Obama-Biden commend McCain's VP pick
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/08/25/art.obama.biden.jpg caption="Sen. Obama and Sen. Biden praised McCain's choice of a female for his VP."]
(CNN) – Touring a bio-diesel plant in Monaca, Pennyslvania Friday afternoon, Barack Obama and Joe Biden reacted to news that the opposing ticket is now complete, complimenting McCain for choosing a woman but saying Sarah Palin just mirrors the Arizona senator’s policies.
“I'm sure that she will help make the case for the Republicans,” said Obama to reporters accompanying him on the tour. “Unfortunately, the case is more of the same. And so ultimately John McCain is at top of the ticket.”
“As I indicated in my speech last night, I think that he wants to take the country in the wrong direction,” he added. “I'm assuming Governor Palin agrees with him in his policies.”
Obama called Palin “a compelling person” with a terrific personal story and said that her nomination next week is one more indicator that the country is moving forward.
“I think [it] is one more hit against that glass ceiling and I congratulate her and look forward to a vigorous debate,” said Obama. “I'm pleased with my choice for vice president Joe Biden. I think he's the man who can help me guide this country in a better direction and help working families.”
Biden, the man who is expected to be the ticket’s attack dog, stayed relatively mum.
“I'm looking forward to meeting her,” said the Delaware senator.
Earlier Friday, Obama and Biden put out a positive statement congratulating Palin for breaking down barriers. This shortly after campaign spokesman Bill Burton sent one out blasting McCain for putting, “the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency.”
“You know, campaigns start getting these hair triggers and the statement that Joe and I put out reflects our sentiments,” said Obama.
UPDATE: Obama and Biden separately called Palin Friday afternoon to congratulate her on the VP nod, the Obama campaign says. Obama told her she’d be a terrific candidate and that he looked forwarded to the Fall campaign. He wished her luck but not too much, said senior advisor Robert Gibbs.
Minutes later, Biden called and talked with Palin about the shared experience of joining their respective tickets. He said he looked forward to meeting and getting to know her.
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L--A---M---E choice!!!!!!! Has to have something to do with Big Oil. Alaska will become the worlds biggest drill field before it's all over with.
Hillary supporter here. I was thinking a vote for McCain today would mean that Hillary could make it to the white house 4 years sooner than a vote for Obama so I was really holding out to see who McCain would pick for VP. After today's choice, I can unequivocally say that I will NOT be voting for McCain now. Although I would love to see Hillary in office in 2012, there is no way I could vote and take the chance of Palin becoming commander in chief when/if McCain kicks the bucket. I would not want to put our country through that. She is a complete 180 degree turn from Hillary when it comes to the issues and I do find it a slap in the face to women for McCain to to think that we are going to vote for someone because of their genitalia. I'm sorry Hillary... it looks like it may be 8 years to wait for you instead of 4, but there is no way I'd vote for a ticket that has Palin on it.
McBush has clearly proven that he is Palin in judgement. His pick has shown that he is willing to put the security of the entire free world at risk.
This election is too important ,our standing in the world is at stake.The world is watching and judging us.Commentators are trying to sway voters by giving their views ,just report the news and be fair.McCain and Palin on the wrong side of the issues.Just because she has 5kids does not make her a good candidate.Overseas it is being doted that we really have deep racial issues and we want to tell everyone else how to treat it,s citizens.Shame on us.It is hard to hide racist attitudes and it is all over the news displayed by news commentators.
Wonder when she'll be pregnant again?
Who do you trust, now, to make the important decisions?
Sounds like Karl Rove and gang turned themselves into knots trying to 'Focus Group' the VP selection.
MC CAIN'S CHOICE OF RUNNING MATE ONLY PROVES WHAT KIND OF A CLOWN HE IS! THIS IS THE ULTIMATE INSULT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, TO PUT THIS WOMAN AS RUNNING MATE, WE THE PEOPLE ARE SEEN AS IDIOTS IN HIS EYES! COME ON
MC CAIN, SHE MAY BE A FEMALE, BUT THAT ALONE DOES NOT RATE HER EQUAL TO HILLARY CLINTON. DO U REALLY EXPECT TO PULL HER SUPPORTERS??? YOU ARE MORE CONFUSED THEN WHAT THE PEOPLE THOUGHT OF YOU! YOU TRULY REPRESENT AN EMPTY SUIT! IS THIS WHAT MAKES YOU REFER TO YOURSELF AS A MAVERICK? I BEG TO DIFFER, IT PROVES U TO BE WHAT I INITALLY THOUGHT OF YOU. AN EMPTY SUIT, OR A BOZO.
All these supposed hillary supporters saying they will now vote McCain are big liars. I am a real hillary supporter who is outraged by this pandering pick. Hillary ran for 18 months and served this country for 3 decades. She earned her spot. For this lady to just walk on a ticket because the republicans need her gender for a screen shot is a slap in the face to all of us who worked for hillary.
just read an article from right before the democratic convention that the republicans stated goal is to continue to drive a wedge between clinton and obama supporters.
THIS sad and pandering pick must be part of it...
as well as the people who are STILL trying to display 'gender outrage' on this and other blogs...
This shows you that McCain is VERY DESPERATE, what a poor judgment.
may be her ethics scandal brewing in alaska will blow in her face and all will be fine,
You would have to be Joe Frazier, to beat John McCain now..
Democrats and Obama supporters need to be careful.I have seen many of the same old nasty anti-Hillary attacks by Obama supporters today..Sad, especially since she was shafted by the DNC and still stands as a proud democrat. Sarah Palin is the type of person Barack Obama wants in DC....if she agreed with him.. I can not see how Obama and his supporters can challenge her on experoance. Just because she hasn't been in DC, doesn't mean she can't handle a nation. I believe Obama made this the central argument last night. If its good enough for a President, it has to be good for a VP. Iin one day have seen the same hypocrites who trashed Hillary, start all over again. Just admit it...Obama got caught by surprise and John McCain( 73 or not) out played him. Also, knock off the crap about McCain could die because of his age. So could Obama..We don't control death. Thats a non-issue.
Un fortunately if this means short term cheap oil for the poor americans they will sell their childrens fiture and pick her
McCain's selection of Palin is so transparent! It is sad that none of the media pundits are seeing it this way.
McCain's pick is just one more example of how cynical politicians are. He really thinks he can sway disaffected Hilary supporters by picking a female. Just when you think they have hit rock bottom in their morals they never cease to amaze!
Obama and Biden are strongest supporters of women's rights and women's issues that McCain or Palin. I hope and pray to God that women see this and don't fall for this childish ploy. In fact, I am offended by this selection as a proud supporter of women's rights.
You know what I think the selection of Palin is? Political theater. It's all about the image and playing-up your side to stymie your opponent. But it has absolutely nothing to do with actual governance or leadership. This is my CIC test – pick someone reasonable and qualified to be the POTUS as your VP. And McCain failed in that. So he's making a mockery of this election by being so petty and trivial. I find it insulting that he doesn't take a potential world leader selection more seriously than this. Political theater is not real leadership.
I know that Palin may have less political experience than Biden, McCain, and Obama, BUT...they are all senators. She has more leadership experience than the others. She is in charge of Alaska as Governor. She has been Mayor and she has been in charge of her own business.
Palin is going to get the Eskimo vote.
Whinnycrats for Obama = defeated America????
EVER HEARD OF ROOSEVELT, TRUMAN, OR KENNEDY???
geez.. paid rnc blogging at its best...
Women....
the republicans REALLY DO believe you are all stupid!
OOOHHH – reckon she was the one taking sniper shots at Hillary in Bosnia?
(the devil made me say that) ha ha ha ha ha
I LOVE this!
You people don't get it: There's a lot of women, especially older women who are fed up with junior senator because change for change's sake isn't change at all. He won't change anything. He is naive to think he can gallantly ride to Washington DC on a white horse and magically change everything! Problem: the same old people are there, and they like things the way they are. It's NOT going to change no matter how many times you use the word 'change.'
And we are sick of men ruining and running this country! We want to see a female president/vice president, whatever, before we die!
You little twenty somethings have no clue. You don't know any history. We want to actually be able to say to our granddaughters that yes, you too can grow up to be president. Not just the first lady.
You bet I will vote for McCain. One reason, he's not Obama. second reason, his VP choice is a woman with experience. Go McCain!
Who needs the Clinton supporters to win? McCain will get some of them, even without his VP choice. All he needed was to solidify the ticket with a conservative, pro-life candidate to win the conservative Evangelical votes. Palin also offers not only a fight-for-what's-right attitude that will lock up the votes of those who question McCain's true conservative nature, but will certainly gain back any voters who thought the party was out of touch. Who is more in touch with reality than a woman who has risen to the rank of Governor, while being a mother of 5 children? This is also the American Dream, which is as important, if not more so to woman, than Barack being the first African-American to be nominated.