Posted on 03/14/2020 1:24:53 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
April 30, 2009— -- Democrats hustled to temper Vice President Joe Biden's comments today that he would advise his family to avoid flying or being in confined spaces because of concerns about swine flu, a comment that drew criticism from the travel industry.
At a news conference Wednesday evening, President Obama said Americans who may be sick should avoid airplanes and "any system of public transportation where you're confined," but the vice president today took it one step further.
"I would tell members of my family -- and I have -- I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now. It's not that it's going to Mexico in a confined aircraft where one person sneezes, that goes all the way through the aircraft," Biden said on NBC's "Today" show.
"That's me," he said.
"I would not be, at this point, if they had another way of transportation, suggesting they ride the subway," he said.
When asked by ABC News' Jake Tapper whether the White House had a response to Biden's comments, Gibbs replied: "I think ... what the vice president meant to say was the same thing that again, many members have said in the last few days, that is, if you feel sick, if you are exhibiting flulike symptoms -- coughing, sneezing, runny nose -- that you should take precautions, that you should limit your travel."
Gibbs apologized if anyone was "unduly" alarmed but did not elaborate.
"Jake, I'm telling you what he meant to say," he said to laughter.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
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