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Pool Report: Biden in Chicago for Seals June 21, 2010


VPOTUS pool report #1 from Chicago
VPOTUS arrived at 1:10 pm in the 6th floor Main Dining Room of the elegant Union League Club, 65 W. Jackson Blvd., in downtown Chicago, accompanying 10th Congressional District Democratic candidate Dan Seals onto a small stage. Seals campaign says about 200 supporters were present, most sitting at small tables of five set up throughout the room. Many tables had wine, small sandwiches and fruit-ka-bobs on plates. A huge, two story U.S. Flag adorned one wall, apparently north-facing. Biden, wearing a dark suit and purple tie, spoke from a small lectern fireplace and photo of Abraham Lincoln. Dignitaries present included U.S. Reps. Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif, Mike Quigley, D-Ill., and Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.
Seals, seeking the open-seat 10th District seat, spoke before introducing Biden. He touted his support for more help to make it easier for taxpayers to get tax credits for higher education, more aid to small business and making the research and development tax credit permanent.
“I'm one of those who favors economic recovery first and debt reduction a close second,” Seals said, adding “that's a conversation that's starting to happen in Washington.” Seals also touted Biden's work overseeing stimulus spending and the accounting of those dollars “phenomenal.”
VPOTUS then took the stage and spoke for about 39 minutes, largely offering a defense of the administration's recovery policies and warning that talk of a mid-term demise of the Democratic Party was wrong and that political parties and pundits don't give the public enough credit.
But first, he defended his support of the Philadelphia Flyers, who lost to the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this month in six games, earning the Chicago NHL team it's first Stanley Cup in 49 years.
“This looks like a jury box right here,” he said, pointing to a reserved VIP section. “I have to tell you I am guilty as charged. I am a Philadelphia Flyers fan and I make no bones about it. I was a Flyers fan before, but then I married a Phily girl (Dr. Jill Biden). Philadelphia fans are the most, uh, most persistent fans in the world. My wife is counted among them. Mike, Mike Quigley, it's a simple proposition. I root fervently for the Flyers or I sleep alone. It's not a hard call. It's not a hard call at all. That was one hell of a series, though.”
Biden went on to say that his wife's travels with him to Africa prevented her from going to the critical 6th game in Philly, which he said she believed the Flyers would have won if she had attended.
Other quotes from Biden:
“Dan just said he's for dealing with the debt, but not walking away from the recovery. That's complicated. But it's real and you have to be willing to go to the cpeople and tell them and trust that they will believe and know by the results that are produced you're making the right decision.”
“So folks, we need people with some gumption,” Biden said, likening the need for Democrats in Congress to the battle two years ago. “We need people who first of all trust the American people, two are willing to take what they know immediately will be an unpopular vote and have the intelligence and capacity to understand that that vote is the only thing that's going to lead us to a place to restore, restore the credibility of the country and the opportunity for the people. And now we need those people more than every as we go into the second round.”
Biden said, if you “listen to the Republicans, you'd think that all our good days are behind us.”
Republcians, Biden said, "belive their only success is in our failure" while the vice president said the administration's failure would be America's.
“The only thing that's going to prevent us from where we want to go is timidity and we don't need more timid people,” he said.
Biden, who is known for his sometimes lengthy talks, acknowledged he might have “gone on so long” because “I'm so frustrated that Democrats are getting a little down in the mouth, because there's no reason too.”
“The confidence of the American people is growing,” Biden said. “Name me a single idea of consequence the Republicans have offered to deal with what you know the problems America are facing are? Name me one? Name me one? I know what they're against. I honest to God virtually don't know what they're for.”
“America's coming back, Illinois is coming back and Dan is going--going to Congress.”
Pool ushered out after remarks.


Eric D. Schwerin
Rosemont Seneca Partners, LLC
1010 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Suite 705
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 333-1880
eschwerin@rosemontseneca.com
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