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Biden gets mixed welcome in Northeast
Philadelphia Daily News ^

Posted on 09/06/2008 1:48:05 PM PDT by Chet 99

Posted on Sat, Sep. 6, 2008

Biden gets mixed welcome in Northeast Local Dem leaders say race is issue for many voters

By DAVE DAVIES Philadelphia Daily News

daviesd@phillynews.com 215-854-2595 DEMOCRATIC vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden went stumping for votes yesterday in Northeast Philadelphia, where Democrats need to earn the love of Democrats who voted overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama in the April primary.

He worked a diner, gave a rousing speech on bread-and-butter issues at a union hall, and reeled off a memorable line tying the Republican candidate to the unpopular team in the White House.

"My friend John McCain and George Bush are joined at the hip," Biden said. "And we need a hip replacement very, very badly."

So how is the ticket doing with the Northeast's white working and middle-class voters?

Mike McAleer, the veteran Democratic ward leader of the 66th ward in the far Northeast, said Obama and Biden haven't closed the deal yet.

"The Dunkin' Donut crowd tells me that we've got everything going for us but Obama," McAleer said. "They can't give me a direct answer. Do I have them right now in the 66th ward? No. But I got 60 days to get them."

Asked what the problem is with Obama, McAleer paused and said: "It's his color . . . I tell them he's half white and half black. He's got a better perspective for everything in this country."

Joe Dougherty, business manager for Ironworkers Local 401, which hosted Biden's morning event, also said race is an issue for many Democrats.

"I hear it in the neighborhood, and I hear it in the union," Dougherty said. "But I remind them (Obama's) mother was white. He sees all sides, and he could be just what we need to bring this country together."

Biden talked to the crowd of about 200 senior citizens and union members about lower taxes, trade agreements that protect American jobs, and ending what he called the Republicans' "war on unions."

Later, Biden and Gov. Rendell worked the lunchtime crowd at The Dining Car, a neighborhood spot on Frankford Avenue.

Biden smiled, laughed, shook hands and sometimes hugged diners or slid into booths next to them. Sometimes he felt the love coming back, and sometimes he didn't.

Charles Daukas said he'd vote for the Obama-Biden team.

"Put it this way, if Hillary was running I would have really went hard for it," Daukas said. "But I'm a Democrat."

In a corner booth, Biden sat down and, after a moment's conversation, planted a kiss on the forehead of Carolyn Bauer, age 89. Bauer explained afterward it wasn't such a friendly encounter.

"I told him I'm not going to vote for him," Bauer said. "Anybody who runs with a guy with a name like that is not going to get my vote. It'd be disgusting to get a man named Barack Obama as president of the United States. No way. I mean it . . . I'm going to vote for McCain and the lady."

"[Obama's] a Muslim," Bauer added. "He pretends to be a Christian, and he isn't, he's a Muslim."

Obama has attended Christian churches for years, and his children are baptized.

After his stops in Northeast Philadelphia, Biden attended a rally in Langhorne. *


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: biden; bluecollarvote; demprimary; joe; joebiden; obama; obamabiden; pa2008; racistdemocrats; racistleft; titanicobama
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To: Chet 99
"The Dunkin' Donut crowd tells me that we've got everything going for us but Obama"

Biden knows about the Dunkin' Donut crowd I guess Obama is counting on Joe to get them.

61 posted on 09/06/2008 2:10:22 PM PDT by mathprof
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To: snarkytart

Seriously, that is bad. It’s not right.

I’m not voting for the guy either. But it has nothing to do with his color or his name.


62 posted on 09/06/2008 2:10:23 PM PDT by FatherFig1o155 (Politicians, like underwear, should be changed often, and for the same reasons)
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To: HamiltonJay

Thought you’d find this interesting.


63 posted on 09/06/2008 2:11:08 PM PDT by impeachedrapist (On Free Republic PBD [political bipolar disorder] rules!)
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To: jwalsh07

But there are many more Democrats who will vote against Gov.Palin because of her sex.

Who smells it first dunnit.

Race and sex hustlers project big time.


64 posted on 09/06/2008 2:11:22 PM PDT by Happy Rain ("Yeltsin was the comedy relief between two evil bastards.")
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To: Stentor
Ya gotta love Philly.

For all its faults (and they're far too numerous to list here), I agree!

65 posted on 09/06/2008 2:11:54 PM PDT by wireman
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To: Chet 99

A Democrat gets a “mixed welcome” in Philadelphia? Obama bin Biden has to EARN the love of Democrats?


66 posted on 09/06/2008 2:12:08 PM PDT by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast (diogeneticistical...esque...ish...)
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To: jwalsh07
I wish it wasn't like that but it is.

That's great. I'm sick of people being treated as if they come up with their beliefs out of some ignorant thin air. I'm going to call it what it is. In the cities it's common sense.

67 posted on 09/06/2008 2:13:20 PM PDT by Stentor
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To: FatherFig1o155
Seriously, that is bad. It’s not right.

I’m not voting for the guy either. But it has nothing to do with his color or his name.

Call it. . . oh, I don't know. . . maybe FREEDOM. It's no more invalid than any other basis on which a voter makes his decision. People want their President to be someone they're comfortable with. This woman doesn't like his name and doesn't believe him when he says he's a Christian, so she feels he's untrustworthy, and what are you going to do about it?

68 posted on 09/06/2008 2:14:05 PM PDT by hsalaw
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To: Stentor

I’m a relocated Philly girl... and yes, ya gotta love Philly!


69 posted on 09/06/2008 2:14:15 PM PDT by myrabach
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To: ETL

Send those photos to Drudge.


70 posted on 09/06/2008 2:14:22 PM PDT by Minus_The_Bear
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To: Red in Blue PA
C'mon... in a blue state like PA, Biden should have been able to muster thousands. Even Kerry was able to do it! He can't even bring in the blue collar guys on a weekend in a union hall. The kind of people the Dems told us identify with Biden. Its not working out the way they hoped. If they have that kind of lack of enthusiasm for the Democratic ticket there next month, game is over. My personal opinion, its all downhill from here on out. This is as good as its going to get for these two jokers in the Keystone State!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

71 posted on 09/06/2008 2:15:10 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Chet 99

A few months ago, I couldn’t find a lot of people in PA who were looking forward to voting for Obama. It was all Hillary. But they are Democrats and now there is more support expressed for BHO.
Still, McCain should win easily.
Just not in Philadelphia.


72 posted on 09/06/2008 2:15:30 PM PDT by 668 - Neighbor of the Beast (diogeneticistical...esque...ish...)
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To: Chet 99

The inherent racism in telling someone Obama is half whitek as a selling point needs more publicity.


73 posted on 09/06/2008 2:15:45 PM PDT by School of Rational Thought (Pat Paulsen for President - He has campaigned the longer than Obama)
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To: Chet 99

McAleer paused and said: “It’s his color

I truely believe that it is the libs that are the bigots.


74 posted on 09/06/2008 2:16:14 PM PDT by rbbeachkid (When is enough enough?)
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To: SIDENET
"My friend John McCain and George Bush are joined at the hip," Biden said. "And we need a hip replacement very, very badly."

"...and don't forget to try the veal."

75 posted on 09/06/2008 2:16:34 PM PDT by Crawdad (I am my brother's keeper. I am not your brother's keeper.)
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To: jwalsh07

Pulled the wrong quote. I apologize.


76 posted on 09/06/2008 2:16:52 PM PDT by Stentor
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To: FatherFig1o155

Of course it’s not right. If a black conservative was running, like Michael Steele, I wouldn’t think twice..I’d vote for him in a second.


77 posted on 09/06/2008 2:17:06 PM PDT by snarkytart
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To: goldstategop

I hope you are right.....I am growing much more optimistic and yet I do not want to be complacent either.

There are alot if idiots in this country.


78 posted on 09/06/2008 2:17:34 PM PDT by Red in Blue PA (Does it get any better than Sarah Palin?)
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To: waus

Our friend, a 90-year-old lady, swears that BO is the anti-christ, and she’s not afraid to say so. To everyone.


79 posted on 09/06/2008 2:17:37 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam (Election '08: God is in control.)
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To: hsalaw

Of course they have the freedom.

But I’d rather win on beliefs than the color of one’s skin or what their mama called them.

Are you arguing with that?


80 posted on 09/06/2008 2:19:54 PM PDT by FatherFig1o155 (Politicians, like underwear, should be changed often, and for the same reasons)
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