Obama's VP

OBAMA'S OFF-MESSAGE MAN
Is Obama Ready To Be President? Biden Says No

Biden Has Served As Obama's Top Foreign Policy Critic, Even Saying Obama Is Not Ready To Be President:

Biden Said Obama Is Not Ready To Serve As President. ABC's George Stephanopoulos: "You were asked is he ready. You said 'I think he can be ready, but right now I don't believe he is. The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training.'" Sen. Biden: "I think that I stand by the statement." (ABC's, "This Week," 8/19/07)

Biden: "If the Democrats think we're going to be able to nominate someone who can win without that person being able to table unimpeachable credentials on national security and foreign policy, I think we're making a tragic mistake…" (Sen. Joe Biden, "The Diane Rehm Show," 8/2/07)

Biden: "Having Talking Points On Foreign Policy Doesn't Get You There." ("Biden Lashes Out At Obama," ABC News' "Political Radar" Blog, blogs.abcnews.com, 8/2/07)

Biden Attacked Obama For Voting Against Funding U.S. Troops In Iraq And Afghanistan, Accusing Him Of "Cutting Off Support That Will Save The Lives Of Thousands Of American Troops." Biden: "And, look, Tim, if you tell me I've got to take away this protection for these kids in order to win the election, some things aren't worth it. Some things are worth losing over. That would be worth losing over. Hundreds of lives are being saved and will be saved by us sending these vehicles over which we are funding with this supplemental legislation. And I want to ask any of my other colleagues, would they, in fact, vote to cut off the money for those troops to protect them? That's the right question. This isn't cutting off the war. This is cutting off support that will save the lives of thousands of American troops." (NBC's "Meet The Press," 9/9/07)

Biden On Obama's Leadership On Iraq: "I Don't Recall Hearing A Word From Barack About A Plan Or A Tactic." (Jason Horowitz, "Biden Unbound: Lays Into Clinton, Obama, Edwards," The New York Observer, 2/4/07)

Biden On Whether He Would Meet Unconditionally With The Leaders Of Rogue States As Obama Said He Would: "Absolutely Positively No." Biden: "Would I make a blanket commitment to meet unconditionally with the leaders of each of those countries within the first year I was elected president? Absolutely positively no." (Sen. Joe Biden, Remarks At The National Press Club, Washington, DC, 8/1/07)

Biden Attacked Obama's Public Pronouncement That He Would Unilaterally Attack Pakistan, Saying "The Last Thing You Want To Do Is Telegraph To The Folks In Pakistan That We're About To Violate Quote 'Their Sovereignty.'" Biden: "[A]nd I'm told, Senator Obama announced today. Senator Lantos (sic) and I wrote into law, the requirement that the aid to Pakistan be conditioned upon their support of us going after Al Qaeda in their Western province. It already is a law. The question, the way to deal with it is not to announce it, is to do it. The last thing you want to do is telegraph to the folks in Pakistan that we're about to violate quote 'their sovereignty,' putting Musharraf in a position that makes it virtually impossible for him to do anything other than what he's done. Basically cut a deal with the warlords along that border to our great detriment. So it's not something you talk about." (Sen. Joe Biden, Remarks At The National Press Club, Washington, DC, 8/1/07)

Biden Criticized Obama's "Johnny-Come-Lately Position" On Afghanistan. "The Biden for President Campaign today congratulated Sen. Barack Obama for arriving at a number of Sen. Biden's long-held views on combating al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Much of what Senator Obama has proposed Senator Biden has already initiated or accomplished." (Sen. Joe Biden, "Biden Campaign Congratulates Sen. Obama For Johnny-Come-Lately Position," Press Release, 8/1/07)

Biden's Experience Involves Supporting The War In Iraq, Which Obama Attacks:

Obama Argued That "Saddam Poses No Imminent And Direct Threat To The United States, Or To His Neighbors," Saying He Will Fall "Away Into The Dustbin Of History." Obama: "[S]addam poses no imminent and direct threat to the United States, or to his neighbors, that the Iraqi economy is in shambles, that the Iraqi military a fraction of its former strength, and that in concert with the international community he can be contained until, in the way of all petty dictators, he falls away into the dustbin of history." (State Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks Against Going to War With Iraq, Chicago, IL, 10/2/02)

Obama Attacked Proponents Of The Iraq War As Having "Helped To Authorize And Engineer The Biggest Foreign Policy Disaster In Our Generation." Obama: "Well, look, I find it amusing that those who helped to authorize and engineer the biggest foreign policy disaster in our generation are now criticizing me for making sure that we are on the right battlefield and not the wrong battlefield in the war against terrorism." (Sen. Barack Obama, MSNBC/AFL-CIO Democrat Presidential Forum, 8/7/07)

Biden Voted For The Iraq War Resolution. (H.J. Res. 114, CQ Vote #237: Passed 77-23: R 48-1; D 29-21; I 0-1, 10/11/02, Biden Voted Yea)

Biden Called Saddam Hussein "An Extreme Danger To The World." Biden: "This is a guy who's used weapons of mass destruction. This is a guy who's destabilized the whole neighborhood. This is a guy who in a war with the Iranians, over 800,000 people on both sides were killed. This is a guy who is an extreme danger to the world. And this is a guy who is in every way possible seeking weapons of mass destruction. That case, in and of itself, ought to be sufficient." (NBC's "Meet The Press," 8/4/02)

Biden: "We Have No Choice But To Eliminate The Threat." NBC's Tim Russert: "If the president of the United States was saying four years ago clear evidence of mass destruction, do we have any choice but to eliminate Saddam Hussein and the threat?" Biden: "We have no choice but to eliminate the threat." (NBC's "Meet The Press," 8/4/02)

Biden Said The Bush Administration Had Enough Classified Evidence On Iraq To Gain A Conviction At A Jury Trial. "Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., D-Del., said Tuesday on Capitol Hill that 'the administration has evidence now that can change people's minds.' However, Biden said, 'It's a very tough call as to how much to release.' Biden said he did not think the administration would make photographs public, as Adlai E. Stevenson, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, did in 1962 to back the Kennedy administration's claim the Soviet Union had deployed missiles in Cuba that could strike the United States. But, Biden said, 'I know there is enough circumstantial evidence that if there were a jury trial I could convict you.'" (Barry Schweid, "Administration Plans Disclosure Of Intelligence On Weapons," The Associated Press, 1/28/03)

In July 2003, Amid Questions Concerning A Lack Of Stockpiles Of Weapons Of Mass Destruction In Iraq, Biden Defended The War As "Justified" And Said "I Still Believe That Saddam Possessed Weapons Of Mass Destruction." Biden: "I still believe that Saddam possessed weapons of mass destruction and that the war in Iraq was justified." (Sen. Joe Biden, "Statement Of Senator Joe Biden On The White House's Acknowledgment That Iraq-Uranium Assertion Was Wrong," Press Release, biden.senate.gov, 7/8/03)

Biden Has Praised John McCain's Foreign Policy:

Biden Said President Bush Should Have Followed John McCain's Foreign Policy Lead Following The September 11, 2001 Attacks. Biden: "I mean, look, the president had a choice and it was a tough choice when he came--when 9/11 occurred. He could either listen to the advice Colin Powell and Shinseki and most of the uniformed military, and John McCain as well, and Dick Lugar and others, or choose the advice of the vice president, secretary of State--the secretary of Defense and others, and he chose the wrong advice, and this--I think we need a fresh start to be able to gain any momentum on this war on terror, and I don't think we're going to see any change--I'd feel a lot better if I knew that President Bush was going to be elected--and I'm not being solicitous--if I knew he was going to start to listen to John McCain instead of the secretary of Defense, because they have totally different--no, I shouldn't say totally--many--have very different views of how to proceed. And so I think you'd see a difference in the way how you prosecute the war in Iraq. I think you'd see a difference in how you dealt with homeland security. And I think you'd see a difference in terms of the cooperation with other nations in terms of getting the consensus on how to deal with controlling chemical, biological, nuclear weapons." (CBS's, "Face The Nation," 10/31/04)

Biden Praised McCain's Early Call For More Troops In Iraq. Biden: "And so I've believed for a long time, a view shared by my Republican colleague John McCain and many others as well, that we need more force in Iraq. That's not a popular position to take. But we need more force now in order to have less force later. We need to gain control of security in Iraq." (Sen. Joe Biden, To The Center For Strategic And International Studies Policy Forum, Washington, DC, 4/15/04)

In 2005, Biden Even Said He'd Be Honored To Run On The Same Ticket As John McCain. Comedy Central's Jon Stewart: "You may end up going against a Senate colleague, perhaps McCain, perhaps Frist?" Biden: "John McCain is a personal friend, a great friend, and I would be honored to run with or against John McCain, because I think the country would be better off -- be well off no matter who..." Stewart: "Did I hear, Did I hear with?" Biden: "You know, John McCain and I think…" Stewart: "Don't become cottage cheese my friend. Say it." Biden: "The answer is yes." (Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" 8/2/05)

Biden Pick Intended To Alleviate Obama's "Shortcomings On Experience, Especially With Foreign Policy":

"Sen. Joe Biden Of Delaware: A Former Presidential Candidate And Longtime Senator, He Could Help Obama With Perceived Shortcomings On Experience, Especially With Foreign Policy." ("Vice Presidential Sweepstakes," Chicago Tribune, 8/5/08)

But Obama Premised His Campaign On Attacking Washington Foreign Policy Experience:

Obama: "What Americans Are Looking For Is Not Washington Experience, But Do You Have Life Experience That Is Gonna Lead You To Make Good Decisions." Obama: "[I] do think that, increasingly, what Americans are looking for is not Washington experience, but do you have life experience that is gonna lead you to make good decisions, and are you in touch with what's happening on the ground." (Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," 8/22/07)

Obama Said He Drew On Experiences From "A Life Of Living Overseas" In Approaching Foreign Policy. Obama: "What I was drawing on [in dealing with Iraq] was a set of experiences that come from a life of living overseas, having family overseas, being able to see the world through the eyes of people outside our borders." (Jake Tapper, "Obama: 'Better Judgment' On Foreign Policy," ABC News, abcnews.go.com, 7/25/07)

Obama: "Long Resumes Don't Guarantee Good Judgment." Obama: "And I have to remind them when I hear this, you know Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld had two of the longest resumes in Washington. They did. And led us into the worst foreign policy disaster in a generation. So long resumes don't guarantee good judgment." (Jason Horowitz, "Obama's N.H. Swing: The Clinton 'Brand,' Human Rights, Growing Up In A Muslim Country," The New York Observer, 11/26/07)

Obama Attacked "Longevity In Washington." Obama: "The sort of general notion of experience based on longevity in Washington, I don't think is sufficient to make the case to the voters of Iowa or the American people." (CNN's "The Situation Room," 11/19/07)

Obama Mocked Washington Experience, Saying "You Should Keep On Doing The Same Things With The Same People Over And Over Again And Somehow Expect A Different Outcome. And That's The Definition Of Madness." Obama: "What Washington is really telling you is that you should keep on doing the same things with the same people over and over again and somehow expect a different outcome. And that's the definition of madness. Doing the same things over and over again and expecting something different." (MSNBC's "Tucker," 12/27/07)

Biden Has Been A U.S. Senator For 36 Years. (Sen. Joe Biden Website, biiden.senate.gov, Accessed 8/6/08)

Biden Serves As Chairman Of The Senate Foreign Relations Committee. (Sen. Joe Biden Website, biiden.senate.gov, Accessed 8/6/08)

Biden's Plan For Dividing Iraq Criticized By Experts:

Biden Suggests That Dividing The Iraqi Population Will Bring Unity To The Region. Biden: "The idea is to maintain a unified Iraq by decentralizing it and giving Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis their own regions. The central government would be responsible for common interests, like border security and the distribution of oil revenues. …It would require a regional non-aggression pact, overseen by the U.N. Security Council. And it would allow us to responsibly withdraw most U.S. forces from Iraq by the end of 2007." (Sen. Joseph Biden, "Fact Sheet: Biden Plan For Iraq," Press Release, 10/6/06)

"His Broader Proposal Calls For A Political Solution That Would Provide Regional Autonomy For Shiites, Sunnis And Kurds And Guarantees By The Central Government That Sunnis Would Share In The Country's Oil Revenues." (Dan Balz, "Democrats Split On How To End The War," The Washington Post, 2/4/07)

Saudi Prince Turki Al-Faisal Said Biden's Plan Would Be "A Disaster." "Prince Turki told a conference on Washington's relations with the Arab world that dividing Iraq into three regions, reflecting its Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurdish populations, would be a disaster." (Voice Of America, "Saudi Envoy Says Dividing Iraq Will Cause Mass Killing," Press Release, 10/30/06)

Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal: "To envision that you can divide Iraq into three parts is to envision ethnic cleansing on a massive scale, sectarian killing on a massive scale and uprooting of families..." (Prince Turki al-Faisal, "Saudi Envoy Says Dividing Iraq Will Cause Mass Killing," Press Release, 10/30/06)

"Many Middle East Experts Are Horrified By The Difficulty Of Dividing The Nation." (Sarah Baxter, "America Ponders Cutting Iraq In Three," The Sunday Times, 10/8/06)

Biden's Undisciplined Statements And Actions Have Raised Concern:

"[B]iden's Mouth Has Gotten Him Into Trouble Before." (Beth Fouhy, "Biden Fields Questions About '08 Rivals," The Associated Press, 2/1/07)

As Biden Was Gearing Up For His Candidacy, A Friend Said He Needed More Discipline. "'You talk too much and you say things without thinking about them.' [Norman] Ornstein, a friend and admirer, told the senator as he was gearing up for his candidacy. 'I know I've got to be more disciplined,' Biden replied." (Robert Shogan, "Biden Quits Race, Cites Mistakes," Los Angeles Times, 9/24/87)

"'He Has A Tendency To Over-Explain That Doesn't Inure To His Political Benefit,' Acknowledges Larry Rasky, Who Will Be Communications Director For Biden's Presidential Campaign." (Jonathan Broder, "Betting On Being A Global Expert," Congressional Quarterly Weekly, 1/12/07)

In July, Biden Said Proponents Of Offshore Drilling Want To "Rape" The Outer Continental Shelf. "'I think this is a last-ditch effort to go out and rape the offshore continental shelf, so that they own it and are able to use it as leverage in the future, because they know if they don't get it in the last couple of months of this administration, they're not going to get it,' Biden said." (Jeff Montgomery, "Biden Rips Bush On Energy," The [Wilmington, DE] News Journal, 7/15/08)

Biden's Issues With Exaggeration And Self-Discipline Have Marred His Credibility In The Past:

Biden's Bid For The Presidency In '88 Is Still Especially Poignant. "[A]s a candidate for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination, Biden withdrew from the race in 1987 amid accusations that he had plagiarized passages in a campaign speech from former British Labor Party leader Neil Kinnock." (Beth Fouhy, "Biden Fields Questions About '08 Rivals," The Associated Press, 2/1/07)

In 1987, Biden Plagiarized Speech By British Labor Leader Neil Kinnock. "Kinnock told of ancestors who played football after long days underground in the mines, who recited poetry and paved the way for him to become the first in his family to attend college. When he saw a tape of Kinnock in action, Biden said, … 'it was a connect. I mean, I could tell how that man felt. That's how I feel.' So he used it - changing the names but little else - at a debate last month in Iowa." (John Harwood, "Biden's Way With Words Now Seems To Be A Liability," St. Petersburg Times, 9/20/87)

"But Instead Of Crediting Kinnock, He Told The Audience He Thought Of It On The Way To The Debate." (John Harwood, "Biden's Way With Words Now Seems To Be A Liability," St. Petersburg Times, 9/20/87)

Biden Acknowledged Kinnock Speech Didn't Fit His Circumstances "Perfectly." "Biden acknowledged Kinnock's language didn't fit his family perfectly. His father was in used car sales, his grandfather was a mining engineer. But he had been told and 'assumed' that other relatives had worked in the mines. And, 'to make it clear,' members of his mother's family had, indeed, been to college." (John Harwood, "Biden's Way With Words Now Seems To Be A Liability," St. Petersburg Times, 9/20/87)

Biden Withdrew From The 1988 Presidential Race Under Charges Of Plagiarism And Embellishment, Saying, "Now The Exaggerated Shadow Of Those Mistakes Has Begun To Obscure The Essence Of My Candidacy And The Essence Of Joe Biden." ("Biden Bows Out Of Race, Blames His Own Mistakes," Los Angeles Times, 9/23/87)

Biden "Developed A Serious Credibility Problem." "Democrat Joe Biden is a compelling orator, but he developed a serious credibility problem after questions surfaced about plagiarism and possible falsifications of his academic record." (Rich Hood, Op-Ed, "Ashcroft Hindered In His Quest For The Top," The Kansas City [MO] Star, 8/31/97)

Biden Was Also Accused Of Plagiarism At Syracuse Law School. "[B]iden soon ran into trouble at Syracuse Law. He was accused of plagiarism after lifting five pages from a law review article for a course paper. But his pleading - 'I implore you, don't take my honor' - convinced the dean to let him stay in school, take the course over, and wipe the slate clean." (John Harwood, "Biden's Way With Words Now Seems To Be A Liability," St. Petersburg Times, 9/20/87)

Biden Admitted Some Of His Claims About Academic Achievements Were Untrue. "Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., his Democratic presidential campaign battered by charges of plagiarism in his campaign speeches and in a law school paper, admitted yesterday that some of his boasts about his college academic achievements were untrue, including the claim that he had finished in the top half of his class in law school." (James R. Dickenson, "Biden: Academic Claims 'Inaccurate,'" The Washington Post, 9/22/87)

Biden's Son Is A D.C. Lobbyist:

R. Hunter Biden Is A Currently Registered Federal Lobbyist With Law Firm Oldaker, Biden & Belair. (U.S. Senate, Office Of Public Disclosure, soprweb.senate.gov, Accessed 8/6/08)

Hunter Biden Previously Worked At Lobbying Firm That Lobbied The Senator:

Former Fundraiser And Adviser To Biden, William Oldaker, Created Lobbying Firm, The National Group, "Specializing In The Sort Of Earmarks Doled Out By Sen. Biden." "[University of Delaware president David] Roselle turned to the lobbying firm of William Oldaker, a well-connected Washington insider who had served as a campaign adviser and fundraiser for Sen. Joe Biden. Just a year earlier, Biden's son Hunter and Oldaker co-founded the law firm Oldaker, Biden & Belair in a downtown D.C. office, just a block from Lafayette Park and the White House. Working out of the same suite as the law firm, Oldaker also helped launch The National Group, a lobbying affiliate specializing in the sort of earmarks doled out by Sen. Biden and Delaware's two other members of Congress, Sen. Tom Carper and Rep. Mike Castle." (Nicole Gaudiano, "UD Gets Earmarks With Help Of Lobbyists Connected To Biden," The [Wilmington, DE] News Journal, 6/8/08)

"Lobbying Reports Filed With The FEC Show Hunter Biden, Now 38, Lobbied For National Group Clients, Such As Universities, Hospitals And The San Mateo County (Calif.) Sheriff's Department, Between 2003 And 2006." (Nicole Gaudiano, "UD Gets Earmarks With Help Of Lobbyists Connected To Biden," The [Wilmington, DE] News Journal, 6/8/08)

"With Oldaker's Firm Playing Rainmaker, The University Of Delaware's Earmarks Climbed Dramatically. … The University Has Secured Another $68 Million From The Delaware Delegation In The Five Years Since The National Group's Lobbyists Began Working For UD." (Nicole Gaudiano, "UD Gets Earmarks With Help Of Lobbyists Connected To Biden," The [Wilmington, DE] News Journal, 6/8/08)

By 2005, The National Group Had 70 Clients And Earned $5.4 Million In Lobbying Fees. "While UD increased its earmarks, The National Group expanded its portfolio. In 2002, the lobbying firm signed 28 clients. Three years later, 70 clients were paying $5.4 million for the influence of lobbyists like Oldaker and Hunter Biden, according to the Center for Responsive Politics' campaign finance tracking Web site Opensecrets.org." (Nicole Gaudiano, "UD Gets Earmarks With Help Of Lobbyists Connected To Biden," The [Wilmington, DE] News Journal, 6/8/08)

"Sen. Biden's Staffers Usually Get A Phone Call From The National Group At The Beginning Of The Appropriations Cycle And One Or Two Followup Contacts Later In The Process, According To Biden's Office." (Nicole Gaudiano, "UD Gets Earmarks With Help Of Lobbyists Connected To Biden," The [Wilmington, DE] News Journal, 6/8/08)

Obama And Biden Both Described As Among The Most Liberal Democrats In The Senate:

Biden Is A "Self-Described Northeast Liberal." (Valerie Bauerlein and Lee Bandy, "Thousands Pay Respect To S.C.'s History Maker," The [Columbia, SC] State, 7/2/03)

Richmond Times-Dispatch Referred To Biden As "Liberal Icon." (Editorial, "History Lesson," Richmond Times-Dispatch, 9/15/02)

"The Record Shows Obama To Be A Fairly Doctrinaire Liberal Democrat…" (Editorial, "Obama's Rhetoric Soars, But What Does His Record Suggest?" USA Today, 1/28/08)

The Washington Times: "As With His Illinois State Senate Days, The Impression One Gets From Mr. Obama's Brief Tenure As A U.S. Senator Is That He Is An Unabashed Liberal. And One Would Be Right." (Editorial, "Barack Obama, U.S. Senator," The Washington Times, 12/19/06)

Obama And Biden Among The Most Partisan Liberal Senators:

In 2007, National Journal Gave Biden A 94.2 Liberal Score, Making Him The 3rd Most Liberal Senator. ("2007 Vote Ratings," National Journal, www3.nationaljournal.com, 7/18/08)

In 2007, National Journal Gave Obama A 95.5 Liberal Score, Making Him The Most Liberal Senator. ("2007 Vote Ratings," National Journal, www3.nationaljournal.com, 7/18/08)

For The Past Decade, Biden Has Voted With His Party At Least 87% Of The Time Each Year. (Congressional Quarterly Website, www.cq.com, Accessed 7/22/08)

Since Joining The Senate, Obama Has Voted With His Party At Least 96% Of The Time Each Year. (Congressional Quarterly Website, www.cq.com, Accessed 7/22/08)

Biden Is Opposed To Offshore Drilling:

Biden Voted Against Allowing Virginia To Explore And Drill Offshore. "Warner, R-Va., amendment no. 1566 to the Reid, D-Nev., substitute amendment no.1502. The Warner amendment would authorize Virginia to petition for the authority to conduct natural gas drilling and exploration in the state's coastal zone." (H.R. 6, CQ Vote #212: Rejected 43-44: R 37-5; D 6-37; I 0-2, 6/14/07, Biden Voted Nay)

Biden Hesitant To Expand Nuclear Power:

Biden: "I see a role for nuclear, but first you've got to deal with the security as well as the safety concerns. I'd be spending a whole hell of a lot of money trying to figure out how to reconfigure the spent fuel into reusable fuel. I would not invest in [growing our nuclear-power capacity in its current form], but I would invest in sorting out the storage and waste problems." (Sen. Biden, "Biden On The Record," www.grist.org, 8/29/07)

Biden Voted For Largest Tax Increase In American History And Has Received Poor Ratings From Anti-Tax Groups:

Biden Voted In Favor Of The Democrats' FY 2009 Budget Resolution. (S. Con. Res. 70, CQ Vote #85: Adopted 51-44: R 2-43; D 47-1; I 2-0, 3/14/08, Biden Voted Yea)

The Democrats' Budget Would Raise Taxes On Individuals Earning Approximately $42,000 Or More. "The resolution Obama voted for would not have increased taxes on any single taxpayer making less than $41,500 per year in total income, or any couple making less than $83,000. The $32,000 figure is approximately the taxable income of a single person making $41,500 per year, after all deductions and exclusions." (FactCheck.org, "The $32,000 Question," www.factcheck.org, 7/11/08)

NOTE: The Democrats' Budget Raised Tax Rates On The 25, 28, 33 And 35 Percent Brackets. For 2008, The 25 Percent Bracket Begins At The Taxable Income Level Of $32,550, Which Is The Figure After All Deductions And Exclusions Are Subtracted From Total Earnings. ("2008 Individual Income Tax Rates, Standard Deductions, Personal Exemptions, And Filing Thresholds," www.taxpolicycenter.org, 11/4/07; Andrew Taylor, "Presidential Hopefuls To Vote On Budget," The Associated Press, 3/13/08)

Biden Voted Twice In Favor Of The FY 2008 Budget Resolution Which Included The Largest Tax Increase In U.S. History. (S. Con. Res. 21, CQ Vote #172: Adopted 52-40: R 2-40; D 48-0; I 2-0, 5/17/07, Biden Voted Yea; S. Con. Res. 21, CQ Vote #114: Adopted 52-47: R 2-47; D 48-0; I 2-0, 3/23/07, Biden Voted Yea)

Americans For Tax Reform Called The Budget "The Largest Tax Increase In American History." (Americans For Tax Reform, "ATR Urges Members Of The House To Vote Against The Proposed 2008 Fiscal Year Budget," Press Release, 3/28/07)

In 2006, Biden Received An "Hostile" To Tax Payers Rating (18%) From Citizens Against Government Waste. (Citizens Against Government Waste Website, www.cagw.org, Accessed 7/8/08)

Biden's Lifetime Senate Rating From The National Taxpayers Union Is A 17.6% . (National Taxpayers Union Website, www.ntu.org, Accessed 7/8/08)

Between 2000-2006, Biden Received An Average Rating Of 12.9% From Americans For Tax Reform. (Americans For Tax Reform Website, www.atr.org, Accessed 7/8/08)

Biden Has A Lifetime Rating Of 35% From The Chamber Of Commerce. (Chamber Of Commerce Website, www.uschamber.com, Accessed 7/8/08)