Thursday, April 30, 2009

Keep on talking Joe . . .



Biden would avoid subways, planes after swine flu outbreak


Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday that he would not recommend taking any commercial flight or riding in a subway car “at this point” because swine flu virus can spread “in confined places.” A little more than one hour later, Biden rushed out a statement backing off.

“I would tell members of my family – and I have – I wouldn’t go anywhere in confined places now,” Biden said on NBC’s “Today” show.. “It’s not that it’s going to Mexico. It’s [that] you’re in a confined aircraft. When one person sneezes, it goes all the way through the aircraft. That’s me. …

“So, from my perspective, what it relates to is mitigation. If you’re out in the middle of a field when someone sneezes, that’s one thing. If you’re in a closed aircraft or closed container or closed car or closed classroom, it’s a different thing.”

That contradicted more restrained advice from President Barack Obama and the federal government - and the last thing the White House wants to do right now is shut down the airline industry and big city subways out of mass panic.

The White House quickly arranged for Biden to make this statement through a spokesperson.

“On the Today Show this morning the Vice President was asked what he would tell a family member who was considering air travel to Mexico this week. The advice he is giving family members is the same advice the Administration is giving to all Americans: that they should avoid unnecessary air travel to and from Mexico. If they are sick, they should avoid airplanes and other confined public spaces, such as subways. This is the advice the Vice President has given family members who are traveling by commercial airline this week. As the President said just last night, every American should take the same steps you would take to prevent any other flu: keep your hands washed; cover your mouth when you cough; stay home from work if you're sick; and keep your children home from school if they're sick.”

Host Matt Lauer had asked the vice president: “This is by no means a ‘gotcha’ type of question. … But if a member of your family came to you … and said, ‘Look, I want to go on a commercial airliner to Mexico, and back within the next week,’ would you think it’s a good idea?” Biden made it unmistakably clear he would not want his family make any trips on planes or subways.

(Way to go Joe, keep on talking, completely bring down the airline industry with one statement! VN8)

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is almost like a cronic syndrome with Joe.

VoteNovember2008 said...

Some people don't know when to shut up. Planes trains and automobiles, what's he going to say next. I'm sure POTUS loves him tonight! LOL VN8

Anonymous said...

New to your blog! Joe has always been good as "foot in mouth" disease!

Anonymous said...

Joe suffers what from what is known as terminal Dumb A$$. He speaks and industries die.

VoteNovember2008 said...

MACW, glad to have you drop by! Do you ever wonder how the VP git so far? VN8/BB

VoteNovember2008 said...

MACW, glad to have you drop by! Do you ever wonder how the VP git so far? VN8/BB

VoteNovember2008 said...

Remember those commercials? When E F :Hutton talks, everybody listens. Kind of the same with the VP, hopefully the sane folks are in the majority! VN8/BB

Unknown said...

Joe Biden is living evidence of media bias. When a Republican says something stupid, it's all over the news. Biden does so daily and not a peep from the MSM.

VoteNovember2008 said...

Lee, What's good for the goose isn't good for the gander when it comes to Democrats! The VP is a dufus! (sp) VN8