In a surprise, John McCain's camp trashes -- rather than touts -- Joe Biden

(UPDATE BELOW)

Yet another shibboleth-shattering move in this precedent-sitting presidential campaign -- in advance of tonight's vice presidential debate, John McCain's campaign has released a web video that depicts Joe Biden as a master of the inappropriate, off-key comment.

As the game traditionally has been played, McCain surrogates would be front and center, touting his grasp of an array of complex subjects and depicting him as a far superior wordsmith to Sarah Palin -- all in the hopes he falls terribly short.

Instead, we get to watch a Biden blooper tape, culminating with a narrator intoning: "Ready to Gaffe? Yes. Ready to Lead? No."

[UPDATE: Barack Obama aides are adhering to the traditional playbook as tonight's encounter nears. Our colleague James Oliphant, writing for the Swamp, relates that Obama campaign honcho David Plouffe today characterized Palin as "one of the best debaters in American politics."]

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-- Don Frederick

Comments

[When Pigs Fly]

I would like to express my appreciation to the Republicans for bringing Sarah Palin to us. For the limited amount of time that they have shared her with us, I can honestly say I have never laughed so hard in my life. I am looking forward to the debate and I am certain that there will be a plethora of YouTube clips to follow which will afford me hours of viewing Sarah's depth.

[Carla]

Why does John McCain insist on false advertising? Isn't he supposed to be the people's maverick? The McCain camp knows well that when Biden talked about it being your patriotic duty to pay more taxes, he was talking to the WEALTHY. Not the people making $42,000 or less a year. I am not a McCain supporter but I always had admired the man. Since he chose Palin, it's been a slippery slope for the maverick. Nothing but lies and bizarre behavior.

I, too, thank the party for the humor that Sarah Palin has injected into my life. These are hard times and we all need a laugh!

[Save the Alaskan Parrot]

Here are a couple of the questions which will be asked tonight....

Sen. Biden, Given the apparent success of the surge, do you forsee a timetable for removing all troops from Iraq?

Gov. Palin, Can you spell Potato?

[Jean Hayworth]

I think Palin will be on the attack and will do the none answer approach to anything she doesn't know. If you saw the debate with the Alaska fellow and you saw the interview with Couric, there you go. Politicians are good at saying nothing to substantive questions. Gwen Ifill will have her work cut out for her to try to pin her down then Gwen will be accused of being biased. The R's are looking for an excuse to down play her performance. Expectations are lowered and she will come out like a Pit Bull with lipstick. Look out folks.

[Jean]

Palin may be misleading. The Couric debate showed her ability to be obscure with answers or a none answer. She out manuevered the Alaska fellow by being on the attack. I suspect she will use that ploy on Biden and attack Obama like a pit bull with liptick. Watch out!!!!! I have enjoyed her lackluster performances so far but be careful, with all that practice, she may know a few things now. I'm ready to throw all the bums out after the 467 page bill the seante passed yesterday. I hope the House keeps to their guns and votes it down because it is loaded with crap.

[Carla]

I forgot one other thing I wanted to point out.

Biden does misspeak sometimes, but let's not forget the man had two brain aneurysms! What's Sarah's excuse? She's spent too much time looking out her window for the Russians and forgot to read a newspaper?

[Maggie Knowles]

Oh, this will be good! I am so glad to have something entertaining to keep my mind off the friggin' economy! :)

[Maggie Knowles]

I liked the video of Biden, it's funny. I don't think it will hurt him.

[DrBanks]

Carla is right, "let's not forget the man had two brain aneurysms!"
So the man a 'heartbeat away' from the least experienced person to run for President in over 100 years, the totally foreign policy challenged Obama, with NO executive experience is Biden ("the Senator from MBNA" - google it!). "let's not forget the man had two brain aneurysms". "Stand up, Chuck. Let the people see ya!"

[steve rodriguez]

When we Obama explain his association with radicals Bill Ayers and Rev. Wright! I don't want a person who associates with radicals to lead my country!