Biden quote of the day: "Are you kidding me?!"

October 23, 2008
Interview of Joe Biden via satellite by Barbara West of WFTV. She has a strange interviewing techniques where she sounds like she's reading not talking to someone live. I can see why he was a little weirded out to begin with and then the questions were right from Limbaugh. Video courtesy of techvids 052oo6 via AmericasNewsToday.Org

[....]
BIDEN: We haven't paid ACORN a single penny to register a single voter. [in the general election - primaries absolutely.]

WEST: But in the past--

BIDEN: They're the facts!

WEST: But in the past Senator Obama was a Community organizer for ACORN, he was a lawyer for ACORN--

[Obama served ACORN and it's associates as an attorney on voter registration and on cases involving subprime mortgages that lead to this current financial crisis.]

BIDEN laughs.

WEST: ...and certainly in the senate he was a benefactor for ACORN.

BIDEN: (Indignant) How's he been a benefactor of ACORN? (Like he truly doesn't know.) He was organizer. John McCain stood before ACORN not long ago complimenting them on the great work they do. Does that make John McCain complicitous in any mistake ACORN has made? Are you kidding me?? C'mon, let's get real here!

West smiles like she's got him now. They discuss Joe the Plumber and spreading the wealthy around and whether Obama made a "crushing political blunder". Biden says, "Absolutely not!" And then goes on about middle class and taxes.

WEST: You may recognize this famous quote (I wasn't sure if she meant it was one he plagiarized. Joe Biden is in the Plagiarism Hall of Fame.) "From each according to his abilities - to each according to their needs." That's from Karl Marx. How is Senator Obama not being a Marxist if he intends to spread the wealth around?

BIDEN: Are you joking? (He blinks and gives his classic I'm going to eat you little girl grin.) Is this a joke?

WEST: No.

BIDEN: Is that a real question?

WEST: Yes.

BIDEN: He looks down and does that grin like listen here girlie. He's entertaining even when he's patronizing.) He's not talking about spreading the wealth around. He's talking about giving the middle class an opportunity to get the tax breaks they used to have......that's what we think. It's a ridiculous comparison, with all due respect. (Too late, Joe.)

WEST: You recently said: 'Mark my words...

BIDEN nods his head, clenches his mouth and licks his lips...too late...they've already flapped.

WEST: ...it will not be six months till the world tests Barack Obama.' But what worries many people is your caveat asking them to stand with him because it's not going to be apparent initially that he is right. Are you forewarning Americans that nothing will be done and..

BIDEN puffs up his chest and leans forward in his seat.

WEST:...that America's days as the world's leading power are over?

BIDEN: (Barely able to contain himself. The question was designed to provoke him. Is this a FOX affiliate? He closes his eyes and shakes his head. The Obama camp must have been ready to shock his dog collar) No. I am not at all. I don't know who is writing your questions (like even you a dumb blond couldn't come up with these.) - but let me make it clear. The fact of the matter is that everyone has acknowledge from Colin Powell down that the next president of the United States will be tested." He goes on comparing BO & JM and the economy, Iraq, Afghanistan and North Korea. "Barack Obama's been right. John McCain has been wrong. That was my point. Barack Obama is more ready than John McCain."

[Even for Biden that is a stretch - though he tried to sound convincing.]

WEST: Getting back to the spreading the wealth question...

BIDEN has that incredulous look like how dumb is this broad?

WEST: What do you say to the people who are concerned that Barack Obama is going to turn America into a socialist country much like Sweden?

BIDEN: (He doesn't even other to dignify it.) I don't know anyone who believes that except the far right wing of the Republican Party. (Get me to the hell out of here.)

WEST: Thank you, Senator Biden.

Video cuts off so we can't see what he said.

UPDATE on post interview happenings.