[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/09/art.palin.biden.gi.jpg caption="Was Biden referencing Palin in his comments about stem cell research?"](CNN) - John McCain's campaign hit back hard at Joe Biden Tuesday after the Democratic VP candidate appeared to suggest Republicans who do not support stem cell research - like GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin - are lacking in their support of children with disabilities.
“Barack Obama’s running mate sunk to a new low today launching an offensive debate over who cares more about special needs children," McCain-Palin spokesman Ben Porritt said. "Playing politics with this issue is disturbing and indicative of a desperate campaign."
The sharp response, indicative of the increasingly heated rhetoric from both presidential campaigns as the election enters the final stretch, came shortly after Biden said advocates for people with disabilities should support stem cell research.
Biden did not mention Palin - the mother of a baby with Down syndrome, and someone who has said she will be a “friend and advocate in the White House" to parents of children with disabilities - but seemed to direct a question to her.
Election Center: Where the candidates stand on stem cell research
“I hear all this talk about how the Republicans are going to work in dealing with parents who have both the joy…and the difficulty of raising a child who has a developmental disability, who were born with a birth defect,” he said. “Well, guess what folks? If you care about it, why don't you support stem cell research?”
Biden spokesman David Wade insisted Tuesday the Delaware senator's comments were not directed at Palin.
"This is a clash of policies, not a clash of personalities," Wade said. "We've heard not a dime's worth of difference between the McCain-Palin ticket and the Bush Administration on medical breakthroughs that millions of parents and doctors believe could save lives and transform the quality of life for countless Americans."
i just think that the Obama/Biden-team is history. that was offensive to everybody and dictates all parents an idea that they might not share.
be careful Biden
Rob
Never mind that by complaining about someone playing politics with this issue is itself playing politics with the issue. Sort of like saying that families are off limits while describing how wonderful Cheney Palin is for handling all of her family's problems.
Good for you Joe. Do not back off on this. It's a very important point that you're making, and she should know better having a child that is disabled. This is a losing issue for the Republicans and the Democrats should keep the heat on!
That is low. the big thing I find interesting today is how Barraks people are claiming this election is to important to just look at personality........thats rich he's people are saying that and followers liste, but when Hillary kept saying that for over a year no one cared.
No way should America elect:
More War McCain &
Taliban Palin
Leave to the bobble-head Biden to stick his foot in his mouth on this. What a gift he is – to the Republicans.
So Biden is upset that Palin doesn't want to kill babies for research that can be done without embryos. Another great moment from the liberal party of death.
Right on Joe.. After the last 8 years this country doesn't need the far right calling the shots again. Neither does it need the far left doing the same. With all the challenges facing us people need to move to and operate from the middle to get things done.
Biden is correct. The truth hurts.
Yeah, Biden sunk so low his foot almost touched McCain on the head.
Biden is right. He can't not discuss issues of special needs children because she has one, and not discuss women's issues because she is one, etc. These are real issues, enough with the lame "political correctness" that these Republicans are trying to hide behind.
Oh please...again with the whining every time this woman gets put on the spot. Stem cell research is an issue that most thinking Americans are interested in. Everything that Joe Biden says is going to get misconstrued. What's that saying "if you can't take the heat get out of the fire".. She shouldn't be in this race to begin with. She is absolutely no Hillary Clinton!
truth hurts doesn't it,mccain camp?
REMEMBER Palin CUT the BUDGET for programs for special needs children!!!!
That shows what she thought about Special need children before she had one of herf own. SO NOW IT IS ALL DIFFERNT
Well, Sen. Joe Biden is absolutely correct on this issue.
this election is not about issue it is about obama the black guy who cannot be president under the watch of whites supremacy. this is the fact people. when some white people say that obama does not share their values that mean he is not one of them. he is black. that is ashame for america
Well, Palin cut the funds for special needs children by a
substantial amount. Course, that was before she found
herself in that position.
How Mccain can be outraged about anything after all his
pandering, distortions, sensationalizing and lies is'
beyond me.
The man threw the last of him limited integrity out the
door when he chose that inexperienced, unqualified,
radical woman as his vp. All in hopes of getting
more votes.
Forget about the future of our country.
Keep it up Biden (and follow Joe's lead, Barack!). McCain/Palin can lie like rugs for 10 days straight but you can't question her wacko views?
Whatever. This "pit bull" sure can dish it out but she just can't take it.
**McCain camp says Biden 'sunk to a new low'**
What a ludicrous headline...Biden can't possibly sink any lower.
Hillary in 2012!
He couldn't be talking about Sarah. We don't know where she really stands on the issue because she gives no interviews.
I think the myth of Palin is melting in the heat of the reality that is the Presidential campaign.
Huh? So, is it not acceptable to criticize any of Palin's positions on anything? Even those issues she herself put on the table? This ticket is sickening.
This is a great point, and shows yet another example of how Palin-McCain are exactly the same as Bush. The better point, I think, would be to point out how Palin cut 62% of funding for special needs children in Alaska. She called it "pork". It must have been one of the many programs she cut simply because she was too clueless to know of their importance. Or is it that her special needs kid is deserving of all the support he can get, but everyone else's children aren't deserving of squat? It's one or the other. Incompetence or disgusting hypocrisy. Take your pick.
Desperate times, desperate actions!!
I think Biden is correct.
Greg
Springfield, MO
McCain is such a cry baby.