Obama Tweets Backing for Joe Biden in Wake of ‘Chains’ Remark
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza(WASHINGTON) — In the wake of criticisms about Vice President Joe Biden’s “chains” comment — and calls from Republicans such as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sarah Palin for President Obama to replace him on the ticket — the president Thursday night personally sent a tweet of support for his Number Two.
“Today marks four years since I chose @JoeBiden to be my running mate,” read the tweet. “Here’s to an outstanding Vice President and a great friend. -bo.”
The “-bo” signifies that the tweet was sent personally by Obama.
Biden sparked the controversy during a campaign rally earlier this month in Danville, Va., where he was attempting to argue that the House GOP budget, partly written by GOP vice presidential running mate Rep. Paul Ryan, gives an indication of the Republican presidential ticket’s values.
“Look at what they value and look at their budget and what they’re proposing. [Mitt] Romney wants to let the — he said in the first 100 days he’s going to let the big banks once again write their own rules, ‘unchain Wall Street.’ They’re going to put y’all back in chains,” the vice president said.
Biden and the Obama campaign both later issued clarification of the comment, explaining that he misspoke and intended to use the word “unshackle,” which has been used by the GOP in the past — but regarding the economy, not human beings.
“The last time these guys unshackled the economy, to use their term, they put the middle class in shackles. That’s how we got where we are,” Biden said at a subsequent rally in Wyethville, Va.
On Sunday, Obama Deputy Campaign Manager Stephanie Cutter said Biden was “absolutely not” a liability.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio