Research Briefing

Even For Joe Biden, The VP’s Recent Comments Have Been Shocking, Which May Be Why His Staff Has Resorted To Stuffing Reporters In Closets

IS IT ACCEPTABLE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT TO USE OUTRAGEOUS RHETORIC TO ATTACK REPUBLICANS?

“Vice President Joe Biden, Speaking At A Fundraiser In Philadelphia Friday, Compared Republicans In Congress To People Who Excuse Rapists By Blaming Their Victims.”  (Sam Youngman, “At Campaign Event Biden Mentions Rape In Criticizing Republicans,” The Hill, 3/18/11)

Then Biden Compared Republicans To “The Virulently Anti-Catholic” Know-Nothing Party. “Last week, Joe Biden compared Republican politics to blaming rape victims. This week, he compares them to the virulently anti-Catholic Know-Nothings, per the pool report on his speech in Tampa this evening: Biden criticized Republicans for wanting to ‘cut our way out of a recession.’ ‘It's never happened before. These guys remind me of the Know-Nothing Party of the 19th century. Then it was about religion, now it's about the economy.’" (Ben Smith, “Biden Compares GOP To Know-Nothings,” Politico’s “Ben Smith” Blog, 3/23/11)

OR TO HIDE REPORTERS AWAY IN CLOSETS AT POLITICAL FUNDRAISERS?

Biden’s Staff Put A Pool Reporter In A Storage Room “To Keep Him From Talking To The Many High-Profile Guests” During A Fundraiser For Senator Ben Nelson.  “Scott Powers, a writer for the Orlando Sentinel, was serving as the pool reporter for a fundraiser in Florida, where Biden was appearing to raise money on behalf of Sen. Bill Nelson on Wednesday. But to keep him from talking to the many high-profile guests at the event, a member of Biden's staff stuffed Powers in a storage closet and stood guard outside the door until she deemed it ‘safe’ for Powers to emerge.” (Jack Mirkinson, “Biden Team Apologizes To Reporter Scott Powers For Keeping Him In Closet During Fundraiser,” The Huffington Post, 3/28/11)

• “‘The Protocol Is They Didn't Want Me To Talk To Anybody,’ Powers Told ‘Good Morning America’ Reporter Matt Gutman In An Interview On Monday.” (Lucy Madison, “Biden Team Apologizes To Reporter For Making Him Wait In A Closet,” CBS News, 3/28/11)

Biden’s Staff Apologized For The Choice Of Hold Room. “‘Scott - You have our sincere apologies for the lack of a better hold room today,’ wrote Vice President Biden spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander last Wednesday to Orlando Sentinel reporter Scott Powers.” (Jake Tapper, “Biden Team Apologizes To Report For Sticking Him In Closet,” ABC News’ “Political Punch” Blog, 3/27/11)

“‘Lack Of A Better Hold Room’ Is An Interesting Way Of Putting It.” (Jake Tapper, “Biden Team Apologizes To Report For Sticking Him In Closet,” ABC News’ “Political Punch” Blog, 3/27/11)

• Powers Was Kept In The Closet For Over An Hour Waiting For Biden And Senator Nelson To Speak.  “Any time he stuck his head out he'd been shooed back inside. He said he was held for more than an hour in the closet, was allowed out for 35 minutes of remarks by Biden and Nelson, after which it was back into the closet until the VP left.” (Jake Tapper, “Biden Team Apologizes To Report For Sticking Him In Closet,” ABC News’ “Political Punch” Blog, 3/27/11)

“Forcing Reporters Into Closets Is Generally Not The Tradition Of Politicians In The US.” (Jake Tapper, “Biden Team Apologizes To Report For Sticking Him In Closet,” ABC News’ “Political Punch” Blog, 3/27/11)

 “KEEPING THE MEDIA AT BAY” HAS BECOME A BIDEN TRADITION

“Keeping The Media At Bay Has Become Customary For Delaware’s Joe Biden Ever Since Becoming Vice President.” (Esteban Parra, “Reporter Stuffed In Closet Gets Biden Apology,” The News Journal [DE]’s “Dialogue Delaware” Blog, 3/27/11)

When Biden Was In Delaware Last Week, “Reporters Were Escorted Into Pens Behind The Audience.”  “Reporters are often corralled into small rooms or makeshift pens wherever Biden visits. For example, during his March 21st appearance at Wilmington’s Howard High School of Technology reporters were escorted into pens behind the audience” (Esteban Parra, “Reporter Stuffed In Closet Gets Biden Apology,” The News Journal [DE]’s “Dialogue Delaware” Blog, 3/27/11)

The Baltimore Sun’s Justin Fenton: “Where's My Apology? A Year Ago, The Same Thing [That Happened To Scott Powers] Happened To Me When I Was A Pool Reporter At A Biden Appearance At The Home Of Developer David Cordish.” (Justin Fenton, “Memories Of A Vice Presidential Pool Reporter,” The Baltimore Sun’s “Maryland Politics” Blog, 3/28/11)

AND THIS IS WHO OBAMA TRUSTS TO LEAD THE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS?

Obama Punted Responsibility For The Budget To Biden. "President Obama on Wednesday tapped Mr. Biden, his 'sheriff' on the stimulus, to lead negotiations with Congress, though Mr. Biden already had a prearranged trip scheduled to visit Finland, Russia and Moldova next week." (Stephen Dinan, "Biden Leaving In Middle Of Budget Talks," The Washington Times' "Inside Politics" Blog, 3/4/11)

• “President Obama Has Tapped Biden To Be His Lead Negotiator With Congressional Republicans On The Budget.” (Sam Youngman, “At Campaign Event Biden Mentions Rape In Criticizing Republicans,” The Hill, 3/18/11)