VP Biden Blasts “Karl Rove and His Friends” for “Shady Sources” of Fundraising for Midterm Elections
Email ABC News’ Karen Travers reports: Today Vice President Biden joined President Obama in blasting outside interest groups, including the Chamber of Commerce, for their “shady sources” of fundraising which has resulted in the massive amounts of money they are spending for the midterm elections. At a fundraiser for Rep. Chris Carney in his boyhood hometown of Scranton, PA, Biden railed against special interest groups for raising tens of millions of dollars from “shady sources – shady in the sense that we don’t know where the money is coming from.” “For the first time in modern American history, they don't have to tell us,” he said, according to the pool report, referring to the Supreme Court decision that allows outside interest groups to solicit unlimited corporate money without having to publicly declare its donors. Biden pinned the blame on the US Chamber of Commerce and “Karl Rove and his friends,” and said that the Republican strategist has a “stable of billionaires, literally, and millionaires,” pouring money into congressional campaigns. The vice president challenged Rove and the Chamber to “tell us how much of the money they’re investing is from foreign sources.” "I challenge them, if I'm wrong I will stand corrected,” he said. “But show me, show me. Folks
they're trying to buy this election to go back to exactly what they did before.” Biden said that big corporations, from the insurance and oil industries, are “feeling threatened by what we're doing.” ”Does it surprise you where this money is coming from?” he asked. After the event for Carney, Biden dropped by his boyhood home, where he lived until he moved to Delaware when he was 10 years old. He dropped by during the 2008 presidential campaign, just after he was named to the Obama ticket, and wrote "I Am Home, Joe Biden, 9*1*08″ on the wall of a third-floor bedroom. "It's just so great be home," the vice president told reporters today. "You know when you leave Scranton, it doesn't leave your heart. And I mean for real, nothing but good memories here … Now if any of the guys I grew up with tell you I jumped out of that tree on top of the trolley, don't believe them." Biden dropped by Hank’s Hoagies, where he ordered an Italian hoagie with no mayonnaise, and a Hank's Root Beer (not named after the sandwich shop). He also indulged in some local flavor – two Tastykake Creme-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes for dessert. "Tastykakes are even bigger where I live," he said of southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware. "They're out of Philadelphia … Don't tell Jill I ate this." –Karen Travers
Biden Reflects on Grief, Suicidal Thoughts 
Is Congress Sounding Dumber?
Some animals are more equal than others…
“Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign is allowing donors to use largely untraceable prepaid credit cards that could potentially be used to evade limits on how much an individual is legally allowed to give or to mask a contributor’s identity, campaign officials confirmed.”
Posted by: Jim Tayberry | October 11, 2010, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
Karl Rove again! LOL! Democrats are unhinged and desperate. And they are constantly projecting. They refuse to run on their record.
In my state, Democrats won’t even identify themselves as Democrats in TV and radio ads or on signage. Republicans/Conservatives do and they are dominating in the polls, even in heavily Democratic areas. Can’t wait until November.
Posted by: Mary | October 11, 2010, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm
This is the change we voted for?
Now the White House is sounding like a grocery store tabloid.
Posted by: PW | October 11, 2010, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm
Where was the outrage of foreign money when Obama was running for President, and his website turned off all of the Security measures so that foreign funds could flow into his campaign like water over a damn?
Where was/is the outrage as George Soros (and his non-disclosure groups), SEIU, Teachers Unions, AARP, etc poured trainloads of non-disclosed funds into the Presidential campaign, and the Dems current mid-terms?
The “pot” is calling the “kettle” black, and that is not a racist comment, simply a comment on the hypocracy of this Administration and Democrats as a whole.
Posted by: JMo | October 11, 2010, 4:24 pm 4:24 pm
I like what Bob Schieffer said yesterday on CBS:
“If the only charge, three weeks into the election that the Democrats can make is that there’s somehow this may or may not be foreign money coming into the campaign, is that the best you can do?”
Posted by: Jim Tayberry | October 11, 2010, 4:31 pm 4:31 pm
1. If this is all they got, then that is a news story.
2. This is an incredibly hypocritical complaint since Obama’s presidential campaign accepted credit cards from anyone, anywhere. I didn’t hear a peep of a complaint in the press about it. Just blogs documenting it.
Posted by: David Longstreth | October 11, 2010, 4:41 pm 4:41 pm
Obama should add another feather to his cap. Not only has he ‘successfully’ blamed Republicans for almost everything that is wrong, he is now blaming the Supreme Court for ‘allowing’ foreign countries to influence domestic politics.
The judicial branch has concluded that with current legislation, it is illegal for foreign countries to influence domestic politics with money or otherwise. Thus the judicial branch has permitted the executive branch to enforce the legislative branch’s laws, if the executive branch so chooses.
Of the 3 branches of government that can be blamed for our wrongs, Obama has a predilection for blaming the 2 other branches of goverment that he is not a part of.
We must conclude, therefore, that the only way for Obama to ‘correct’ these problems in the other branches is for him to resign from the executive branch, and concentrate his efforts in those other 2 branches that are so susceptible to failure. Why waste Obama’s talents in the executive branch when he would be so much more effective in the legislature or judiciary?
Posted by: Mike, CO | October 11, 2010, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm
Where were they when Clinton/Gore were raking it in from China and Budist? Sick and tired of all the whining, complaining and blaming. Grow up!
Posted by: Freedom | October 11, 2010, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm
Who cares. They’re not paying me to vote. I vote for someone when what they say and the possibilities of them achieving it. I do think it comical that we can borrow from foreign countries until we are flat broke, but the Dems don’t want to use foreign money to run a campaign, unless of course it favors them. Silly!
Posted by: lfrichar | October 11, 2010, 5:01 pm 5:01 pm
Waaah…waaaah….
Posted by: LongT | October 11, 2010, 5:02 pm 5:02 pm
Let’s see. Obama bought the Presidency and now, in the same manner he did it, it is somehow wrong! Hey Obama, have the Dems tout all of your change legislation. According to you, they should be a shoe in.
Posted by: lfrichar | October 11, 2010, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm
“”They’re counting on young people staying home and union members staying home and black folks staying home,” President Obama said at a rally in Philadelphia.” —– This guy is an embarassment. He is not uniting the country like he promised. He’s destroying it. For all Bush’s failures, at least he had class and dignity…something this arrogant elitist snob knows nothing about. He should resign for the good of the country. Biden couln’t be any worse could he?
Posted by: Ron | October 11, 2010, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
I’m surprised that Obama and Biden are so puzzeled over the money behind the Republican Party in this years elections. Unlike the Leftist’s that gathered outside the U.S.Capital in D.C. last month, our paper trail was not left on the lawn by the Reflecting Pool. It is showing up in backing for our choices in this years elections. No mystery there.
They wouldn’t listen to us at Townhall meetings. They called us names. They wouldn’t listen to us when we sent emails, letters and phone calls to them. They ignored us. They called us names and tried to belittle us when we gathered outside of the Capital Building. They counted on us forgetting by Nov.2, 2010 what they are trying to do to us and to our country. We have not forgotten and we won’t forget by 2012. Main street America is putting it’s money where it’s Hope For Change is.
Posted by: Betty | October 11, 2010, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm
this is our president? the great uniter?i m counting on black guys,students and union members not voting? this is going on in every state and local election as well. whats really happened is the SILENT MAJORITY that did not vote in 2008 is going to vote this time around its about JOBS NOT FOOD STAMPS, its about illegals vs legals,its about hard work vs the lack thereof.it about paying bills and taxes vs, not.
Posted by: catman | October 11, 2010, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm
Why are Obama and Biden not expressing outrage over New York not already having the voters ballots sent out to absentees, including our military? As I understand it, they were suppose to be sent out 45 days early.
Why haven’t I seen any reports on ABC News about this subject that all Americans should be outraged about?
Posted by: Betty | October 11, 2010, 5:31 pm 5:31 pm
“The lady doth protest too much…”
The Obama/Biden campaign disabled the credit card address verification feature as well as the 3 number code found the the reverse of the card. Both of these features are to prevent credit card fraud.
Be careful drawing attention to this Unca Joe. It should lead to your impeachment…
Posted by: Bo, PWD | October 11, 2010, 5:36 pm 5:36 pm
Wow Obama and the demos are truly desperate to be shouting out lies that even the New York Times call lies. I mean when Obama loses the New York Times you know its pretty bad. Oh well he still has CBS and MSNBC rooting for him.
Posted by: Wade Johnson | October 11, 2010, 5:42 pm 5:42 pm
Obama seems to think that because the unions leaders take money from their members and give it to the politicians that the union leaders support, that the working class union members will all vote Dem. He’s wrong.
Posted by: Betty | October 11, 2010, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
“this is our president?”
Catman, I realize right wingers are typically not well-informed, but this is beyond the pale.
Joe Biden is the vice president.
Posted by: true blue | October 11, 2010, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
“I challenge them, if I’m wrong I will stand corrected,”
Joe Biden: You are presumed guilty until you prove you are innocent. Of course, if you can prove your innocence, I’ll be a super-cool guy and apologize for assuming you were guilty.
What an as sclown.
Posted by: DaveMN | October 11, 2010, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm
This is just another example of how low the Democrats and this administration will go. They make unsubstantiated claims and when called on it state that its up to the accused to prove those claims wrong rather than provide proof. We have a president who routinely attacks private citizens and news organizations who are critical of him. And now we find out that the leaders of the Democrat Party are using the IRS to audit/pressure/investigate opponents who have donated money. I hope when the Republicans win back the House that they have the gonads to investigate the criminal bunch across the aisle.
Posted by: Ron | October 11, 2010, 6:07 pm 6:07 pm
true blue; If you re-read catman’s comment, you’ll discover he is refering to “OBAMA’S” statement about Repubs hoping union members’ blacks, students, and gays staying home.
Posted by: LongT | October 11, 2010, 6:09 pm 6:09 pm
Does anyone else get the impression that uncle Joe Biden’s political talking points are scripted for him?
Posted by: LongT | October 11, 2010, 6:14 pm 6:14 pm
true blue …i wish iwas talking about biden. his kid served in the military and joe has been honest to the point where axelrod and emmanuel muzzled him.this administartion has become so high school…
Posted by: catman | October 11, 2010, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm
Biden honest? He’s as pathetic as the Liar in Chief.
Posted by: Ron | October 11, 2010, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm
If you look up the word “desperate” in the dictionary, Joe Biden’s picture will appear.
Posted by: Ca Voter | October 11, 2010, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm
Obama came off as a disgusting phony when he thought people liked him. Now that he is finally starting to realize the vast majority of this country wishes they’d never heard his name he comes off as a desperate, disgusting, phony.
Maybe he’ll resign.
Posted by: smartlillena | October 11, 2010, 6:36 pm 6:36 pm
Maybe he’ll resign.
Posted by: smartlillena | Oct 11, 2010 6:36:33 PM
I like Obama and don’t perceive him as a quitter or phony (unlike Joe’s opponent in the VP debate.) It makes sense to get in sync with liberal bloggers in an attempt to GOTV, and he’s been concerned about Citizens United since the decision was made. He made that crystal.
Posted by: Gen X | October 11, 2010, 6:58 pm 6:58 pm
Biden is only parroting the line he’s told to.
Posted by: deanbob | October 11, 2010, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
When a concubine serves you tea and you are not the King, it often means you are about to do something bad.
Posted by: young_voter | October 11, 2010, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
“They make unsubstantiated claims and when called on it state that its up to the accused to prove those claims wrong rather than provide proof”
Like the right-wing propaganda machine did with ‘death panels’, ACORN perpetrated voter fraud, the CRA lowering lending standards….just a tiny sample of a whole host of idiotic totally unsubstantiated accusations leveled by right-wing hypocrites.
“I hope when the Republicans win back the House that they have the gonads to investigate the criminal bunch across the aisle”
Like the Democrats should have investigated the Bush administration for cronyism by starting a war on false pretenses and then giving gigantic no bid contracts to their corporate buddies.
Posted by: Skip | October 11, 2010, 7:21 pm 7:21 pm
Biden & Obama need to be very careful that this phony controversy doesn’t blow back by causing the media to re-examine the over $200 million donated to Obama ’08 by undisclosed donors.
Posted by: MagBill | October 11, 2010, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm
VP Biden blasts Karl Rove and His Friends” for “Shady Sources” of Fundraising for Midterm Elections.
Wow, did not know that Neil Kinnock wrote a speech about Karl Rove.
Posted by: 2Brixshy | October 11, 2010, 7:27 pm 7:27 pm
Biden & Obama need to be very careful that this phony controversy doesn’t blow back by causing the media to re-examine the over $200 million donated to Obama ’08 by undisclosed donors.
Posted by: MagBill | Oct 11, 2010 7:26:46
How soon can we get investigations of both going?
Posted by: deanbob | October 11, 2010, 8:14 pm 8:14 pm
How soon can we get investigations of both going?
Posted by: deanbob | Oct 11, 2010 8:14:42 PM
January 21, 2011 after Rep. Issa assumes control as Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. He’s already begun process of ramping up his staff in anticipation of Republicans taking control of the House.
Posted by: tjp612 | October 11, 2010, 8:27 pm 8:27 pm
Do you really want to go there, Joe? Obama? Axelrod? How quickly they forget.
From the Washington Post, Oct. 29th, 2008:
“… In recent weeks, questionable contributions have created headaches for Obama’s accounting team as it has tried to explain why campaign finance filings have included itemized donations from individuals using fake names, such as Es Esh or Doodad Pro. Those revelations prompted conservative bloggers to further test Obama’s finance vetting by giving money using the kind of prepaid cards that can be bought at a drugstore and cannot be traced to a donor.
The problem with such cards, campaign finance lawyers said, is that they make it impossible to tell whether foreign nationals, donors who have exceeded the limits, government contractors or others who are barred from giving to a federal campaign are making contributions.”
Search for washington post AR2008102803413.html
Posted by: Woody | October 11, 2010, 8:34 pm 8:34 pm
“The problem with such cards, campaign finance lawyers said, is that they make it impossible to tell whether foreign nationals, donors who have exceeded the limits”
So the Obama campaign couldn’t tell exactly where all of these small donations came from. Are you claiming the Chamber of Commerce doesn’t know where possible foreign contributions came from?
Posted by: Skip | October 11, 2010, 8:45 pm 8:45 pm
“Why are Obama and Biden not expressing outrage over New York not already having the voters ballots sent out to absentees, including our military? As I understand it, they were suppose to be sent out 45 days early.
Why haven’t I seen any reports on ABC News about this subject that all Americans should be outraged about?
Posted by: Betty | Oct 11, 2010 5:31:46 PM
This is indeed an outrage that the “mainstream” media has overlooked in favor of reporting on O’Donnell, Nazis/WWII re-enactments, etc.
Dereliction of journalistic duty. Nothing new.
Posted by: tjp612 | October 11, 2010, 8:50 pm 8:50 pm
Posted by: Skip | Oct 11, 2010 8:45:31 PM
Pssst….Skip….do you really want to go there?
Care to explain (or, more appropriately, defend) the following?
Donations for Foreign-Connected Political Actions Committees for 2010 Election Cycle:
To Democrats: $6,517,903
To Republicans: $5,581,701
Source: Opensecrets.org
Those who live in glass houses…
Posted by: tjp612 | October 11, 2010, 9:07 pm 9:07 pm
To Democrats: $6,517,903
To Republicans: $5,581,701
So these figures are available. Maybe the Chamber can release figures for their sources.
Posted by: Skip | October 11, 2010, 9:34 pm 9:34 pm
You mean the leaders of the party that took so much money from George Soros and failed to document how they got so much of THEIR on-line money is now accusing the Chamber of Commerce for using foreign money politically? The Chamber gets less than 1% of its money from overseas!
I don’t know what to say about these people – they’re disgusting to a heretofore unknown degree!
I hope the Republican wave is a tsunami!
Posted by: MissButterfly | October 11, 2010, 10:32 pm 10:32 pm
Incompetent leadership, budget-busting government deficits, and Marxist policies have led this pair of buffoons to the only recourse they think they have left, namely: the pulling out of those “vile” figures of the Bush administration, the threatening of the elderly with the usual “they’ll take away your Social Security and Medicare,” and the continuing of blatant lies to ensure the freeloaders show up to vote on Nov. 2.
Obama is a pathological liar, an executive and legislative failure on every level, a figure justly derided and ridiculed for his unwillingness to listen to the American majority pleading for sane governance and policies.
Posted by: Penny | October 12, 2010, 2:45 am 2:45 am
Obama is a Karl Rove plant.
Posted by: Nephron | October 12, 2010, 9:11 am 9:11 am
I see Biden and Axelrod have adopted the “birthers” playbook….
Posted by: Parallex View | October 12, 2010, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm
Old Crazy Joe is at it again. I guess no one has read yesterday’s FactCheck.Org article to him wherein it states this claim is completely bogus and without merit. Poor old fool.
This is a travesty and I hope everyone will remember what LIARS these people are when they go to the polls.
Posted by: Sunnyr | October 12, 2010, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm
Why can’t the Chamber of Commerce tell who donated? And why the heck would the U.S. Chamber of Commerce ever take foreign corporate money? How can they best represent U.S. businesses if they take foreign donations?
Posted by: Lydia | October 12, 2010, 11:24 pm 11:24 pm
Honest TV ads at least let you know who paid for them. Ads that don’t aren’t honest. It really is that simple.
Posted by: Flash Override | October 12, 2010, 11:54 pm 11:54 pm
tjp612, where on the opensecrets site is there any foreign pac info. I looked and didn’t find it anything like that.
Posted by: Lydia | October 13, 2010, 1:58 am 1:58 am
Thank you so much in a very intelligent and refreshing article. Congrats!
Posted by: calgary flames jersey | December 22, 2011, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm