Friday, October 26, 2012
2:27 PM
Biden says Romney a return to the past
OSHKOSH -- Vice President Joe Biden returned to Wisconsin today for the fourth time since Labor Day and told a UW-Oshkosh crowd that a vote for Mitt Romney would be a return to the past.
Biden stressed the differences between President Obama and the Republican ticket of Romney and Paul Ryan at the event attended by about 1,000 people inside the Albee Hall and Pool and encouraged students to vote early.
“Their social policies are out of the 1950s – I think they’ve watched too many `Mad Men' episodes - and their economic plans are out of the 1920s,” said Biden, who later in the day was to hit the UW-Parkside campus in Kenosha. “I’ve also never seen so two candidates for higher office who are negative about this country and its future. I sometimes don’t recognize the country they’re talking about.”
Biden took multiple opportunities to poke fun of Romney and Ryan and their “lack of connection with the middle class.''
“Look, Romney had to look through binders to find qualified women,” he said laughing and holding up a black binder. “I just need to look at my own family – my wife and daughter – to know there are talented women out there. I don’t need a binder.”
As for Ryan, the vice president latched on to Obama’s references to “Rom-nesia” –- Romney’s inability to recall different things he may have said or done.
Biden said he feared Ryan “had caught it. He’s a bright guy, yet he suddenly doesn’t remember what’s in his budget plan? Come on. I hardly recognize these guys anymore.”
With a large student presence in the audience, Biden touted Obama’s healthcare law, including allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ insurance until the age of 26 as well his efforts to increase the amount of grants available to help pay for college.
With the election so close and polls showing the race between Romney and Obama tight in Wisconsin, Biden said it was crucial for voters to support the president. “I know if we carry Wisconsin, we’ll win the White House again, but we need your help,” Biden said.
And just as Obama voted early when he cast his ballot yesterday, Biden encouraged students to hop on waiting buses outside that would take them to the nearest polling place where they could cast their ballot. Early voting is in effect until Nov. 2.
“Don’t wait. Vote now and get it done,” he said. “Then you can turn your attention to helping get other people out there to vote. We don’t want anyone to forget.”
-- By MaryBeth Matzek
For WisPolitics.com
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