October 24, 2008
Posted: October 24th, 2008 01:25 PM ET
From CNN Political Producer Alexander Marquardt
Biden questioned the McCain campaign's likening of Obama to President Bush.
CHARLESTON, West Virginia (CNN) – Joe Biden laughed off John McCain’s Thursday statement that Barack Obama is “doubling down” on President George Bush’s economic policies, saying “This is as crazy as Butch Cassidy attacking the Sundance Kid!” “Yesterday, literally, John McCain actually went so far as to try to compare Barack Obama to George W. Bush,” said Biden to supporters at an outdoor rally in the streets of West Virginia’s capital. “John McCain is now attacking the Bush budget and Bush fiscal policies, which he voted for I might add. But folks, this is as crazy as, you know, Butch Cassidy attacking the Sundance Kid! I mean that’s a team! These guys have been a team. “I know Halloween is coming,” he went on to say. “but John McCain as a candidate of change? Whoa, come on! John McCain and change? He needs a costume for that, folks, The American people aren't going to buy this.” In the middle of coal country, Biden called for an additional $200 million in coal sequestration research and accused McCain of not wholeheartedly supporting clean coal, pointing to comments McCain made to the Sierra Club in 2000 when he said, “in a perfect world we would like to transition away from coal entirely.” The McCain camp has leveled the same charge at the Delaware senator. “Let me get something straight because you watch these McCain ads, you wonder what planet are they coming from, John McCain does not believe that clean coal is part of our future. Don't take my word for it. Take his word for it,” said Biden, reading the quote. “So John, if you're listening. Stop this malarkey about who's for clean coal,” he added. Make no mistake about it. The oil companies have placed their bets on Sarah Palin and John McCain, not on Barack Obama and Joe Biden. That's why Appalachia can't afford to go with McCain and must go with Obama.” The McCain camp shot back, again arguing that Obama and Biden are against coal, pointing to video of Biden in Ohio telling an environmentalist, “We're not supporting 'clean coal.’” “Barack Obama and his running mate are against coal, against off-shore drilling, and against nuclear energy,” wrote McCain spokesman Ben Porritt. “These plans would not only kill jobs in America - they would destroy the nucleus of West Virginia’s economy." Attending Biden’s rally Friday was Chaylee Cole, the former employee of a public relations firm that was hired by the RNC to make calls to voters and read statements attacking Obama. She quit instead. Biden was introduced by 90 year-old ailing Senator Robert Byrd, who read his remarks from a lowered lecturn while seated in a wheelchair. At the end of his speech, Biden paid tribute to the longtime senator from West Virginia, “to learn the ways of the Senate from Bob Byrd is like getting a trumpet lesson from the Angel Gabriel.” Filed under: Barack Obama Joe Biden John McCain
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