October 30, 2009
Posted: October 30th, 2009 01:51 PM ET

From

WASHINGTON (CNN) – In an exclusive interview with CNN, Vice President Joe Biden said Friday he believes the economy has "hit bottom" and he's confident the stimulus package is helping to put the economy back on track.

"Oh I'm confident we've hit bottom," Biden said. "The question is look, we're not going to be satisfied, Ed, until I'm able to sit in front of you and say, 'Look, this month we grew jobs.'"

The vice president acknowledged that with unemployment at 9.8 percent across the country right now, it is hard to convince the American people the nation is coming of out of recession. Biden made his comments on a day in which he released a new report claiming the stimulus has created or saved somewhere between 640,000 and one million jobs.

"The net effect is growing jobs," said Biden, though he quickly acknowledged: "It doesn't say a lot to people to say, 'You know there would have been a million more ... jobs lost but for this [stimulus]. My grandpop used to have an expression... We lived in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

He said when the guy in Dixon City, a suburb, is out of work it's an economic slowdown. When your brother-in-law's out of work, it's a recession. When you're out of work, it's a depression. And it's a depression for millions of people."


Biden added there's a "necessary disconnect when people are out of a job," but he asserted that the recent report showing that the Gross Domestic Product has grown 3.5 percent in the last three months shows the recovery plan is working.

"Every expert out there has said... - and you know this - is that in a large part is attributable to the stimulus package," said Biden. "Put another way, without the stimulus package, the economy wouldn't have grown this last quarter."

Filed under: Economy • Joe Biden


Four and The Door   October 30th, 2009 4:04 pm ET

He lost credibility with me as an economic expert way back when they spent all of that money ( over 2 times NASA's current annual budget ) to bail out GM and Chrysler. Got a bunch of jobs out of that investment didn't they? Nope.

Travis   October 30th, 2009 4:02 pm ET

I think Joe has been drinking.

Kelly   October 30th, 2009 4:01 pm ET

I am amazed. WOW. Joe Biden is a mirale worker. We shoudld elect him president in 2012.

Hammerer   October 30th, 2009 3:58 pm ET

Maybe Biden should tell someone else, no one watches CNN anymore. Everyone has realized that all CNN offers is the Obama's talking points.

Obama Victim   October 30th, 2009 3:57 pm ET

how big an idiot do you have to be to believe this guy??

all the news that's fit to omit   October 30th, 2009 3:52 pm ET

Today it was revealed that his $8000 first time home buyer program actually cost $44,000 a piece and the cash for clunkers cost us $24,000 a vehicle and his jobs saved (?????) or created (?????) LIE cost us at LEAST $75,000 a LIE or job.

That is the only reason why the GDP went up, and the liar in chief ran in front of a camera patting himself on the back and when the GDP is down next quarter he will cowardly say, "It is Bush's fault".

Wow, Sniffit, you must be so hopey and changey, better hurry, Oprah's coming on soon.

Debby   October 30th, 2009 3:49 pm ET

Yeah like I am going to believe a guy who sticks hair plugs in his head.

MEMBER OF THE PARTY OF NO MARXISM   October 30th, 2009 3:48 pm ET

Whatever you say Joe! Only the idiot kool-aid drinkers believe that .

LacrosseMom   October 30th, 2009 3:45 pm ET

To "mjm"............... the JOB numbers are FACT.......... Look it up!

This is the problem with the GOP..... you people are in denial, you believe your own lies!

650,000 JOBS created...... its FACT.

30,000 in Private industry, its FACT.

LOOK IT UP.

TCM   October 30th, 2009 3:36 pm ET

yawn...."Sniffit, Lacross Mom...and various (but a shrinking number) of die hard liberals..."

The economy's no where near the bottom.

TCM   October 30th, 2009 3:34 pm ET

Was this comment made from the diner he said he, "...just ate at last week..." during his campaign, but in actuality had closed some 20 yrs earlier? Joe Biden's a joke...and an embarassment to this country. The only point of contention for many Americans is which is the biggest embarassment; Biden or his clown boss.

KV   October 30th, 2009 3:34 pm ET

According to VP biden we are already in a boom. he's the one who said that they misread the economy. Then comes back again and changes his statements. No one trusts him anymore. If he would be working somewhere, he might have already been fired.

Jayden,FL   October 30th, 2009 3:32 pm ET

I guess Biden's favourite word is Look lol...... but hey look i hope the economy continues to make a comeback

Look Again   October 30th, 2009 3:31 pm ET

Apparently the stock market doesn't agree. I think the market and most Americans are really concerned about how we will pay for all the "change" we voted into office.

TobyBelch   October 30th, 2009 3:27 pm ET

Given that consumer spending dropped in September, disposable income is down, savings are down, taxes withheld up and unemployment still a problem, I wouldn't be too quick to say we've hit the bottom and are on the way back up quite yet.

Centrist   October 30th, 2009 3:24 pm ET

Vice President Biden is working hard in this administration to put our country back on the right track for all Americans, and there are some cautiously optimistic signs of recovery due to their efforts. Keep up the great work!

B   October 30th, 2009 3:20 pm ET

The economy is starting to come around, but it isn’t going to happen in six months......... It is amazing that the President and others have managed to stabilize it in ten months!

white female   October 30th, 2009 3:20 pm ET

Good Job (JOE) Mr. VP. They just don't want to see the progress, the other side think we must all sit and hold our hands in our lap, sit on our behinds and do nothing.
The economic is coming back strong, some of us who want to see growth, progress and success or out working two jobs, some working three to do what we have to do to make a change in our lives and help others. Please keep up the good work with the President, we will make this country a better place. There is plenty jobs coming in out here in the country, you just have to apply yourself with more and better education of learning to do more jobs, these jobs or the jobs of the future, and people must start education that will help them get these jobs.

Good luck, and may god Bless this admin. Obama/Biden 2009-2016

mjm   October 30th, 2009 3:18 pm ET

First they said 30000 jobs actually created. That turned out to be more like 20000. Now they say 650000 jobs created? Or more like 1 million? Who is making this stuff up?

"We created or saved a zillion bazillion jobs!"

9.8% unemployment and somehow this guy thinks he's getting the job done. What would have been worse? Teacher's losing their government jobs? Government employees in California losing their jobs?

The stimulus only helped out state budget deficits. That's what happens when government gets too big.
It’s the government that’s broke. Not private industry.

LacrosseMom   October 30th, 2009 3:17 pm ET

Yesterday the NY Times had an article that we, my husband & I thought excellent NEWS!

The title was "U.S. Economy Started to GROW Again in the Third Quarter" Praise GOD!

Times are still hard for Americans, but we are in a RECOVERY!

Here is some MORE GOOD NEWS:

CNN reports that the" Stimulus CREATED .......... 650,000 JOBS!"

"30,000 JOBS were created in private industry"

Economist Hared Bernstein told CNN "We're SOLIDLY on track to create or SAVE ....3.5. MILLION JOBS......."

First I want to thank Almighty God for His help! And I want to thank President Obama for his wisdom in leading our Nation....... through...... THE BUSH DISASTER!

We are in the beginning of RECOVERY! HOPE WINS AGAIN!

A wised up Democrat who is now an Independant   October 30th, 2009 3:16 pm ET

What a lie. Tell that to the unemployment lines.

Wise Latina   October 30th, 2009 3:14 pm ET

Biden laughed and pointed at the press corp, "Yeah, I think you actually almost believed that one. HaHaHaHa!!!"

SMSgt   October 30th, 2009 3:05 pm ET

Get real where are all the jobs, CNN ask about that and the far left people in the Whitehouse who hate the USA

dh   October 30th, 2009 3:04 pm ET

i dont trust this idiot who said the govt mis read the economy

BobAbrams   October 30th, 2009 3:01 pm ET

I think Joe Biden is an idiot, BUT, I actually appreciate what he says here. It's tough to sell this lousy economy and failed stimulus. He's being honest and I can appreciate that.

Pat F   October 30th, 2009 2:59 pm ET

All evidence to the contrary, eh, Sparky?

Imagine this airhead is a heartbeat away from the presidency!

Enough   October 30th, 2009 2:56 pm ET

You go Joe, I'm sure some fool will believe your fairy tales. If you say it enough, you might even convince yourself that what you say is true. Problem is the rest of know the economy is in the toilet, unemployment has sky rocketed after your failed stimulus. This recession like past recessions should have recovered long ago, it is the Obamas tax and spend policies and tax the businesses that are keeping it down. This is Obamas economy.

File under "Sarcasm"   October 30th, 2009 2:56 pm ET

What is this guy smoking? I think they're "growing" something else besides jobs in the White House.

Henry Miller, Libertarian   October 30th, 2009 2:56 pm ET

Yeah, and Joe Biden is known for his brilliance as an economist. And surely he has no reason to maybe bias his comments just a little...?

S M R   October 30th, 2009 2:55 pm ET

Slowly the Democrats are steering Our GREAT COUNTRY away from the CRIPPLING DEPTHS of the Republican rule.

File under "Sarcasm"   October 30th, 2009 2:54 pm ET

We can see how the stock market appreciated his optimism, the DOW is down 250. If unemployment were falling at the same rate, the publis might agree. Instead, we're out of work and watching our 401K's tank again.

Bubble of Sanity   October 30th, 2009 2:44 pm ET

Well, that's good to know. And it must be true. If Joe Biden said it, it has to be so. The guy is always so on-target. Right.

Objective Thinking   October 30th, 2009 2:39 pm ET

The whole point of government action is AVOID hitting bottom. If it hits bottom anyway, then we were better off doing nothing.

Fools and their freedoms are soon parted   October 30th, 2009 2:37 pm ET

Right so now Looney Tune Biden is an expert esonimist, war strategist...at least he is trying to focus on his job unlike some people who are not...OBAMA>>>

Dar   October 30th, 2009 2:37 pm ET

Joe, Joe, Joe, you keep saying the same old thing over and over again. You keep saying we have hit rock bottom enough and one of these times you will be right. But we havent hit the bottom yet, Odumbo has yet to really screw things up and then we will agree with you. Untill then, SHUT UP! Joe you are such a post turtle.

For those of you who dont know what a post turtle is: When someone puts a turtle on the top of a fence post and the turtle is flopping his legs around going no where. The turtle cant do anything untill some body helps him, we dont know why the turtle is there but some dumb ass put him in this situation. Much like Odumbo and Joe, some dumb ass put them in the white house, get the picture now.

rjoco   October 30th, 2009 2:36 pm ET

This idiot is living in a dream world. Does he mean tomorrow because the Dow is tanking.

tracy   October 30th, 2009 2:35 pm ET

I believe the saying is ,it is a recession when your neighbor is out of work, a depression when you are out of work and a recovery is when Obama is out of work!!!! We have to wait 3 more years.

David   October 30th, 2009 2:34 pm ET

Gee whiz, Joe, you are still out of touch. Is it just because the GDP increased? because that's the only thing that did. Tell it to those who are still losing their jobs and homes. We all can't be like you, getting our pockets stuffed from those predatory lenders that set up shop in your state.

Bob in Pa   October 30th, 2009 2:33 pm ET

BS Joe !
It's still sinking. I would say the recession hasn't even started yet.

With all that the Banks and Credit companies have done recently to conteract the rules that Congress passed, the average person is just starting to feel the pinch.

ICARE   October 30th, 2009 2:32 pm ET

Yeah, yeah, we need to throw tons of money to research and we need to invest in green energy, otherwise, we'll never get out!

Green energy is the answer to creating billions of jobs!! here in America....

Please live for the future and forget the past.

Tina   October 30th, 2009 2:32 pm ET

Yes, the pockets of wealthy policitians, Whitehouse and lobbyists thru their crazy spending sphree. However, in CNNMoney they reported 7.6 unemployed and people starting to cash out their 401K because they ran our of unemployment benefits and couldn't pay their bills nor met the needs of their family. In my church alone, 80% lost jobs and some are just working parttime. Where is the government help? It is mere public citizens that have to help each other to cope up with this economic problem. Ow by the way, how about Whitehouse CZARs that were never selected by people through voting process and are now receiving very good pay by Whitehouse. Let there be fairness in their government. "For the American People, By the American People" we will improve our lives not by "For the Whitehouse Obama Administration, By the Obama Administration" we all bow down and suffer and wait 'till they realized they've spend too much.

southerncousin   October 30th, 2009 2:31 pm ET

Isn't that what he said in January or when ever the lying porkulus bill got passed that gave all of the money to ACORN/SEIU? Lying liar, just like his boss. Worse liars than Clinton ever was and he was real bad.

Steve-Illinois   October 30th, 2009 2:30 pm ET

Be sure not to mention that any organization that's actually looked into these "created and saved" jobs, has found that many were duplicated, somtimes as much as 5x what were actually created. I think this administration has created it's very own version of new math!

Idiot_Pelosi   October 30th, 2009 2:27 pm ET

Oh yeah, I trust this this idiot.

BIDEN is a moron.

JJ in Chula Vista, CA   October 30th, 2009 2:26 pm ET

Unfortunately, much to the delight of Republicans, those job gains may not come ahead of the 2010 elections.

In the mean time, Republicans will use the pace of any job gains as opportunity to argue for their side ahead of that election.

Voters have short memories. People will quickly forget that Republicans brought the economy on the verge of colapse and that we weren't going to dig ourselves out of that Republican hole easily.

The trouble is: We're going to wind up in another Republican hole before we know it. That's how Republicans want it, that's how Republicans need it to survive as a political entity.

Buck Wheat   October 30th, 2009 2:22 pm ET

Can you say FOOL!

Kent   October 30th, 2009 2:17 pm ET

That's right Joey, keep plagerizing (it was Reagan in '80 who first said this slightly altered quote); I think they wove the hair plugs too deep into your skull.

S Callahan   October 30th, 2009 2:15 pm ET

Yeah, okay.....which book are you reading? Joe, I don't think you've eaten in anyone's kitchen lately....time to get out and visit the real folks Joe!

once upon a horse   October 30th, 2009 2:12 pm ET

very good to hear Mr. Vice President, but if you are waiting to hear President Obama and his administration get any kind of credit for this, especially from the right, the I hope you are not holding your breath. This whole economy could do a 360 and the Republicans would STILL find something wrong. Those of us who are not birthers nor tea baggers and are willing to give this president a chance at making our country better are happy to hear this. Those who want him to fail and support the Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck crowd want nothing to do with anything he might be doing right.

Donna   October 30th, 2009 2:11 pm ET

I wonder where the economy has bottomed out per Joe Biden? Here in the South we are still out of work, still having laying offs, businesses are still closing. And what states got 650,000 jobs from the stimulus package? If the stimulus package for the average joe is that $12 extra in my paycheck then that has gone to pay for some oil county sheik to buy a new BMW. Or is the stimulus the $12 in my paycheck well guess what per my accountant I will be paying that back to the govt. on 4-15-10. Is the simulus package the money the govt. is not giving our seniors for cost of living or better known as "cola".

Fair is Fair   October 30th, 2009 2:10 pm ET

The buffoon known as Biden strikes again.

So tells us, old gaffe-a-minute... where's the 3 million jobs? What's going to happen to the phantom 650,000 jobs that the porkulus "saved" when the funds run out? What are you and Pelosi going to do when healthcare doesn't cover hair plugs and botox?

Oh... and thanks... once again... for letting us know you're from Scranton. I almost forgot the 1000 other times you've told us.

Be a man and fess up that porkulus was an unmitigated failure.

Fed Up   October 30th, 2009 2:10 pm ET

When everyone is employed that wants to be employed, then I will believe his statement. Until then, it's more politics.

Larry   October 30th, 2009 2:06 pm ET

Um...Joe? What about the fact that the stimulus job creation data is compromised? How many jobs did it REALLY save/create? Far short of 640K...

Ron   October 30th, 2009 2:03 pm ET

OK wait....................................................what?

Matthew   October 30th, 2009 2:03 pm ET

Joe Biden says a lot of things–most of which are exaggerated or completely untrue. The stimulus package was an utter failure (unemployment at 10%) and other policies to push Obama's ideology will only hurt the average American (higher energy costs, more fees and taxes, less freedoms/choices....).

This administation stinks.

Comments have been closed for this article

subscribe RSS Icon
About The Ticker

The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com.

CNN=Politics Screensaver

CNN=Politics ScreensaverTap into the power of The Situation Room. Download this powerful new tool that keeps you posted on the latest political news from the campaign trail.
Download (4.1 MB, PC only)

twitter
@edhenrycnn: http://twitpic.com/s1eyz - Courage, Dan Rather
Updated: Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:34:04 -0800
@edhenrycnn: http://twitpic.com/s1ero - Pretty good likeness of King of Talk @kingstings
Updated: Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:32:37 -0800
@edhenrycnn: http://twitpic.com/s1eeq - Found Tiger Woods -- wax version at Madame Tussaud museum in DC.
Updated: Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:30:17 -0800
JohnKingCNN: Study Hall. New Mexico Military Institute. http://twitpic.com/s0xm6
Updated: Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:38:33 -0800
@wolfblitzercnn: Did you see the Obamas light the National Christmas Tree? He counted down, and then he, the First :Lady and both daughters hit the button.
Updated: Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:16:36 -0800
Categories
Powered by WordPress.com VIP