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.
As a former Hillary supporter, I felt pandered to by this choice. This is not a case where any woman will do – we want a president with guts and grace. This former beauty queen in the middle of an ethics scandal is no Hillary. This was the last straw – I finally put my money where my beliefs are and donated to the Obama campaign today.
DONT BE FOOLED by false bloggers saying we clinton supporters arent insulted by this… WE ARE!!
My friends an I have been EXTREMELY INSULTED by McCains' vp choice!!
Even more so because we were going to vote for him come Novemeber! But this is OUTRAGEOUS..selecting Palin simply because of her anatomy, and expecting intelligent american women to vote for him because of this!!
We have set up a group, consisting of 42 women already, who have commited to voting for OBAMA because of McCains decision.. which shows that he really IS OUT OF TOUCH with women in America!! There is only one choice this year.. OBAMA!!!
Eve Watson, New York
Obama stole the nomination.
Too late for the Obamabots to lecture about Roe vs Wade, about Palin is NO HRC, about how similar HRC and Obama are on the issues.
YOU gutted HRC and destroyed her by pretending JUST the opposite: You said she was as republican as McCain, you said she was a war monger. You criticized HER health care plan- the best one out there. You hated on Hillary and all her supporters. You said you did not need us.
You got ugly with a great leader and the best candidate the democratic party had to offer. You forced the least worthy democrat on the party.
Now you get to pay the piper for your vitriol, your vulgarity, your nasty insults, your constant name-calling, your denigration of fellow democrats.
About time you slimeballs....McCain was very kind to do the commercial and PAY for it from his own campaign to congratulate you last night...his OWN campaign money. And you dirtbags dishonor one of the strongest governors this country has ever seen. Yet again shows the sexism of the Democratic leadership. No wonder you did not want Hillary on top.
She is a great pick.
McCain 2008
Hillary 2012
"Harm is now!... Obviously a republican idiot
I am a loyal Mccain supporter and will vote for him even if he picked my grandmother for VP but my opinion is out on Palin. Maybe its because I don't know her and need some time to get to know her. Just like how I didn't know much of a man named Bobby Jindal 6 months ago and have now become a big fan. I am dissapointed that Jindal was not picked for VP but perhaps that was the right move since LA needs this man much much more right now. I'll learn more of Palin but i'm just saying.....Mccain definitely surprised me with this pick. I hope he made the right choice. Her voice is a it squeaky like a cheerleader.....maybe they should ask her to dial it down a bit.
When Dems stress "lack of experience" they are shooting a boomerang!
This is a smart and miscalculated (oxymoron) move by McCain. McCain knows that whenever he's pressed on an issue he can raise the POW card. If Palin is pressed on an issue she can raise the sexism card. Most Americans will fall for it. That's manipulative brilliance at its best.
when did this race came to be about making history and not about having a president that can make a change for the better, like obama said its not about making history its about what the people what. im a woman and what the republicans are doing is insulting to me and all of the clinton supporters. how much lower can the republicans get.
I feel sorry for Governor Palin. I don't think she realizes what she is up against. There is no way she is can even compete against Joe Biden in the upcoming debates. John MCain must really be desperate.
Obama/Biden 08
I'm one of those disgruntled at the Dems for fighting too long and squabbling at one another–giving the opposition more ideas of what's wrong with Obama and Clinton. 1. It should have been clean politics (while deciding between Obama & Clinton) and 2. Clinton should have been the VP candidate.
I may or may not vote the McCain ticket because of Palin. I really feel that it would be great to have a woman's point-of-view in the White House. Had we had a woman in the White House (VP or president,) Iraq wouldn't have happened. Great choice!
-T Mac
This pick has Karl Rove written all over it:
Blatant, last-ditch attempt to capture the ever-shrinking number of Hillary supporters who won't vote for Obama? Check.
Staunchly anti-abortion to pander to the religious right? Check.
Under ethics investigation for firing her state secretary of public safety for refusing to fire her ex-brother-in-law? Check. Karl Rove never bothers with ethics matters.
Oh, and to continue the McCain campaign's "whining" theme from Phil Gramm: Palin recently said she thought Clinton "whines" too much. And a month ago, she said in an interview that she "doesn't even know what the vice president does."
Working as a manger at the biggest retailer in the world Walmart for a few years doesn't mean you have the qualifications to be the CEO.
Shareholders would be outraged at the judgment of the board of directors.
You know guys? I realy hate to say this but I want revenge. I love he fact that the Dems are swiging back quick!!! Believe it or not, this makes me respect Hillary even more. It really does...
I just want revenge.....
I strongly support Obama for the beginning. I think that Clinton made a great run as a democrat presidential hopeful. But Obama made the right decision in getting someone other then Clinton. We need a president/vice president to get us out of our nation debt and stop spending so much money everywhere but in the US. We have serious problems in this country and Obama and Biden are the one's to fix it.
This is a joke by John McCain:
"Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno.”
(Sen. John McCain, speaking to a Republican dinner, June 1998.)
Why any Hillary Clinton supporter would vote for John McCain, regardless of who he has as a running mate, is beyond my understanding. This "Rush Limbaugh" type humor is more fit for the trailer park than the white house.
I thought Sarah Palin was pleasant, gracious and well spoken today. She deserves a chance to show herself before being critisized. But John McCain is at the top of the ticket and his above "joke" is disgraceful and should be a disqualifier for any Hillary supporter.
It was personal for the GOP, I took it slow. But this time is revenge, not personal but revenge...
QUOTE ME ON THAT!
By the way – Where is McCain's flag lapel pin that he and other Republicans made such a big deal about Obama not wearing? Take a look at every picture of McCain posted today – he's not wearing one. The old geezer probably forgot it.
I would agree with you that McCain's choice of Palin was "a joke" if it were not for the fact that I, a woman who supported Hilary Clinton, and was mad enough at one point to vote for McCain, am thoroughly insulted. That makes this "joke" a serious thing. Does John McCain think that women out here are mindless???that we would vote for someone just because she's a woman and not care about her qualifications nor her positions on the issues. I am so insulted, there is no way I will allow John McCain to use this woman like this!
Now at least the GOP can't bash Obama on experience and judgment without keeping a straight face.
Glad they're so happy with Sarah. Maybe when they met her they kiss her on lips like they did with each others' wives.EWWW! Who do they think they are, Angelina and her brother?
Does anyone with any sense actually believe that Bill and Hillary were honest in their endorsement of Obama? Would they be willing to be put on a lie detector machine and make the same speech. The needle would break within the first minute.
Anybody with any sense knew they were lying through their teeth.
The true Obama came out in the forum with Warren. Without a prompter, the only word he knows is UH.
These two had good night
Why they are panic now ?
community organizer talking about small town mayer
give us break
Life long democrat and Hillary strong supporter will vote for Mc Cain
Hillary 2012 /Mc Cain/Palin2008
She voted against women rights am I missing something here, I am an Obama Supporter but I am willing to listen to what she has to say I think we all should, what the republicans want us to do is bash this lady but it will not happen Democrats we are going to give them a dose of their own medicine.