“I would tell members of my family – and I have – I wouldn’t go anywhere in confined places now,” he said, going beyond the precautions that President Obama’s health officials are advising.
“It’s not just going to Mexico, if you’re in a confined aircraft and one person sneezes it goes all the way through the aircraft,” Biden said. “That’s me. I would not be at this point, if they had another way of transportation, suggesting they ride the subway.”
“If you’re out in the middle of a field and someone sneezes, that’s one thing. If you’re in a closed aircraft or a closed container, a closed car, a closed classroom, it’s a different thing,” he added.
HOWEVER, this is how the White House tried to explain what Biden “really” meant…
JAKE TAPPER, ABC: My other question has to do with remarks that Vice President Biden made this morning on television. Representatives of the travel industry have accused the Vice President of coming close to fear-mongering because of his comments, and I’m wondering if you wanted to clarify or correct or apologize for the remarks that he made.
ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Well, I think what the Vice President meant to say was the same thing that again many members have said in the last few days and that is if you feel sick, if you feel are exhibiting symptoms, flu-like symptoms — coughing, sneezing, runny nose — that you should take precautions, that you should limit your travel. I think he just, what he said and what he meant to say.
TAPPER: With all due respect, and I sympathize with you trying to explain the Vice President’s comments, but that’s not even remotely close to what he said. He was asked about if a member of his family was…
GIBBS: Jake, I understand what he said, and I’m telling you what he meant to say…
WHite House press corp breaks out in laughter as the bullshit meter needle pegs… Biden needs a muzzle. The video shows Robert Gibbs is not a happy man as he essentially “lies” to the media on what Biden said and what Gibbs wish he said!
Is this a lie???
christopher says
Technically, POTUS and VPOTUS are elected separately. Gibbs should have refered questions about Biden to his own office and press secretary.
<
p>Overall I find Mr. Gibbs difficult to listen to; he doesn’t speak very well IMO and I enjoy the President’s own press conferences much better.
johnd says
Obama is very fluid and decisive in his delivery.
<
p>I know some of us (me) throw around the term “Lie” easily but I’m serious. When does “stretching the truth” become a lie? Clearly Biden’s remarks were completely at odds with what Gibbs was trying to say, clearly! Was Gibbs lying by doing this? I think credibility with the press is an important trait for a WH Press Sec.