Biden: Clinton 'relatively new' to income inequality issue

The Hill ^ | January 11, 2016 | Jordan Fabian

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Vice President Biden heaped praise on Hillary Clinton's chief opponent in the Democratic presidential primary, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), for his "deep and real" focus on income inequality.

Biden said Clinton has come up with some "thoughtful" solutions to the issue, but that people might question her authenticity on the wage and income gaps because she has only begun speaking about it recently.

"I think that Bernie is speaking to a yearning that is deep and real. And he has credibility on that," Biden said Monday in an interview with CNN.

Asked about the fact Hillary has spoken about the issue too, Biden replied "it's relatively new for Hillary to talk about that."

"Hillary's focus has been on other things up to now," he added. "No one questions Bernie's authenticity on those issues."

Biden said it's not unexpected Clinton would receive scrutiny over her positions, but said "I think she's come forward with some really, really thoughtful approaches to deal with the issue."

Biden's comments could inject even more drama into the Democratic presidential primary race. Polls show Clinton and Sanders running close races in the key early states of Iowa and New Hampshire, defying early predictions of a Clinton landslide victory.

Clinton, who served as President Obama's secretary of State, is widely perceived to be the favored candidate inside the White House. But for months, Biden weighed jumping into the race to challenge her. But he decided this fall not to run while his family and he were still mourning the death of his son, Beau.

Biden, who has declined to endorse a candidate, met privately with Sanders in October, just after bowing out of the race.

The vice president said it's not surprising that Sanders is running close with Biden, explaining that expectations for Clinton were set sky high.

Despite what early polls in Iowa and New Hampshire showed, "I thought for the last six months they were neck in neck in both places," Biden said.

"I never thought she was a prohibitive favorite," he added. "I don't think she ever thought she was a prohibitive favorite ... everything's sort of coming down to Earth."

The vice president also said the issue of gun control wouldn't be a problem for Sanders in the Democratic primary, citing his recent shift on the issue.

"What Bernie Sanders has to do is say that the Second Amendment says -- which he has, of late -- the Second Amendment says you can limit who can own a gun, that people who are criminals shouldn't have guns. People who are schizophrenic and have mental illnesses shouldn't own guns," Biden said. "And he has said that. "

Obama set a litmus test for Democrats, saying he will not campaign for any candidates who do not back "common sense" gun reforms. The Vermont senator has come under scrutiny from Clinton over his past positions on the issue.

Biden recently said that while the decision not to run was the right one, he regrets not being in the campaign "every day." But the vice president shut the door to jumping back into race if Clinton falters in Iowa and New Hampshire.

"No, even if Hillary loses both, it's a long way to go to the nomination," he said. "I don't think there's any door to open."

[Cincinatus' Wife]

"..."I don't think there's any door to open."

That's wiggle room talk.

[crazyhorse691]

My first introduction to income inequality was when the Bosses new executive secretary complained that I made more money than she did. She had an office and I just worked on the boiler and other machines and was always dirty. It is always about jealousy.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

“It is always about jealousy.”

Well, in your case it was about who kept things working.

: )

[Undecided 2012]

I’m thinking after Hildabeast’s arrest it will be Biden/Sanders after some DNC dealing?

[Suz in AZ]

“I don’t think she ever thought she was a prohibitive favorite ... everything’s sort of coming down to Earth.”

[TigersEye]

He who hesitates is Joe Biden.

[fhayek]

I hope that Hillary isn’t claustrophobic, because there ain’t much room under that bus.

[crazyhorse691]

I do not dwell on the fact that after I left that they blew a years budget in 3 months calling in outside mechanics to just keep the boiler operating. But, it feels good to mention it once and awhile. LOL

[SunkenCiv]

Joe wants another four to eight years as VP. Thanks Cincinatus' Wife.

[nickcarraway]

Yes, Biden plagiarized that idea decades ago.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

: )

Schadenfreude

[FerociousRabbit]

Hillary is a sinking ship. The rats are jumping.

[elhombrelibre]

It’s beyond me how the Clintons, with all of their wealth and manifest avarice, can be credible on the income inequality scam. They’ve always hung with the super rich, including such mega rich people as Donald Trump. They are so close to such super rich people as Trump that they attended his third wedding. They’re used their political power to get more, and more rich by basically selling influence to people, as their friend Donald Trump states and donation records confirm.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

[radu]

"What Bernie Sanders has to do is say that the Second Amendment says -- which he has, of late -- the Second Amendment says you can limit who can own a gun, that people who are criminals shouldn't have guns. People who are schizophrenic and have mental illnesses shouldn't own guns," Biden said. "And he has said that. "

Say WHAT???????????????

Boy, he must have a different copy of the U.S. Constitution than I have.

[Caipirabob]

The more I read articles like this about walking disasters voicing their opinions to the detriment of the hildebeast enabler, I have to agree.

[Caipirabob]

Oh to see justice delivered...

[sauropod]

Sure is.

Ol’ Plugs would be a much more formidable candidate than the Bern. He is able to speak to a much broader segment of their base.

[sphinx]

2015 was the 50th anniversary of LBJ's War on Poverty. There are some programs that have proved useful, but overall, and certainly in terms of the aspirations to achievement ratio, a greater failure would be hard to find. Democrats don't much like to talk about it. "Inequality" has become their device for rebranding the issue, shoving 50 years of history down the memory hold, and pretending that they are starting afresh on a bold new adventure in spending other peoples' money.

Any honest discussion of the issue would begin by acknowledging that uplifting the poor has been a central preoccupation of government at all levels for a half century. We have learned a great deal about what doesn't work, and about what does. That's the discussion we should be having. It's the discussion that the Democrats want to avoid.

[Sooth2222]

Biden recently said that while the decision not to run was the right one, he regrets not being in the campaign "every day." But the vice president shut the door to jumping back into race if Clinton falters in Iowa and New Hampshire.

"No, even if Hillary loses both, it's a long way to go to the nomination," he said. "I don't think there's any door to open."

But should some door open, because Hillary suddenly decides to drop out "to spend more time with her grandchildren" or is taken out by some random grand jury somewhere, he's "Tanned. Rested. Ready."

Biden has more than just mild dementia. There is just no way that he could survive a normal primary campaign season without ****ing into the podium in the middle of a speech.