joe being Joe, of course, this plan was doomed to failure, because anyone with half a brain knew he was going to freelance his way into some gaffe. Depending on how many other appearances and speeches have been pre-arranged for Biden, he may or may not be put back in the closet for another couple of months until VP Joe v3.0 can be introduced to the American public.
jon1979 on October 20, 2009 at 8:59 AM
That’s just “Joe being Joe” again.
I want no harm to come to any sitting officeholder, but can’t escape the nagging conclusion that Biden is a form of life insurance. Nobody could be dumb enough to really want this clown a heartbeat away from the Oval Office, could they?
Then I read the OOTD….
cs89 on October 20, 2009 at 8:59 AM
Good ol’ Joe
blatantblue on October 20, 2009 at 9:00 AM
If not for the Stimulus, we’d be in a Depression-Depression.
mankai on October 20, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Vice President Glenn Humplik.
Abby Adams on October 20, 2009 at 9:01 AM
Thanks to Biden, Robert Gibbs will never have to seek employment.
Rovin on October 20, 2009 at 9:01 AM
It wasn’t a depression when you took over, Joe.
Ronnie on October 20, 2009 at 9:02 AM
Isn’t he more right than his pres? By the way, obama is on his way to his 26th or 29th fund raiser (how can we keep count?) where Bush had been to 6 in the same time. Obama cannot stay on task, but has to be out gladhanding all the time. He’s the big joke!
Bambi on October 20, 2009 at 9:02 AM
C’mon, he can get rich without finishing his term.
Globetrotting the world, bad mouthing his country, his predecessor and assuredly, all of his successors.
Toast of the world.
Resign now, Barry. Why work for a paltry half million a year when you can make that in an evening in Paris?
NoDonkey on October 20, 2009 at 9:02 AM
This is depression alright.
LibTired on October 20, 2009 at 9:03 AM
Barry probably wishes he’d picked anybody else instead.
AZCoyote on October 20, 2009 at 9:04 AM
I’m sorry to say…..(for our country) the man is just a doofus.
A globalist, New World Order progressive doofus.
GDP figures this week are supposed to show some pretty good improvement (per Forbes.com) so what’s Joe gonna do then?
This is all part of the “we neeeeeeeeeed gov’t run everything” mantra from the Marxists/Maoists in the White House.
To think they called Palin a “Barbie” and we got this instead?
Dark days for America.
PappyD61 on October 20, 2009 at 9:04 AM
cs89 on October 20, 2009 at 8:59 AM
What difference does it make? Biden’s no worse than Obama?
If they were NFL quarterbacks, it would be like bringing in Kyle Boller in relief of Jemarcus Russell.
We’re FUBAR’ed either way.
NoDonkey on October 20, 2009 at 9:05 AM
When there is no course set it doesn’t matter who leads the ship.
My problem is that our ship is sinking and the only thing the leaders can come up with is to throw the cargo overboard. We are also hampered by the liberals who know in their hearts that Socialist Island is just over the horizon and our salvation is at hand if we would just sail to it. On top of that we have people alleged to be on our side running around poking holes in the boat and screaming “Look at me. Look what I did. Don’t you love me now?”
RagTag on October 20, 2009 at 9:05 AM
But I thought the stimulus brought us back from the brink of disaster? Obama said so!
CookeyD on October 20, 2009 at 9:05 AM
and we were constantly being told that Dan Quayle was the joke, and yet this baffoon the second in line to President Erkel has wanted the job since 1988, makes Qualyle look like Teddy Roosevelt.
veni vidi vici on October 20, 2009 at 9:05 AM
1921 C DRUM on October 20, 2009 at 9:06 AM
Yeah, every time I think of the state of this nation and the direction we’re heading in, I certainly get “depressed” enough.
JetBoy on October 20, 2009 at 9:07 AM
I am sure that slo Joe hadn’t had his coffee yet and just misspoke.
Wasn’t it just yesterday that we were told Joe isn’t stupid?
tarpon on October 20, 2009 at 9:08 AM
Thank God for Lorazepam.
Dino64 on October 20, 2009 at 9:08 AM
THE truth is now official,GaffeBiden has announced,
that the Obama Administration is depressed!
Well,I think,its 9 months to the day,HopeChangey
has been in office,and so far,after about,
14 Trillion,or is it 40 to 50 Trillion dollars in the hole,
and he has Nothing,zip,zero,not-a,to show for it!!
Outstanding!!( a bit sarc).
canopfor on October 20, 2009 at 9:09 AM
You know,this all started from a single tire gauge!!
canopfor on October 20, 2009 at 9:09 AM
He stays on task because he thinks that is his task. I’ve meet and worked with people like him. He is the CEO who thinks that it is his job to be the public face of the company and nothing else. He is the guy that thinks to best run the company you have to appear on TV, in magazines and at events to let people know what you think.
RagTag on October 20, 2009 at 9:10 AM
So Biden accepted the bottom position.
DamnCat on October 20, 2009 at 9:11 AM
Yeah, I unfortunately have to agree with you on this one, PackerBronco. I’d have to hear the clip in a broader context of what he was saying, but I think you could be right; this appears to have been taken out of context. It would be perfectly expectant for him to say something broader around that line like: “For the country as a whole, the recession is over and the recovery has begun, but…” and go into the clip. He sounds like he’s more saying that to individuals it still feels like a depression because they are out of work, even though the “recession is over and recovery has begun”. Not that I think anyone really believes the recession is over.
Highlar on October 20, 2009 at 9:12 AM
Yeah yeah yeah…
“definitintion” “gaffe” “politician” “truth” “accidental”
Some assembly and connectors required….
apostic on October 20, 2009 at 9:12 AM
Biden. The white hole in the Obama universe.
TXUS on October 20, 2009 at 9:13 AM
“Botox Joe” is the gift that keeps on giving. And to think that 53% of the electorate thought he would make a better VP then Sarah Palin.
1921 C DRUM on October 20, 2009 at 9:14 AM
A little recognized fact in Washington,
-
recessions and depressions don’t just happen,
-
9.8 times out of ten they are caused by government.
-
Or maybe it’s 10 out of 10.
-
esblowfeld on October 20, 2009 at 9:15 AM
I’ve been in a depression since last November…
loudmouth883 on October 20, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Memo to White House:
Please,do not let Biden near any machinery,or Heavy
Equipment,for his own saftey!!
Thank-You!
canopfor on October 20, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Yeah, you’ve nailed it. All about image and the hell with profits, cutting unnecessary expenses, or expanding the company.
And, last but not least, the hell with the shareholders.
TXUS on October 20, 2009 at 9:17 AM
The current recession can be blamed on Barney Frank.
-
The coming depression / hyperinflation will belong to Barry.
-
esblowfeld on October 20, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Won’t be long now….the story of how Joe Biden was asked to be the fraud’s running mate will have so many twists and turns it’ll be a reality TV show. On NBC, of course. The network is no viewers and going down like Monica Lewinsky on Prom night.
GoldenEagle4444 on October 20, 2009 at 9:17 AM
When the hair goes back, that’s recession. When the hair gets plugged up, that’s depression.
LibTired on October 20, 2009 at 9:18 AM
Joe’s just paving the way for Stim 2. This is just the dems way of keeping us all pregnant and in the kitchen, well, except for the seniors. We’re all screwed.
Kissmygrits on October 20, 2009 at 9:18 AM
Dan Quayle was an easy target for jokes, but Biden provides enough material for a weekly Comedy Central political satire that would actually be funny, unlike “Bush” and “Little Bush”. Of course, that will never happen since they are a true “outlet for a political party”
Hening on October 20, 2009 at 9:19 AM
Sure glad that scary Sarah Palin isn’t the VP. Cause this guy is SOOOO much more intelligent than her.
*rolls eyes*
gophergirl on October 20, 2009 at 9:20 AM
Me thinks,Biden is panhandling,Liberal style!!
canopfor on October 20, 2009 at 9:21 AM
Probably yes on Bayh. He’s too liberal for my tastes, but seems like a decent guy who loves the country, and is definitely more careful than JB.
mikeyboss on October 20, 2009 at 9:22 AM
How about at The Villages – America’s Friendliest Hometown…
forest on October 20, 2009 at 9:23 AM
I believe Joe Biden fibs quite a bit but every now and again the honest-to-God truth comes out. I believe it is worse than the administration is letting on. I believe it will get worse and I can’t even imagine when it will be as good as it was during the Bush presidency.
I STILL predict that Hillary will oppose Obama in 2012.
Oink on October 20, 2009 at 9:23 AM
I think you need the negation to get Biden’s idea across properly: “Biden told an audience that we’re not only not coming out of the problem, it’s worse than you think:”
unclesmrgol on October 20, 2009 at 9:26 AM
Obama needs men in white jackets and restraining devices to follow this yo-yo wherever he goes and ensure he doesn’t hurt himself or some innocent bystander.
rplat on October 20, 2009 at 9:27 AM
yepper
cmsinaz on October 20, 2009 at 9:30 AM
It’s because Obama did not want this story to get out that he chose Biden:
WashJeff on October 20, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Soooo! Biden wants another trillion dollar stimulus? Ssuuure; No problem!
Cybergeezer on October 20, 2009 at 9:32 AM
Biden is the only one dumb enough to not catch on to Obama’s act.
faraway on October 20, 2009 at 9:35 AM
Bernanke: Recession is over.
Biden: It’s a depression.
I say we let them duke it out in a boxing ring. Whoever is left standing gets to determine whether the recession is over or if it’s a depression.
Daggett on October 20, 2009 at 9:35 AM
Out of the mouths of veeps…
Seriously, this guy is a Republican soundbite MACHINE.
Also, what is he doing, trying to crash the stock market again? Even if it IS a depression (which I don’t think it is YET, but will be if they manage to pass any of their stupid entitlement programs) you don’t SAY that because you’re going to spook the investor herd and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
DangerHighVoltage on October 20, 2009 at 9:35 AM
Two man enter, one man leave.
/Who runs Bartertown?
DangerHighVoltage on October 20, 2009 at 9:36 AM
Yea; I thought I saw somebody at an intersection in D.C. with a sign hanging around his neck that said “It’s worse than you think”, carrying a coffee can looking for donations, that could have been Biden.
Cybergeezer on October 20, 2009 at 9:37 AM
While I’d love to join in on the Biden-bashing, in that clip he did not say the country was in a depression. Go back and listen, he was speaking figuratively. “When the guy down the street loses his job, it’s an economic slowdown; when your brother-in-law loses his, it’s a recession; when you lose yours, it’s a depression. Well it’s a depression for millions of Americans.” All he is saying is that millions of Americans are out of work.
That said, my once-a-year defense of Joe Biden is done and I’m sure he will shortly put his foot in his mouth again and will in actuality say that the country is in a depression. In the mean time, how’s that stimulus working out for us, Joe?
Kafir on October 20, 2009 at 9:38 AM
It’s only a depression if you’re out of work.
Mojave Mark on October 20, 2009 at 9:39 AM
That’s not “rain” Joe is spreading.
I honestly don’t know what emotion to feel these days. I mourn for the loss of our country under the current socialist tyrant. I’m angry at the filthy lying coward in the White House and his Chicago street thug tactics. I’m depressed to see that the GOP seems to be poised to blow yet another election by pandering to moderates instead of rallying the base. I’m upset that our troops in Afghanistan are being left to die while the rat bastard traitor dithers over the political implications (to him) of a troop increase.
I could go on but it is just too depressing without any real sense of hope that things can be turned around before it is too late.
highhopes on October 20, 2009 at 9:39 AM
LOL: And with inter-gallactic intelligence!
Cybergeezer on October 20, 2009 at 9:41 AM
I can’t think of a better VP for Obama,,,his choice could not have been more descriptive of what Obama stands for….nothing.
right2bright on October 20, 2009 at 9:42 AM
That’s definitely racist!
Cybergeezer on October 20, 2009 at 9:43 AM
Can someone ask the Barry and Joe comedy act, how business owners are supposed to feel about hiring people when they are constantly demonized (if they make a profit) and taxed to death?
In short, why would anyone expand their business or hire anyone in this Democrat-hostile-to-business climate?
NoDonkey on October 20, 2009 at 9:43 AM
Bah, he’s not off script. He just skipped a few pages.
spmat on October 20, 2009 at 9:45 AM
It’s really a minor point. The key is to restore confidence in the strength of the economy and that isn’t happening so long as the filthy lying coward in the White House continues to pretend that unemployment increasing by a few less hundred thousand this month over last is an “improvement.”
highhopes on October 20, 2009 at 9:45 AM
OBAMA’S AGENDA–BEHEAD THE CONSTITUTION, RAPE THE CITIZENS, KNEECAP BUSINESS, AND ENRICH THEMSELVES IN THE PROCESS!
Cybergeezer on October 20, 2009 at 9:46 AM
Kafir on October 20, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Maybe, but is it too much to ask for these jackasses to think about what they’re saying?
When you are VPOTUS, you don’t throw around words like “depression” casually.
Is it too much to ask that Biden and Barry take their job seriously? They both act irresponsible and neither have respect for their office.
No wonder so few of us have respect or regard for them.
NoDonkey on October 20, 2009 at 9:46 AM
The gaffe that keeps on
gaffinggiving.Shy Guy on October 20, 2009 at 9:47 AM
Ed, this one is lame and not at all how you characterize it. Biden says enough foolish things that you can easily find some actual dumb statements.
AngusMc on October 20, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Economic Plan
Keep inflation down with a ponzi scheme from the Fed and having consumers too scared to spend.
Have the wonderful freedom which unemployment gives you extolled by the NYT in a recent article.
Send Biden out to act like the administration ‘gets it’. This is for those who believe we are in a depression since they are really suffering and don’t swallow the recovery koolaid.
Joke? All of them are true!
IlikedAUH2O on October 20, 2009 at 9:51 AM
Is this what they mean when the WH speaks of transparency? From the looks of the partying that takes place at the WH, you would never know that we’re in a depression.
nor on October 20, 2009 at 9:53 AM
What is he talking about? Unemployment can’t be over 8%!
IlikedAUH2O on October 20, 2009 at 9:53 AM
Agreed. There is PLENTY of things to fault this administration on, but this isn’t one of them. When we take things out of context and bash for bashing’s sake, it waters down the legitimate criticism. Jumping on something like this, where a few seconds of objective logical thought would require one to realize his true meaning, hurts us more than it does them.
miConsevative on October 20, 2009 at 9:53 AM
When this administration is out of work it is a recovery.
Man this guy makes it easy, He uses all but the punch line of a Reagan joke.
clement on October 20, 2009 at 9:54 AM
It’s a depression.
I’ve been writing that for more than a year.
Some in the media are picking up on that fact.
I am happy that the Vice President is accepting reality.
I hope he can get the President to face the truth.
corona on October 20, 2009 at 9:54 AM
Stand up economy. Oh god help me what am i saying.
bessex on October 20, 2009 at 9:54 AM
After every war there is one. Light up. We’ll all go numb together.
johnnyU on October 20, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Completely disagree.
He’s the VPOTUS. What he says matters.
We are supposedly trying to get businesses to hire, to get consumers to spend, to get people to invest.
Do you think perhaps some of that might be hindered, when the VPOTUS is throwing around words like “depression”?
As in, sell all your assets and buy gold, “depression”?
Every word a powerful individual utters is parsed. If Biden doesn’t like that, perhaps he should find a new line of work.
It’s ridiculous to give him a pass on this.
NoDonkey on October 20, 2009 at 9:59 AM
I’m depressed
PatriotRider on October 20, 2009 at 10:00 AM
I guess, then, this is the worst economy in fifty years.
Unless Biden is ‘talking down the economy’. Or do only Republicans running for office have that power?
I wish the Dems would get their stories straight.
Liam on October 20, 2009 at 10:03 AM
This is not only a full force depression, this is an assault on the American Constitution, Bill of Rights, and our way of life; all out war against the people by a political party and their operatives in the media…
Keemo on October 20, 2009 at 10:05 AM
me too.
Griz on October 20, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Biden. The white hole in the Obama universe.
TXUS on October 20, 2009 at 9:13 AM
TXUS: Where,even,political Light cannot escape!!hehe:)
canopfor on October 20, 2009 at 10:06 AM
10%+ Unemployment and going up. Fuel Prices going up. Food Prices going up.
Anyone see a pattern? Now that is Depressing.
PappaMac on October 20, 2009 at 10:06 AM
I wish the Dems would get their stories straight.
Liam on October 20, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Liam: Bidens gonna get reamed by Rahm Emanuel,for not
staying on talk`n points!!:)
canopfor on October 20, 2009 at 10:08 AM
WWII history differs…the one of the longest sustainable boon, no depression since before the war.
right2bright on October 20, 2009 at 10:09 AM
It only made it worse-worse.
Johan Klaus on October 20, 2009 at 10:09 AM
I look to VP Bidens strong hand of leadership for my daily laugh needs.
Jeff from WI on October 20, 2009 at 10:11 AM
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