White House On Biden ‘Terrorists’ Remark: ‘Product Of An Emotional Discussion,” But Inappropriate

by Frances Martel | 5:57 pm, August 2nd, 2011

» 33 comments

The White House is not conceding that Vice President Joe Biden likened the Tea Party to “terrorists” in a private discussion, as VP Biden himself has denied. But in today’s press briefing, Press Secretary Jay Carney was made to speak on the matter, and he made clear that the language was “not appropriate” for the discussion, heated though it may be: “The Vice President doesn’t think so; the President doesn’t think so.”

Politico initially reported that sources within a two-hour meeting with Congressmen about the debt deal reported that the Vice President had used the term as it was flying around in the talk. Originally the report stated that, in response to Rep. Mike Doyle complaining that “we have negotiated with terrorists,” the Vice President said that the Tea Party “have acted like terrorists.” ABC News reports that others in the meeting said the Vice President had instead said “something along the lines of ‘if they have acted like terrorists, we’re taking the nuclear weapon away from them.’” Vice President Biden himself told CBS’ Scott Pelley that he had not used the term: “I never said that they were terrorists or weren’t terrorists, I just let them vent.”

In today’s press briefing, the topic did come up, however, and Carney did not mince words about the use of the term “terrorists” out of context. He did, however, confirm that Vice President Biden “did not say those words” and the blame lay solely with Democratic Congresspeople who now “regret” using the term. Jake Tapper reports:

One reporter today asked White House press secretary Jay Carney about reports that the Veep had used the term, wondering if “the president thinks that’s appropriate discourse?”

“No, he doesn’t, and neither does the vice president,” Carney said. “And I think the vice president spoke to this and made clear that he didn’t say those words, and I think the congressman in question has said that he regrets using them.”

Carney said the use of the word “was a product of an emotional discussion, very passionately held positions in this debate, but that does not mean that it’s appropriate. And it’s not. The vice president doesn’t think so; the president doesn’t think so. Any kind of comments like that are simply not conducive to the kind of political discourse that we hope to have.”

As it occurred in closed doors, and as it is unclear whether it occurred at all, it is safe for everyone involved to condemn the use of the term terrorists universally by those who hold public office. That media characters are, of course, a whole other story should likely be the headline here, because if the Vice President did use the term, he is neither the first nor last to do so– not to mention that, if he did, he at least had the sense not to do so with a platform onto which millions of Americans could hear it. But, hey, at least it detracts from what would have inevitably been the compulsory Biden Gaffe™ of the debt crisis: joking that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is now a co-member of the “Cracked Head Club.”

abc, cbs, debt crisis, Debt Deal, debt debate, Democrats, Jake Tapper, Jay Carney, Joe Biden, Mike Doyle, Politico, Scott Pelley, terrorists, White House, White House Press Briefing

Anonymous

You probably want to headline this one….and although the WH refuses to ackonwledge and Biden denies it I do applaud you for actually writing a story about it. it puts you in a better club that the medidiots over at abccbsnbc who just ignore the whole thing.

It was more than inappropriate….itwas stupid and the VEEP needs to stand up and be more of a man than the manchild andadmit it, and apologize for it.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dronetek-Bulk-Vanderhuge/100000918732763 Dronetek Bulk Vanderhuge

So many lies. Everyone knows Biden said it. Why would the original Politico sources lie? Politico is hardly a right wing outfit. But hey, the media and Democrats have been saying it for the last few weeks with zero outrage from the usual suspects.
Anonymous

Biden should apologize to the REAL terrorists.

He embarrassed them by equating them with the Tea Party psychos.
Anonymous

They want to characterize a group of patriotic citizens as terrorists and extremists .

Would they like it if the CBC was characterized as the stupidest group of crooks in Congress ?

How about longtime politicians like 56 year Rep.Dingell , 46 year Rep .Conyers , 34 year Rep. Waxman , or 40 year Rep . Rangel as hacks and parasites ?
Michelle

WOW, great impartial piece, Frannie!! NOT!
Michelle

WOW, great impartial piece, Frannie!! NOT!
Michelle

I’m President Obama and I approved this article.
Michelle

I’m President Obama and I approved this article.
Anonymous

I highly doubt that is the worst thing said in closed doors in meetings on the Hill.

The Tea Party sure is milking this Victim card.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1431811538 Josh Kim

The Tea Party has called Democrats and moderate Republicans every name in the book and they still get to play the victim card? Please.
Anonymous

Biden is a Buffoon of the highest order. The far left and MSM is quick to lecture all others about “civil discourse” in politics…but never apply it to their own side.
Please MSDNC and WaPost keep it up….by 2012 “the one” will be run out of office and Dems will be reduced to minority status. Then the hard work of governing will start.
http://www.constitutionallibertarian.co.cc/ DavidKramer

By the way, been calling other victims of leftist attacks crack heads?

What a sorry ass excuse for a Vice President. He should be ranked right up there with King George.
http://www.constitutionallibertarian.co.cc/ DavidKramer

Examples please, be specific.
http://www.constitutionallibertarian.co.cc/ DavidKramer

You are exactly right BFD, those that kill thousands of Americans are cool, those that want the government to live within it’s means are terrorists.

Funny, just a few years ago, the leftists thought that the bankers were the enemy, now those that want to take away the debts and power of the bankers are your enemy.

How does that work? Are you insane or just a member of the propaganda wing of the Democrat party?
http://www.constitutionallibertarian.co.cc/ DavidKramer

By the way, when is CBS going to release the video of Obama calling the American people slugs?

Well?
Anonymous

What a silly lie. The Tea Party did no such thing. Please, next post, use your head instead of trying to cover it.
RDD

http://youtu.be/_hcVypE6PhM
MSM: Beltway Politics v. Real World
The debt deal is done and the good news is for the time being we won’t
be defaulting on our debt and sending investors fleeing and causing
markets to crash. But it is leaving the average American as the one who
loses out, while Congress only thinks about itself. And the mainstream
media, whose supposed to be calling them out, is instead just doing all
the distracting for them and focusing on the insider baseball! Also a
new poll out tells you that the majority of Americans just don’t give a
damn. 77% percent say that officials who have dealt with the debt
ceiling have acted like spoiled children
John

Biden open mouth insert foot. Second coming of Barney Fife. Of course they are terrorist, the tea party wiil wipe out the govt, but by a legal means unfunding it you moron.
LJB57

BOZO biden does it again, doesn’t anyone realize the guys senile.
http://twitter.com/SailRabbits Magister

The post quotes a piece from Jake Tapper, White House correspondent for ABC News.
Anonymous

what happened to the ticket that preached on uniting not dividing?
http://twitter.com/SailRabbits Magister

You do realize the word terrorist has a specific meaning and though law enforcement limits themselves to those who use violence, it’s still much broader than only those who kill?
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Anonymous

Fact: VP Biden and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano have both called great Americans terrorist and is just a theme in the progessives cults play book on hating of America!
Anonymous

Fact: On drugs?
Anonymous

Fact: On drugs?
Anonymous

Fact: On drugs?
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Anonymous

Fact: Sicko these are real Americans this A-Hole is talking about! No Shame progressives cult member aren’t you?
Anonymous

Palin: If Tea Party Were Real Domestic Terrorists, President Obama Would Want to Pal Around With Us
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZIQS6YEA47QFXGOR4JWUBU2QRM Shark City

its in a toilet some where
Anonymous

Why would they make that statement if Dumb Joe didn’t say it? Joe says he didn’t, so, is Joe LYING? Seems like this Administration is only about LIES, certainly not about what We, the People want! Replace this Legion of Demon Administration in 2012 and lets get True Americans, especially a President who has no problem pointing out where he is from or who is daddy is, unlike the Kenyan, Barry.

White House On Biden ‘Terrorists’ Remark: ‘Product Of An Emotional Discussion,” But Inappropriate

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