"Good Morning America" co-host Robin Roberts didn't bother to challenge Vice President Joe Biden when he asserted on Thursday that cheering crowds spontaneously appear wherever he goes. Paraphrasing a softball question given to Barack Obama at his Wednesday news conference, Roberts asked what had humbled the Vice President during his first 100 days in office. [Audio available here]
In a serious tone, Biden responded, "...Everywhere I go, crowds spontaneously assemble. They start to cheer, whether I go to a play on Broadway or I'm going home to Wilmington, Delaware. I walk on the train. People stand up and clap." Roberts didn't offer a follow-up, but she could have referenced a January 3 incident, when (then) Vice President-elect Biden went unnoticed while trying to see a movie in Delaware. According to a reprinted Deleware Online article, "Remarkably, none of the other moviegoers appeared to notice. Employees said nobody mobbed Biden or called his name or asked for an autograph." Movie theater employee Becky Gingrich explained, "It didn't seem many people recognized him."
During the Roberts interview, Biden attempted to work the "humble" part of the question into his response. He elaborated, "It's not about me. It's about, I think, the hope and expectation they [Americans] have for our administration. But it's spontaneous everywhere I've gone around the country."
Setting up the question, Roberts replayed the original "enchanted" question from the news conference, directed to Barack Obama. She enthused, " So, what has surprised you in your first 100 days?" And then followed-up by cooing, "And enchanted you?...And humbled you?"
A transcript of the April 30 interview, which aired at 7:08am, follows:
ROBIN ROBERTS: Well, President Obama marked the 100th day of his office- in office with a prime-time news conference last night. The first issue he addressed, swine flu, and its impact on parents and children. We asked Vice President Joe Biden about that and other issues when he joined us just moments ago from his official residence at the Naval Observatory in Washington. Good to see you, Vice President Biden. Thank you very much for joining us this morning. The President talked about parents and businesses having a contingency plan in case more children need to stay home from school. Do you know exactly what he means by contingency plan?
VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: Well, yes, I do. For example, that- a parent whose child's school is closed out of a precaution, or because there's been a confirmed case of flu, should not take that child into a day-care center. They're going to have to take them home. And the hope is that the employers will have- be generous, in terms of how they treat that employee's necessary action of taking the child home and not being at work. And so, the urging is the contingency plans that businesses should have, if they're going- if this hits in a way that their employees have to care for their children.
ROBERTS: Our Jake Tapper asked the President if he thought that the previous administration had sanctioned torture. And this is how the President responded.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: I believe that waterboarding was torture. And I think that the- whatever legal rationales were used, it was a mistake.
ROBERTS: There's a couple times that Jake tried to get an answer from the President and wasn't quite able to. So, let me ask you. Do you think that the Bush administration sanctioned torture?
BIDEN: I think the Bush administration misread the law, justified the action, which both the President and I believe to be torture on a faulty rationale. So, I think they were mistaken in their judgment as to whether or not it constituted torture. We believe it was torture. We've ended the practice.
ROBERTS: There's a lot of talk about- and you all have talked a lot about, the economy, and what's going on, of course. And the economy shrank at an alarming rate. 6.1 percent in the first quarter. Is it going to continue at this rate before it gets better, Vice President?
BIDEN: I think unemployment is going to continue this rate before it gets better. But I don't think the economy is likely to continue shrinking at this rate. Remember that, you know, we said it was an alarming rate. But it wasn't an unpredictable rate. We've been in office for a third of this quarter. Or two-thirds of this quarter. And the plans we have put in place to begin to turn this economy around, are going to take some time. So, it wasn't a shock. Disappointing that it grew- that it shrunk at that number.
ROBERTS: Well, let's end, as it did at the press conference, on a bit of a lighter note. The President, when he was asked about what surprised, troubled, enchanted and humbled him? This is what the President said last night.
OBAMA: I've got- what was the first one?
JEFF ZELENY (New York Times): Surprised, troubled. Surprised.
OBAMA: Surprised.
ZELENY: Troubled.
OBAMA: Troubled.
ZELENY: Enchanted.
OBAMA: Enchanted?
ZELENY: And humbled.
[clip ends]
ROBERTS: We won't make you have to write it down. But, we'll do a little lightning round. So, what has surprised you in your first 100 days?
BIDEN: What surprise me is the pace. I've been in Washington a long time. The pace of decisions that had to be made. What has troubled me is the failure of us to get the kind of cooperation we hoped we would get on major issues with some of our Republican colleagues. There seemed to be, at least at the outset, a determination not to cooperate. I hopeful that's going to change. We continue to reach out. But, I was a little surprised that on the big-ticket items that we're facing, in terms of crisis, there might have been a little more cooperation. But this is early.
ROBERTS: And enchanted you?
BIDEN: My wife, on the night of the inauguration.
ROBERTS: And humbled you?
BIDEN: She was gorgeous.
ROBERTS: She was.
BIDEN: What's humbled me, as you walk out, I mean, everywhere I go, crowds spontaneously assemble. They start to cheer, whether I go to a play on Broadway or I'm going home to Wilmington, Delaware. I walk on the train. People stand up and clap. I mean, it's humbled me. It's not about me. It's about, I think, the hope and expectation they have for our administration. But it's spontaneous everywhere I've gone around the country. And it really is humbling. And it makes you realize that people are really banking on us, you know, changing the day. And it really it is humbling.
ROBERTS: I'm sure it is. Vice President Joe Biden, always a pleasure to see you. Thanks so much for joining us. Have a great day.
BIDEN: Thank you, Robin. Thanks a lot.
—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.




















Editor at Large
Comments Policy
"Stand up, Chuck, and clap
April 30, 2009 - 11:35 ET by Newsbusterbrown"Stand up, Chuck, and clap for me!"
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
... and so was Hitler
April 30, 2009 - 11:38 ET by Gary Hall... and so was Hitler.
Ya tell them enough lies, and they will follow you anywhere.
Biden Daily Update
April 30, 2009 - 11:41 ET by Old VetSomeone should follow this fool around every day with a live mic and video camera. There would be enough for a daily dose and I would certainly pay for the DVD of "Biden Gone Wild".
Uhbama: I love
April 30, 2009 - 11:42 ET by HockeyKidUhbama: I love me!
Biden: I love me more!
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Joe, that is so SWEET!
April 30, 2009 - 11:48 ET by StarAZYour feverish need for anonymous approval is so...touching. We're sorry if we ever failed to pay enough attention to you. You have to realize the Other Guy gets a lot of what is rightfully yours...just for being so darn adorable and brilliant.
Uh, Joe
April 30, 2009 - 11:53 ET by UpNorththose aren't spontaneous crowds, those are the handlers with duct tape and the nets. They're trying, without much success, to keep you from making an ass of yourself.
Witness the "don't get on an airplane" comment, which the WH is in full spin mode to change now.
Biden
April 30, 2009 - 12:07 ET by merlin61His new name should be "Bumbling Biden". This
man can screw up more statements than anyone I
know. You are right UpNorth, they need to keep
the duct tape handy and the nets ready. He's a
real nut-root.
Biden
April 30, 2009 - 12:08 ET by merlin61His new name should be "Bumbling Biden". This
man can screw up more statements than anyone I
know. You are right UpNorth, they need to keep
the duct tape handy and the nets ready. He's a
real nut-root.
I'm humbled by how great I
April 30, 2009 - 11:58 ET by mattmI'm humbled by how great I am.
LOL!
April 30, 2009 - 12:26 ET by motherbeltAnother "Walter Mitty" moment from Bozo the VP.
Maybe the devout Catholic should take a clue from this parable, cited here.
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
We already know that ACORN
April 30, 2009 - 12:01 ET by fitzfongWe already know that ACORN is second-to-none when it comes to voter fraud and other forms of "community organization", but I never knew they were this good. Trotting out the straw man brigade to give the Vice President "spontaneous" standing ovations at various events...now that's brilliant. What an operation! My compliments!
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill
Loosen up the hair plugs
April 30, 2009 - 12:12 ET by expatriotJoe, Joe!
Loosen up the hair plugs, they are creeping into your brain and causing you to hallucinate. Bald is in, buddy.
Biden's ego is unbound
April 30, 2009 - 12:13 ET by GalvanicWell, even his friends say that he tends to "exaggerate" now and then.
I can't think of another politician that better fits the cheesy politican stereotype more than Joe Biden. He can't even feign humility. He's his own SNL parody.
You're right,
April 30, 2009 - 12:34 ET by motherbeltYou're right, Galvanic.
The reality of Joe the "D'oh!" Biden strangles in the crib any attempt at parody.
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
Biden is truly..................
April 30, 2009 - 13:19 ET by BEGRUNTa sociopath, and a pathological liar, I mean the guy cant help himself......he lies when he doesn't have to.
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“And let’s have no
displays of indignation……if we’ve told lies, then you have told half lies, and
a man, who lies, like me, merely hides the truth, but a man who tells half
lies, has forgotten where he put it.”
Dryden…..Lawrence of Arabia
Official Joe Designation: DOOFUS
April 30, 2009 - 13:26 ET by yobobbybDeranged Oaf Of The United States.
Carter and Obama
April 30, 2009 - 13:34 ET by doug1950Just like Jimah Carter had his ignoramus of a brother Billy who could be depended on to embarrass and make incredibly stupid statements, Obama has this overinflated buffoon lap dog as his "thorn in the flesh". If Biden really believes crowds just materialize whenever he shows up he is even more delusional that I thought. Perhaps people just gather so they can say they were witness to one or more of his asinine comments. I believe Washington is being run by imbeciles and narcissic freaks from a DNC's experimental genetics farm. Biden is such a pompous blow hard.
They cheer him in Delaware,
April 30, 2009 - 15:14 ET by SickofLibsThey cheer him in Delaware, clap for him in Manhattan and hurl empty Rolling Rocks at him in Scranton.
Poor Joe
April 30, 2009 - 15:38 ET by northoneJoe's self-esteem issues really are concerning. Someone should really help him with his lack of self-confidence. Are the people cheering him or his hair plugs?
The Joe Biden Anthem....
April 30, 2009 - 15:52 ET by northoneOh Lord it's hard to be humble
when you're perfect in every way.
I can't wait to look in the mirror
cause I get better looking each day.
To know me is to love me,
I must be a hell of a man.
Oh, Lord, it's hard to be humble
but I'm doing the best that I can.
I used to have a girlfriend
but she just couldn't compete
with all of these love-starved women
who keep clamoring at my feet.
Well I prob'ly could find me another
but I guess they're all in awe of me.
Who cares, I never get lonesome
cause I treasure my own company.
Thanks to Mac Davis!
Yes, he must be getting
April 30, 2009 - 17:33 ET by eaglewingz08Yes, he must be getting standing ovations at the Home Depot in Wilmington and at his favorite Italian restaurant there. I just wonder where all those vociferous crowds were during the dem primary when he got one percent of the vote?
Thanks for the laugh!!
April 30, 2009 - 18:36 ET by Radical1979Thanks for the laugh!!
Biden should be humbled
April 30, 2009 - 18:35 ET by Radical1979Biden should be humbled every time he opens his mouth because he puts his foot in it. I guess his head is so big he doesn't realize his foot is in his mouth.
Walk on what?
April 30, 2009 - 19:47 ET by misterbee241"...Everywhere I go, crowds spontaneously assemble. They start to
cheer, whether I go to a play on Broadway or I'm going home to
Wilmington, Delaware. I walk on [water]. People stand up and clap."
That's more like it.
"I dont need to read a newspaper to know the world's been shaved by a drunken barber."
Walter Brennan, The Colonel, Meet John Doe, 1941
Biden on ABC
April 30, 2009 - 21:02 ET by Vivaldi5I suppose that for Biden, ABC is the right network, since in his mind those initials would have to stand for "articulate and bright and clean."
"I mean, that's a storybook, man."
What has troubled me is the
April 30, 2009 - 21:29 ET by TN MomWhat has troubled me is the failure of us to get the kind of cooperation we hoped we would get on major issues with some of our Republican colleagues - Biden
It takes two to cooperate. Democrats shut out the GOP leadership refusing to listen to anything they offer.
Pelosi: "We won the election so yes we wrote the bill"
President TelePrompter: "I won, so I can trump you"