(CNN) - Vice President Biden equated Republicans taking over Congress in the upcoming elections with opium gang feuds at an event Friday, and he didn't stop there.
Biden warned the crowd at an Iowa rally of a pending Republican takeover.
"If these guys take over the House and the Senate this next time out… it will be a Tong War for the next two years," Biden said.
The Tong Wars were feuds among rival Asian gangs in U.S. cities over the opium trade in the mid-1800s and early 1900s.
Biden also said it would ultimately have been better for Democrats if the Bush-era policies had lasted longer.
"It would have been better to lose last time, have four more years of really bad, bad policy and have no doubt about why all this occurred and then had a decade of trying to bring America around," Biden said.
But despite his assumedly facetious 2008 revisionism, he imparted advice to the crowd about how to deal with Republican talk on government spending.
"The next time a Republican tells you anything about 'fiscal responsibility,' laugh at 'em, just laugh at 'em," Biden said.
- CNN's Joe Von kanel contributed to this report
- Follow Gabriella Schwarz on Twitter @schwarzgcnn
From CNN Politics
© 2011 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Contact us | Work for us | Help
Americans will find it necessary to laugh in order to keep from crying over the mistake of putting Republicans back in office because we won't be able to afford a kleenex due to their "fiscal responsibility".
Tong Wars, 'eh??
Maybe more like the Revolutionary War...
Wow, ya think the photo is editorializing?
Republicans have no intention of being fiscally responsible. They've followed the two Santa Claus theory since 1980 – when in power run up massive deficits. The moment you are out of power, start complaining about the deficits. They get to give tax cuts that aren't paid for and then have the country in such a mess that democrats can't do anything to move the country forward. The fact that the right wing media lets them get away with it shows they've co-opted the "4th estate" as well.
Exactly JOE. You hit the nail on the head. Let's face it, a majority of people are stupid. That's just a fact. They forget who brought about this recession. They forget who spent the 13 trillion. The forget who works for them and not the other way around. You and Pres. Obama have my full support in doing what you have to to fix their mess. I knew then who to vote for and I know now and its not the Republicans.
I wonder if Republican operatives added something to our water that causes selective memory lapse or if a majority of Americans are just too selfish, ignorant, or simple to figure out who is taking control of this "democracy."
VP Biden ... we are laughing at all you politicians .... we don't believe anything that most of you say ... particularly those of you that are life long professional politicians.
"Go figure, Palin reads the first line of something and she thinks she understands it...I find it truly amazing that anyone still listens to anything she says!"
This problem is inherent in the acculturation that causes conservatism. How many times have we all come here to read comments and post our banter only to be regaled by talking point regurgitation from angry teatarded bigots who did nothing more than read the headline? They are trained from an early age to NEVER LOOK BEHIND THE CURTAIN. That translates into myriad problems processing contrary facts and evidence and adapting accordingly. They grow up in an environment where they are taught to accept and believe what authority figures tell them to accept and believe and to view all contrary information and opinions as an evil, vile and subversive threat to their carefully constructed house-of-cards world view...fundamentalist religion being one of the prime vehicles for instilling this programming.
Sometimes Bidens speeches are very awkard but in this instance I think he maybe right. The Republicans will win and the intolerance and violence will step up fulled by their rants and ravings.
Talk about casting fear on voters. What have the Democrats said about the GOP playing the fear game when it comes to voting? Now they are doing exactly that. The Vice President is right on one thing, they should have lost in 2008. It they did, this coming election of a GOP wave would never have happened. When will they get it that it's their policies that the people don't like.
Bush era republicans were fiscal irresponsible, but that doesn't make it ok for Biden and his super-majority cohorts to do the same thing!
Joe Biden is wacky in the head!
Honestly, Papa Joe needs to be unleashed more often. The Tong Wars? Damn that's good!
CNN, what's with that picture? Are you the Onion now?
Biden is about as unaware of current US political trends as your typical Australian. Far from fear, confusion and anger, the center and swing vote have given the current administration two years and have seen basically...nothing. This isn't about jobs or the economy. It's about a White House with no direction and sees spending as the answer to everything. It's about a congress that sees anyone making over 150K a year as rich and thinks that raising taxes increases tax revenues (hint: it never has). Finally, it's about a government that thinks that the public OWES it tax dollars. Tax dollars are ours to pay or not pay as we see fit. If we want smaller government, the voter has the right to demand smaller governance. Basically, it's about the fact that conservatives, moderates and liberals all agree that the government is getting too big and we'd like to see some push-back. It really is that simple.
Washington, America would like to see you go away for awhile.
Right on Joe!! And btw, I've been laughing at that statement for quite some time already!!!!
His rhetoric reaffirms for me why he never had a prayer to win the Democratic nomination for President. Good grief.
Why is it that Joe Biden looks ridiculous in every pic taken of him? I know the VP doesn't really matter much but come on.
"It would have been better to lose last time, have four more years of really bad, bad policy and have no doubt about why all this occurred and then had a decade of trying to bring America around," Biden said.
Is he for real? the left and Obama have been saying 8 years of Bush's fault, and he wants four more years just to prove his point and let the country suffer if that is what he believes?
Biden can say the darndest thing because he thinks everybody is stupid, those who disagree and those who let him do the thinking.
Amen. The last 3 Republican administrations increased government spending, increased the size of government, and left office with record deficits. (As opposed to Clinton, who both shrunk government and left office with a record surplus.) These are the kinds of "inconvenient facts" GOPers just love to ignore.
OMG I love that comment "If these guys take over the House and the Senate this next time out… it will be a Tong War for the next two years," This is true folkes. You have no idea if you don't get it. Its gonna get weird and Big Brother. You all better pay attention!
Gee, could you have chosen a worse picture of Biden? Come on you guys, stop with the photo commentary.
Glad to see that the Democrats are going to be willing to work with the Republicans....... Wait.... huh? What happened to bipartisan politics. Isn't that what Obama campaigned with?
This guy has a big mouth and loves to stick his foot in it. Too bad we have to wait two more years to send his sorry a– packing.
Much of it true. What led us here were a ton of policies and lack of oversight the allowed corruption & greed to prosper at the expense of the average American. Now so many candidates are espousing balanced budgets and tax cuts. How can those possibly go together without massive cuts to all sorts of programs? Do we really want no government? Strange times...
Way to go Biden! He really nailed the truth here. We are in deep trouble if Republican's take control as their policies favor the very rich and punish the middle and lower class. I have to give them credit though, they've actually convinced people that trickle down economics works, even when it can be proven it doesn't work. They are quite the shysters.
What if it is us democrates making fun of you for your inept efforts at fiscal responsibility?
anything would be better than what we've had the past two years. Obama makes Carter and Nixon look like saints.
Joe is right: Beware the Republican Mafia!!
He could have delivered the same message with better analogies, to say the least. Not quite in the same league as Palin and O'Donnell but getting closer.
I'm being 100% serious here: Can anyone from the right justify why they don't mind supporting people who are clearly not very well educated or informed in terms of history and that kind of thing? We have the tea baggers on the right who try to justify everything they do by talking about the constitution, yet idiots like O'donnelll don't even have any idea what the first amendment says. Let alone the rest of that historic document.
It's confusing and concerning that people will line up to support these people without caring whether or not they understand what they're talking about before trying to stuff them into a public office that requires that knowledge to do the job properly.
Why don't you guys just start trying to elect Joe Six Pack...he probably has about the same amount of education and knowledge. He can screw up the country just as easily as Bush screwed it up for 8 years.
I had to read the article a couple of times...was so sidetracked by the hideous pic of VP Biden. Could you have picked anything more distracting??
Joe is always entertaining. Not necessarily good at governing but funny, yes. Although I think he meant to say"thong" war.
This is our supposed responsible leader. He just as nuts as Sarah. God help us!!!
"The next time a Republican tells you anything about 'fiscal responsibility,' laugh at 'em, just laugh at 'em," Biden said.
You know there is a lot wrong with BOTH parties. This just kinda sums it up "Just laugh at them" Do not offer any thing worth a dam just laugh and turn your back then complain with no one will work with you on issues. Both parties do this.
That's very true. The way the economy and our government works...it takes years not months to implement changes. It's stupid to expect the Dem's to fix the train wreck Bush left in just 2 years. Although I really believe most people do have realistic expectations. The media has just been duped by the Right-Wing propaganda machine and is hook, line, sinker into promoting their agenda. I mean the Tea Party and Palin each have their own section on the CNN ticker with not even ONE section on Dem's?
What a DORK!
The front-page teaser for this story is beyond irresponsible.
I will laugh in the face of the first republe voter that whines about losing their car, their job, their house, their medical coverage...no unemployment check...only low wage jobs...inflation...or any of the other policies their leaders have PLEDGED! Maybe the bagger's God will let us go to war with North Korea, Iran, and Mexico, now that the right is gaining some seats. Second amendment solutions are becoming more appealing after each news cast. I wish you American sell-outs would move to China.
will laugh in the face of the first republe voter that whines about losing their car, their job, their house, their medical coverage...no unemployment check...only low wage jobs...inflation...or any of the other policies their leaders have PLEDGED! Maybe the bagger's God will let us go to war with North Korea, Iran, and Mexico, now that the right is gaining some seats. Second amendment solutions are becoming more appealing after each news cast. I wish you American sell-outs would move to China.
Uh, Mr. Vice President, in all due respect two additional years of fiscal irresponsibility, war-mongering, corporate profiteering, no health care reform and a depressed economy, no thanks.
How can you not help but laugh at this clown?
Yes laugh, considering Republican Administrations are responsible for 90% of the US debt. Pretty funny. The only thing they are fiscally responsible for is taking your hard earned money and paying their buddies BIG BONUSES.
Biden is absolutely correct. The Republicans would be just a pathetic joke if they didn't have such a destructive agenda.. Republicans should be nowhere near the reins of power.
OK, CNN, where was he wrong? Why don't you tell us – your viewership – that he is wrong, rather than toy with us, all the while doing all you can to bring back republican control of congress? In fact, why don't you dispense with this complete facade of your working as a "news" organization, rather than as the propoganda arm of corporate America, which you clearly are. Your editorial boards (college marketing flunkies) have to do a better job, rather than your censors looking out for our comments which are potentially hurtful to your efforts to get republicans back in control. We understand: you have an election to influence.
And this guy is VP. Pathetic.
Wow, it is so nice that once we have elected a President and a Vice President that they advocate for all party's. I have never ever recalled such mean nasty rhetoric coming from the mouth of a President and Vice President. How embarrassing to be a Democrat in todays climate.