VP nominee Biden inspires crowd in Jefferson City
Biden spoke about the campaign's tax plan and college affordability.
Oct. 10, 2008
Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden addresses hundreds of supporters Thursday night at Memorial Park in Jefferson City. Biden focused on health care and the economy while criticizing the tax cut plans of Republican presidential nominee John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin.
JEFFERSON CITY - Vice presidential nominee Joe Biden spoke about the state of the economy and the issues typical Americans face at a rally Thursday night at Memorial Park here.
Biden's appearance was part of a two-day Missouri tour to educate voters about the economic strategy of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Biden also held events in St. Joseph, Liberty and Springfield.
Obama campaign organizer Derek Nelson addressed the crowd at the start of the rally about the importance of being involved in this election.
"Few areas in the world have the opportunity like we do in the middle of Missouri and as a swing state to kind of determine the course of history," Nelson said. "We think that it's probably enough to put a bumper sticker on our car and put a sign in our yard and sit back and watch history pass, but it's not."
Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan spoke next about the choices Americans must make in this election.
"This election is about who we're hiring to do a job and whether the folks we've hired up until now have gotten that job done," Carnahan said. "We have two choices. We can either fire George Bush and John McCain and the Republicans who have gotten us into this mess, or we have more of the same."
McCain is Obama's opponent in the race.
Carnahan introduced U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., who received a standing ovation from audience members, many of whom sported "We like Ike" stickers.
Skelton discussed the significance of the election.
"These are serious times for our country," Skelton said. "We need people at the helm who will guide it far better than it has been in the last eight years."
Skelton presented Biden as one of his friends who "will be everyone here's friend at the end of this night."
Biden said the point of the rally was to discuss the crises Americans are facing.
"You and your challenges are what Obama and I want to talk about," Biden said. "We don't have to accept things the way they are. We can change things. That's why we're running."
Biden listed five problems he and Obama want to make better for Americans. He said he and Obama would lower taxes, rebuild America, get serious about the energy crisis, cut health care costs and make college more affordable.
"We will be on your side, America," he said. "It's all focused on jobs. We're going to create new jobs, invest in renewable energy sources and we're going to make sure your kids can compete for the new jobs we create."
Biden further explained Obama's plan to help the economy and said McCain's ideas would end up hurting America.
"He did a fantastic job addressing the economic crisis," Young Democrats of Missouri President Rick Puig said. "He did well explaining the Obama-Biden plan to solve the crisis and highlighting the inadequacies of McCain's plans. It says a lot when you pick apart a plan and still can't find anything good to say about it."
Biden said the Obama tax plan would cut taxes for 95 percent of Americans, but many Republicans have said his plan would actually raise taxes.
Missouri College Republicans Chairman Jeremy Hagen, and about 35 other College Republicans, local high school students and others led a protest outside Memorial Park, voicing their objection of Obama's tax plan.
The protest was originally inside park grounds, but officials from the Obama campaign made them leave.
"We felt compelled to come out and protest Joe Biden's call that paying higher taxes is patriotic," Hagen said. "It's patriotic to support your troops. It's not patriotic to pay higher taxes."
Hagen said the Republicans were able to put together this spontaneous protest because they had so many people willing to jump for the cause. He also said the College Republicans will continue to be active until Election Day, knocking on doors and making phone calls.
Multimedia
Democratic senator and vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden campaigned for Sen. Barack Obama in Missouri this week. (Click to view slideshow in new window)
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