OTTUMWA, IA -- Vice President Joe Biden, the man who is often the first to charge into the political fray on President Barack Obama's behalf, held his tongue Tuesday in regard to a controversy involving Mitt Romney.
Asked by reporters to comment on the GOP presidential nominee's surreptitiously recorded comments referencing 47 percent of Americans do not "take personal responsibility" and feel "entitled" to government benefits, Biden said only that he'll let Romney's words "speak for themselves."
Related: Conservatives reaction mixed to Romney 47 percent video
Biden, appearing at a campaign event in swing state Iowa, did not mention today's firestorm over the Romney comments during a 25-minute speech to about 450 supporters, concentrating instead on familiar attacks over the GOP ticket's Medicare and tax proposals.
Recommended: Leaked video is the latest hit for Romney
The Romney remarks were recorded at a fundraiser earlier this year and leaked to magazine Mother Jones. Late yesterday, the candidate said the sentiment was expressed in an "inartful" way but that he stands by his overall philosophy of smaller government.
Biden next heads to Grinnell, Iowa this afternoon before wrapping up his 2-day tour of the Hawkeye State.


Know the difference in an Obama supporter and a Romney supporter? A Romney supporter signs the check on the front and the Obama supporter signs it on the back.
Romney signed the back of a lot of checks from Companies that filed for bankruptcy and fired their workers.
Like Kaybee Toys, for example.
Economy for the 47%, Who's against that?
War on reality: When planning an attack, always give the enemy a chance to fall into a weaken position.
Plausible deniability from a high political source, attributable to the opposite campaign, cover up for the deliberate and false purpose.
These are excuses for a deliberate attempt to narrow the focus of a campaign, and to deflect issues needing serious attention.
It is a winning by losing strategy, if the presidential race is lost it may not matter, since the office of the presidency is less important, than the legislative branches. We should be aware that in trying to recover the economy from crisis and get to the root causes of the economic systems problems we will be distracted by politics. The most obvious political problems is the obstruction offensive against a president, this would be make sense if the president had any real constitutional power, such that he needed to be turned out. The idea in the modern era of turning out a president seems as a constant strategy. If you are unable to see a difference between removing a president, and electing a president and having no president at all, or one with enough digits to sign legislation, one so stupid as to be manipulated by minions run amuck, then you aren't going to see the point is that problems is currently in the legislative branch. Seeing that something is not working period; is different from it slowly wearing out and squeaking to halt, Congress being broken, and having little interest in anything the economy and its higher mover energy, is clearly the current problem. Now and then, if you want to hear about how it is a good idea to invite the minority leaders in to the presidents offices, those same minority leaders who have vowed to oppose every action and have dedicated himself publically at the beginning of every term to seek the end of the president term. If the president has a plan to invite hissing snakes into the office, then he need to assure that the hissing snakes will have a change of heart. This snake meeting plan is the one suggested by conservatives, and they have used it before.
Since we are going to limp along using an unchanged energy policy, where energy usage drives the economy we can be assured that the 'real' powers control energy policy aren't going to sense or seen any change. This energy/economy is not for lack information, about supply and demand, resource or damage to the environment, but it is on a long term time line, so long that a government of 2, 4, 6 or 8 years make no difference in problem slowly changing over 10, 20, 40 or 100 years. Energy is food for the economy, and energy delivered to us and for the most part because is automatic and we seek distraction from having to pay for it. Energy is as invisible as the cars running down the freeway, an impression that we cannot see as a problem. The fact that today 35-59% of airline ticket prices is used for fuel, doubling old averages is an energy/ business part of the economy, has no effect on energy policy and does not cause questions about an economy relationship to fuel energy to be of current interest.
But let's remove energy as problem, and concentrate on the economy, the crisis in the economy, or the economic crisis, whatever we call it why would we ignore it for so long? The economy didn't show up as new born yesterday, a new born however gets our attention. Then it could be noted that the economy has not provided the income needed to replace consumable items due to a misunderstanding of how energy, production, products and automation and use of fossil energy would leads one to expect. A capitalism system designed for profit has not produced a profitable airline, and has not met the social needs for a country. The political system has dismal understanding of economics, and cannot see that when human labor is not used to produce goods and services and there's is no distribution system that allows full employment. The blindness resulting does not see a need to keep people occupied, much as it might look like giving all your attention to a new born, could be like giving everyone apart in the economy illustrates that capitalism is labor savings to a fault, counting costs as human labor, failing to count costs of better and more profitable, life.
We are having no luck in reconnecting the benefits of capitalism to the benefit of people living better.
It is not that we're all fools for not seeing how the economy should work; it is that we neglected to see that economy did not include people as the beneficiary. Instead we sunk downward to see only an "us vs. them" system, were fighting and division, follow the primitive instincts, and failed to maintain the elevated the intellect that resulted from the free time that capitalism itself has created.
For each ideological system invented since the 18th century, we have tried everyone and everyone has failed, and all for the same reason; the economic system has to include people, just as modern economic system needs energy to free people for their development.
Are you better off now that you would have been had Congress not been attempting to derail a president and the economy over these same years?
Find out what an economy is for, before you decide to opposed it?
Here you go Plugs, go pat your boss on the ass for this one...
Another infamous record for Obama....
"The United States’ reputation as home to one of the world’s freest economies continues to decline, according to an international report released Tuesday.
The U.S. dropped to 18th worldwide, compared to 10th in 2008 and third from 1980 to 2000, the 2012 Economic Freedom of the World report found.
“The U.S. is on the wrong track,” said co-author James Gwartney, a Florida State University economics professor."
Your sources are as specious as your claims.
Yeay Darrall - ignore the facts - stick your head back in the sand - everything is rosey under the Obama regime....
Let us see those tax returns,Willard. Only one thing worse than a tax cheat and that's a mormon tax cheat.
Oh yeah, the banks got theirs, the mortgage
companies got theirs, the credit card companies got
theirs, Detroit got theirs, the insurance companies
are getting theirs, in fact every mother's son who
gave to Obama's campaign has lined up and gotten
theirs, and now, it's the Union's turn.
Four more years, of cleaning America out.
First the teachers, then nurses, then policemen.
then firemen, then custodians down to the United
Widget cleaners of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory
are gonna line up at the Obama Whitehouse and get
theirs. You heard of date rape? Bend over America,
you ain't seen nothing like Democrat rape.
Speaking about fundraising events.
Why is the Conservative call center in Minerva, Ohio, DCCI following me around and harassing me to change my political viewpoint as well as my beliefs?
Your not very intelligent otherwise you wouldn't be using your tiny little keywords that you used in the call center.
If you hear the folllowing words in the community around Minerva, Ohio, DCCI is stalking and harassing you to try and brainwash you to believe their message:
They will use these combinations over and over again. They think that using such keywords will open up the scripting that people have heard or read thus turning them into the person they want the listener to be.
The only thing that is happening is that they are giving away their location and of who is behind the stalking and harassment.
"Broadsword"
"Really"
"Wow"
"I heard that"
"He greased it"
"Dewight"
What was about the "F*in Illuminatti in Carroll County?
You can hate science all you want but as a matter of fact the world that the Illuminatti, scientists and mathematicians have created the world that is around you.
All of the machines, tools, pens and paper, headphones, PC's even the paved road you drive on has all been created by the Illuminatti's scientitic discoveries.
Still preaching the Lord of the Rings as a religion trying to make people give you their money?
You are delusional DCCI.
Hows the LSD?
BIDEN is a classy guy. the repukes spin everything thats truth into their lies. every other day romney and lieing ryan put insert their foot in mouth syndrome. where is rumasses tax returns? lost them in the caymans or the swiss banks i guess. 47%ers vote demo and help your middle class do the same
No problem, Joe, we know what you're thinking, even if you don't say it. And you shouldn't use that kind of language in public, anyway.
Joe is making a classy and smart move. When your opponent is digging his political grave be quiet and make sure he has a big shovel. Even more hilarious is watching Republican Senate and House candidates distancing themselves from the fool.
Thanks God they brief Biden. Stay out and let it stew.
Smart move Mr. Vice President....let Romney use his own shovel to dig the hole deeper.
Good job Joe. Let Romney hang his own Village Idiot A$$. His sidekick Lyin Ryan is spewing the same BS. Takes a lot of class Joe, I would have called him the racist and out of touch A$$HOLE that he is. There I said it for you!
O&Joe 2012
willie53
Let us see those tax returns,Willard. Only one thing worse than a tax cheat and that's a mormon tax cheat.
#30 - Tue Sep 18, 2012 5:17 PM MDT
Willie: There is a real good reason why Liar Romney won't show his tax returns. If he does, then the Mormon church will come after him for money he failed to pay them (10% of income to the mormon church) I'm sure that he fears them more than us, if he cheated the church by lieing about how much he made, they would turn against him and he would lose his status within the church. I really do think he lied to them about how much $$$ he has made over the last ten years and how much he actually told the church he made. Just my feeling, but I do think I'm right. Just think about it. UMMMMMM?????? He's just your everyday criminal, the mormon church doesn't even trust him, why should we??
O&Joe 2012
How about the failed community organizer releasing his transcripts from college and law school? Or his application for school as a foreign student?
Thoughts become words; words become actions hold good for Romney
& Ryan campaign. His remarks of could not care less for 47% American people
speak his divisive & decisive policies are highly ominous. He wants to
become President of only 53% Americans that he can never secure with
perceptions & speeches so far. Out of 53% there are large number of
unemployed, homeless & independents. Who too are dependents on state doles
till they get jobs? He forgot to state floating population which he can include
now with his fair deals. HE wants to make North America independent in electricity
with omission of South part of America. He is very clear in his vision &
future plans for people of America. He is dreaming to become President of 53%
of people of America not whole of America. These are clear warning signs for
people of America to vote in favor of President who considers whole of America together
& takes care of people of America without discrimination & bias. GOP
selection for extreme bias against unemployed, destitute, Medicare, social
security & bail out of industries are very clear & cardinal guidelines for
Romney & Ryan duo.
Joe better start sucking on that energy juice Clinton was on during the DNC - the "little wooden boy" Paul Ryan is getting coached by G.W.'s debate master, "Coach Olson".
So Coach Olson was GW's MasterDebater...hmmm
Dems/Libs just don't get it. In every election there is about 45% wiil vote Dem and about 45% will vote Rep. An election is about garnering that other 10%. What Romney said was basically correct. Obama and the Dems have/are turning this country into a country where everyone will be dependent on the Federal Government which ruins personal initiative--ask Greece. We simply cannot afford 4 more years of Obama at over a trillion$$$$ of borrowed money per year.
Then maybe the republicans shouldn't have spent the money on wars and tax breaks for the rich!
Can you imagine joe as the president?
Good job, Biden....now Obama needs to do the same. Don't take this as an opportunity to start attacking Romney. Just let that "47%" decide for themselves how much of an idiot he is.
Biden should "hold his tongue" more often. As for what Romney said, everything was true. You libs just don't get it.
Yea....it was true, and it's true that he doesn't give a $hit about the elderly, disabled, and poor who make up the majority of that "47%." I sure as hell won't be voting for him anytime soon.
Do you know the one question I never heard the Obama
administration ask of the bankers, mortgage brokers,
credit card CEOs and car makers during the financial
crisis?
What is the rock bottom Least will it take to keep
your business afloat? Not, how much do you need to
keep up appearances? Not, how much do you need to
keep your gymn membership and country club dues?
Not, how much do you need to take the wife on that
long overdue vacation to Oahu? Not, how much do you
need to give your executive staff a two billion
dollar bonus?
The question Obama's wonder boys Never asked: what
is the dead least amount of money will it take to
stay in business after layoffs, salary cuts and
perks are all withdrawn. When you are down to your
lowest necessary head count. When everyone has taken
a fifty per cent pay cut. When everybody is taking a
group discount at Supercuts. How much will you need,
Then? Obama never asked the most obvious question.
When you and I tighten our belts, we cut out
Everything. When the people who bought Obama his
Oval Office tighten Their belts, they take one less
helping of caviar. It wasn't the Russians who took
advantage of our most green and gullible president,
it was his own people on Wallstreet and in Detroit,
who stabbed him in the back. They came to Obama hat
in hand and he Filled them to the Brim.
He wasn't ready to be president, they knew it and
they took full advantage of it, And He, Defends
Them.
Actually I heard Obama has Biden's tong locked up in a safe until after the election
Smart
please someone in hollywood give obama a tv show so he can do what he wants to do. obama don't want to be pres. he want to be a star, him and his wife.they don't care about america, they just want to be on tv so they can look at themself. this is all obama wants, i never seen a man who want to be in the spot light more then obama and his wife. obama is a bull hitter and that all he will ever be. he will destroy this country, and the sad part is the dems. will not lift a finger to stop him.im sorry the dems. are to stupid to see it.im a dem and i will not vote for obama.
If you could hear half of what any of these politicians say including President Obama, you would not want any of them in office. Comes with the territory, it's a dirty ugly way of life. It's amusing how everyone jumps on the band wagon the minute a politician says something distasteful or stupid, as if it's never been done before. I just hope whoever makes it to the white house after all this hash slinging is done can put the economy back on track because it sure as hell has not started to recover yet. All the money wasted in both of these political campaigns could be put to better use to help salvage some of the federal programs that are in danger of being shut down. President Obama is certainly a polished orator and has a "contemporary cool" persona, but I'm still not convinced he is an effective President. It's amazing that we can't find more qualified, effectual candidates for the job, or could it be that those who could be so effective don't want the job, can't blame them.
The party leadership to Obiden to keep his F-- mouth shut cause hes a complete idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!