Biden addresses economy, cost of education in Columbia appearance

The Delaware senator said Republicans offer no solutions for economic struggles.

By Mary Daly

Published Sept. 9, 2008

Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden got to know the Missouri electorate while campaigning Tuesday morning in Columbia.

Biden, a senator from Delaware, spoke to an audience of nearly 1,000 students, community members and local politicians at the city’s Activity & Recreation Center. His appearance was part of a town-hall meeting tour to campaign for the Democratic presidential ticket.

Biden’s address was preceded by several speakers, including Rep. Judy Baker, D-Columbia, who called Biden a “tiger in the Senate.”

Baker said Barack Obama and his running mate are the candidates who “will change Washington.”

“Barack and Joe know we need a united America not defined by ideology or by party, but redefined by the American spirit that says we can do anything if we do it together,” she said.

Baker stressed the importance of getting involved in the elections and working for candidates in order to bring about change.

“Sen. Biden, we promise you that Missouri is going to send you some fighters that will help bring about the change we need,” she said.

Rachel Levine, the mid-Missouri regional field director for Campaign for Change, spoke after Baker, also asking for Missouri’s support for Obama in the election.

“We have 57 days left and we need all of your help,” Levine said. “We lost Boone County by 158 votes in 2004, and we cannot let that happen again.”

Biden opened his speech by comparing MU football to his alma mater, the University of Delaware.

“It’s nice to be here in the home of the Tigers,” Biden said. “You guys are the Tigers, we’re the Fighting Blue Hens. If I hear one wise crack about it, we got a big problem.”

He went on to say how good he feels about his campaign and the plans he and Obama have for Washington.

“I jumped at the chance to be part of a team that I think is about to make history,” Biden said.

The Delaware senator complimented colleague John McCain on his character and resume, but said the Republican presidential nominee and his running mate are silent when it comes to things that affect America.

“I did not hear the phrase ‘middle class’ part their lips,” Biden said. “I did not hear anything about the health care crisis we face in America. I did not hear anything about how we’re going to help hundreds of thousands of students who can go to college be able to get to college. I did not hear a thing about how we’re going to become energy independent.”

Biden said McCain does not have any plans to help solve the problems Americans face, such as losing job.

“These are not statistics,” he said. “These are individual people — individuals whose lives are shattered.”

He went on to comment on the closures of Missouri automobile plants and the condition of the state's economy.

“I could walk from here to Springfield and I don’t think I’d find a single solitary person on the way who felt the economy was robust, strong and doing great unless I ran into John McCain along the way,” Biden said.

After his speech, Biden took questions from the audience, one that concerned paying for college.

Biden explained that his children all graduated college in debt because they went to school to help others, not themselves.

Biden said he and Obama would give tax credits to parents with children in college. He said they would also reward college students who do volunteer work by paying for part of their college education.

“Any country that out-educates us will out-compete us,” Biden said.

This appearance was Biden’s first visit to Missouri since he was placed on the Democratic ticket.

Biden is scheduled to debate the Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Oct. 2 at Washington University in St. Louis.