Paul

Ibrahim

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October 6, 2008

Vice Presidential Debate Shows Joe Biden Is a Liar

A gem of unfortunate truth seems to have permeated the Obama campaign: If a political candidate states a blatant lie with enough confidence, he will probably win over just enough people to accomplish his mission, if his mission is only winning an election.

We have seen this theory applied repeatedly by The One Himself, and last Thursday, a record-breaking number of people saw his mentor do the same. Now if you think their goal should be to win the election and nothing else, then of course they are doing the right thing. It’s not like members of the mainstream media, such as Chris Matthews, are going to call them out on their lies. (Matthews is probably too busy soaking up the “thrill” he says Barack Obama sends up his leg.)

But if you think their goal should instead be to do honest work for America as president and vice president, then we have a problem.

Here is a sickening (and, due to editorial necessity, painfully abbreviated) top 10 list, in no particular order, of Joe Biden’s lies on Thursday night:

Biden: In response to Sarah Palin pointing out Obama’s vote to raise taxes on those making $42,000, Biden replied: “The vote she’s referring to, John McCain voted the exact same way.”

Facts: McCain did not vote the same way. There is no gray area here.

Biden: “John McCain said as recently as a couple of weeks ago he wouldn’t even sit down with the government of Spain.”

Facts: McCain has never ever said he would not sit down with the government of Spain.

Biden: “This is simply not true about Barack Obama. He did not say sit down with Ahmadinejad.”

Facts: Well, as long as it’s “simply” not true, Joe. The fact is, Obama specifically said he would sit down with Ahmadinejad. It is simply true.

Biden: “I have always supported (clean coal technology). That's a fact.”

Facts: Less than a month ago, Biden vigorously declared “We’re not supporting clean coal.” Yes, it does conflict with Biden’s version of “fact,” but this fact has a video backing it up.

Biden: “Iraqis have an $80 billion surplus.”

Facts: The Iraqis currently have $29 billion, and at most might possibly have a total of $59 billion at the end of the year.

Biden: “With regard to Barack Obama not quote funding the troops, John McCain voted the exact same way.”

Facts: McCain did not vote the exact same way as Obama when the latter voted to cut funding for the troops. McCain opposed an entirely separate bill that included a timeline.

Biden: 1. “John McCain has voted 20 times in the last decade-and-a-half against funding alternative energy sources, clean energy sources, wind, solar, biofuels.” 2. “John McCain has voted 20 times against funding alternative energy sources.” 3. “Why did John vote 20 times (against funding alternative energy sources)?” 4. “(McCain) voted 20 times against funding alternative energy sources.”

Facts: Well, clearly, if he said it four times, then it really really really really must be true. But it turns out that the actual number of McCain’s votes is nearly half of what Biden alleges, which makes it untrue.

Biden: “Drill we must.”

Facts: Biden didn’t think so before polls showed Americans favoring drilling, and instead opposed offshore drilling which he compared to “raping” the Outer Continental Shelf.

Biden: “We kicked Hezbollah out of Lebanon.”

Facts: Huh? What? Excuse me? When did anyone kick Hezbollah out of Lebanon? How do you even kick Hezbollah out of Lebanon? Does he have any idea what he is talking about? It is actually unclear whether this one is a comically ludicrous lie or merely a statement stemming from the disturbing ignorance of what’s supposed to be a man knowledgeable on foreign policy. Either way, it is petrifying.

Biden: “Barack Obama is ready to be the next president of the United States of America.”

Facts: Earlier in the campaign Biden said “I think [Obama] can be ready but right now I don’t think he is. The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training.” During the primary debates, Biden reasserted that belief by saying “I stand by that statement.” Apparently, if you’re not ready to be president, selecting Joe Biden as your running mate automatically makes you “ready to be the next president of the United States of America.”

Biden uses a variety of rhetorical tools to convince Americans that his lies are actually truths. Declaring that “this is simply not true,” insisting that “that’s a fact,” and making a point of repeating his false statements all manage to mislead countless Americans who tend to put their faith in the TV box. But we now must know that when Biden tells us that he’s giving us a fact, he is actually signaling a lie.

We cannot make him our vice president.

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