« What is it about vans? | Main | R.I.P. »
April 30, 2009
The continuing adventures of Joe Biden
Vice-President Joe Biden at #24 Delaware Vs Maine, originally uploaded by Saquan Stimpson/monstershaq2000.
Ah, Joe Biden. You sure do have a way with words. In an interview on the Today Show this morning, Matt Lauer asked the VP what advice he would give to a family member who wanted to fly to Mexico. Joe thought for a moment, then unleashed this wisdom:
"I would tell members of my family — and I have — I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now," Biden said. "It's not that it's going to Mexico. It's you're in a confined aircraft. When one person sneezes, it goes all the way through the aircraft." Biden went on to say he wouldn't suggest that they ride the subway either.
I, who at the time was getting ready to leave, shook my head. Little did I know that Biden's office was busy "clarifying" the remarks:
"The advice he is giving family members is the same advice the administration is giving to all Americans: That they should avoid unnecessary air travel to and from Mexico," said Biden spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander. "If they are sick, they should avoid airplanes and other confined public spaces, such as subways."
Cue the sad trombone. Come on, Elizabeth Alexander! That's not what Joe said. He said, I'd tell my kids not to fly on an airplane, or a subway. 'Twas pretty obvious to me.
I have a word of advice to Biden's PR people: you have to do better than that. Joe Biden is a smart man, and a good sidekick to Barack Obama. But, everyone knew going in, that Biden will, on occasion, say something dumb. This was one of the those times.
It'd be much better, I think, that instead of trying to claim Biden said something he didn't, to just admit that Biden misspoke, and here's what he meant. There's a subtle difference.
I should point on, however, that no matter what you think of Biden, he never joked about bombing Iran!
entry no. 1364
Posted at April 30, 2009 03:58 PM