Biden's current version of how he became Obama's VP

Remember that story about how then-Sen. Joe Biden became then-Sen. Barack Obama's Democratic vice presidential running mate?

In the summer of 2008, Biden had accompanied his wife to the dentist's office for her root canal. His cellphone rang (Biden's, not the dentist's).

It was Obama calling with the VP offer. Biden accepted. As long as he could play an important role in a new administration.

Speaking tonight at an annual Allegheny County Democratic Committee dinner in Pennsylvania, Biden told a curiously different version. Biden said he rejected Obama's offer flat-out when first approached.

"I initially said no," Biden said tonight, according to press pool notes, "that I wasn't interested."

Biden said the freshman Illinois senator asked the longtime Delaware senator to think about it.

According to tonight's version, "a couple months later," a persistent Obama repeated the offer in a hotel room in Minneapolis.

According to Biden, he looked at Obama and said, "Are you really committed to changing the course of this country?"

Biden recounted tonight, "He reached out, shook my hand and said, 'I am,'"

And thus the historic political deal was struck.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: Joshua Roberts / Bloomberg News

Pittsburgh gasps fumes at G-20: a teary-eye witness report

From the front lines in Pittsburgh:

If you're traveling to Pittsburgh in the next couple of days, don’t forget to pack your goggles.

About the same time as President Obama and wife Michelle were stepping off Air Force One in Pennsylvania, protesters in the city were clashing with the cops.

The protesters weren’t even supposed to be out Thursday. Tomorrow is the day of the official march, and scores of groups have obtained parade permits to take to the streets.

Peacefully, they promise.

Don't hold your breath.

Or wait: Maybe you should, after what happened in Pittsburgh today.

Why? Because there’s been talk for weeks of threats by groups of self-described anarchists ...

... to take action against “corporate” sites such as — wait for it — Trader Joe's.

Why else? Because the march Thursday afternoon started out peacefully. Nearly 2,000 people gathered at Arsenal Park, about two miles from the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, where the....

Michelle Obama's gift to lure G-20 spouses to Pittsburgh

What if you gave a party in Pittsburgh, and no one came? (Because, well, it's Pittsburgh.)

That wouldn't look good for President Barack Obama, hosting a major foreign summit, the G-20, there this week.

So how about an enticement, like a free gift? It works on late-night TV. And that's traditional anyway for the host/hostess of these gatherings of elite sophisticated international folks, with all their secure vehicles idling outside while the big shots go indoors away from the tear gas to discuss once again improving the environment. Also our finances.

As comedian Jimmy Fallon will say in his late-night monologue tonight, the main topic of discussion among the foreign leaders is, Why Pittsburgh?

The Obama administration learned a lesson earlier this year during Giftgate, when it presented British Prime Minister Gordon Brown with a toy helicopter and a set of classic American movie DVDs in a format that won't work in Britain. Thanks for stopping by.

Handing out Pittsburgh Terrible Towels would require knowledge of American sports or, worse, Pittsburgh teams, and that would be, well, terrible.

So First Lady Michelle Obama settled on giving some china to the spouses. Here's how the White House describes the china:

A one-of-a-kind porcelain tea set, White House honey and a honey vase designed exclusively for the occasion of the Pittsburgh Summit 2009. The platinum and purple porcelain design of the teacups is classic and contemporary, and inspired by the gold and purple White House china that President and Mrs. Lincoln used in 1861.

The use of platinum on the saucer symbolizes Pittsburgh’s steel industry roots; the use of purple is the color of the state flower of Illinois, the purple violet, home states of both Presidents Lincoln and Obama. The porcelain is one of a kind and made by a century-old family business in Illinois.

A rose in the bottom of the teacup represents both the official flower of the United States and the American beauty rose, the official flower of Washington. There is a delicate three-flower bouquet that sits in the well of the saucer. It consists of the purple violet, the state flower of Illinois; the mountain laurel, the state flower of Pennsylvania; and a rose, the national flower.

The White House honey produced for this occasion came from the First Beehive, located on White House property near the First Lady’s White House Kitchen Garden.

Also, there's a dinner at John Kerry's wife's farm, with all the Heinz ketchup you can eat.

So would that be sufficient to get you to Pittsburgh?

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: White House

Protesters drop in on Pittsburgh for G-20 summit

The G-20 summit hasn’t even begun in Steel City, and already the protests have started.

Under stormy skies Wednesday morning, a group of Greenpeace protesters scaled Pittsburgh's West End Bridge and hung a banner that read “Danger: Climate destruction ahead.” The banner, and several members of the group, hung off the bridge until some not-so-amused police officers arrived and arrested them.

All told, police said that 14 members of Greenpeace were arrested in connection with the bridge stunt, as well as a protest at a second bridge, and will be charged with a variety of misdemeanors. The security here is tight, bordering on feeling like a military state. The city, which is paying to have thousands of additional police working this week, has stationed cop cars along each bridge and along the roadways leading into Pittsburgh’s riverfront downtown.

In downtown, as military vehicles and police cars patrolled the streets and set up metal-wall barricades, crews of construction workers spent Wednesday afternoon boarding up shop windows and doors with sheets of plywood. Locals worried about potential violence and traffic nightmares, a sentiment shared in storefronts both small (cafes and mom-and-pop grocery stores) and large (offices used by the Catholic Church’s Pittsburgh diocese).

Such concern was fueled by an online list of more than 100 possible locations for antiwar, anti-government, anti-globalization and -- well, insert your favorite anti- group here -- to protest during the two-day gathering. The list, which can be viewed here, was compiled by a local coalition of protest groups, and locations include Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods grocery stores, Starbucks cafes and a few strip clubs.

“I’m staying home and ...

Obama, like Sarah Palin, hails hunting, killing wild animals

Wow, big change in political attitude this fall. Little-noticed.

Remember that Democratic candidate for president -- what was his name? -- who complained to those elite San Francisco donors at a supposedly private mansion gathering about bitter small-town Pennsylvanians who cling to their guns and religion?

And it made a big splash at the time because, unbeknownst to that candidate, a Huffington Post reporter taped the careless remarks. And, well, some woman who'd gone duck-hunting once went on to win the party primary in the Keystone State.

Well, on the eve of that special season when so many Americans blast migrating ducks out of the sky and blow large holes in the side of fleeing deer, Barack Obama, now in the White House, has just issued a special Presidential Proclamation.

He's saluting and celebrating those "ageless pursuits" of hunting and fishing, just like some caribou-killing ex-Alaska governor might.

And he's actually returning to Pennsylvania this week, only not to kill animals.

Obama says today's American hunters and fisherpersons like, say, ex-VP Dick Cheney, celebrate sound, scientific game management and "freedom, fairness and self-sustainability." Although, truth be told, it's pretty hard to imagine hunting ever being fair until the game are armed too.

Anyway, this Democratic president has proclaimed Saturday as National Hunting and Fishing Day "from atop Pikes Peak to the shores of the James River." Which leaves out a lot of the West. But, hey, he's president now.

Here's the president's full proclamation from the White House, which does have a dog living there but successfully evicted a family of raccoons some months ago.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, A PROCLAMATION

From atop Pikes Peak to the shores of the James River, Americans celebrate the great abundance and utility of our natural resources. Since our Nation's founding, hunters and anglers have cherished these unparalleled natural gifts and marveled at their untamed beauty.

National Hunting and Fishing Day recognizes the contributions of millions of Americans who continue to engage in these ageless pursuits.

Following in the centuries-old footsteps of the pioneers who walked before them, hunters and....

What Obama's trying (Applause) to tell union folks these days (Applause)

After narrowly escaping a roundtable discussion with workers in Ohio today, President Obama flew into Pittsburgh to address the AFL-CIO convention.

And he turned it into something of a pep rally. Or a coach's halftime locker room talk without the garbage can kicking. Obama needed 10 thank you's just to quiet the crowd before he said a word. He claimed to be blushing. Think they like him?

We said Tuesday morning the president was returning to the campaign trail and, boy, did he ever in Pittsburgh. You'd have thought the election was tomorrow and Obama was delivering the gospel.

The president recalled the bad economic times of last winter, as if they're over. He mentioned a huge federal deficit he inherited. He hailed the economic stimulus package that his administration wanted and obedient Democrats pushed through Congress and assured everyone it "didn't include any of the usual Washington earmarks or pork-barrel spending." A remarkable claim.

The president said he's stopped the country's "economic freefall." He said he would not allow the United States to return "to the culture of irresponsibility and greed" of recent years. He made his now familiar healthcare argument with the requisite sad worker story. He said the fundamental issue facing the country was whether it would become a nation of rich haves and middle class have-nots.

That he would not only save millions of jobs but create millions of new ones. And better educate all the children for the future. And free the nation from dependence on foreign oil. And create a new green industrial base.

Obama said his healthcare reforms were essential for America's future, urged the union members to make phone calls and knock on doors in support.

"We can't wait! We can't wait!" they chanted.

Yes, there was one heckler. But it wasn't about lying this time. "I love you!" they screamed. Obama returned the sentiment.

"Arm in arm," the president told the team, uh, audience, "we are going to get this done."

Once he had them fired up, Obama asked the crowd if it was fired up?

The audience replied in the affirmative. You can read it all below. And here's another Ticket item on the president's day in Pennsylvania.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Remarks by President Obama at the AFL-CIO convention, as provided by the White House

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you, AFL-CIO. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you so much.  Please, everybody have a seat.  Thank you. Thank you, guys. Thank you very much, everybody.  All right, you guys are making me blush. Thank you.

AUDIENCE:  Obama!  Obama!  Obama!  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much, everybody. You know, I tell you what, the White House is pretty nice, but there's nothing like being back in the House of Labor. (Applause.) Let me begin by recognizing a man who came to Washington to fight for the working men and women of Pennsylvania and who has a distinguished record of doing just that, Arlen Specter. (Applause.)

I want to give my thanks and the thanks of our nation to one of the great labor leaders of our time, a man whose entire life has been devoted to working people, who brought new life to a movement, who worked tirelessly on behalf of organized workers, and who will be stepping down tomorrow, your President, John Sweeney. (Applause.)  John, I know that Maureen is looking forward to seeing a little more of you, and your granddaughter Kennedy is about to get a whole lot more spoiled by her grandpa. But we are so proud of the work that you've done, and grateful for your lifetime of service.

I know it's bad luck to congratulate somebody before they are officially elected, but I'm going to....

Obama loves Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania and Philadelphia (also Pittsburgh)

Boy, for someone who once thought Pennsylvania was full of rural, gun-toting religion-clingers, now Pres. Barack Obama sure has come to love that place.

He sent VP Joe Biden to Pittsburgh for a wild Labor Day. He arranged for the G-20 summit of global finance ministers and central bank presidents to meet there later this month. And today, so he wouldn't annoy Eagles or Steelers fans, Obama was campaigning on both sides of the state, as The Ticket analyzed here earlier today.

He gave Air Force One another real workout after his Monday New York trip and this morning flying to Ohio. but he escaped OK. Went to Pittsburgh to speak to union friends (The Ticket item on that rousing appearance, focused on healthcare, is right here.)

Tonight he appeared at a Philadelphia fundraiser for one-time Republican Sen. Arlen Specter, who'd like a sixth term, this one as a new Democrat, while Democrat Rep. Joe Sestak would already like a first Senate term. Big primary fight to watch in coming months.

But the stubborn Sestak aside, Obama now loves pretty much everyone in the Keystone state, so-named because crossing Pennsylvania was the key to getting to Ohio in the olde days.

As you'll see in his smooth fundraising remarks below. (All right, there was one heckler. Also a gaffe of a few hundred thousand in terms of jobs being lost.)

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Remarks by President Obama at Philadelphia Arlen Specter fundraiser, as provided by the White House

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Philadelphia!  (Applause.) It is good to be back in Philly with a man who's always put his state before politics, before party -- your senator, Arlen Specter. (Applause.) 

We've got a number of other luminaries here today, starting with the great governor and sports fan -- (laughter) -- here in Pennsylvania -- Ed Rendell is in the house.  (Applause.) The outstanding young mayor of the city of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter, is here. (Applause.) Not here, but I want to give him a shout-out anyway because we're in his district -- Congressman Bob Brady, doing great work for us. (Applause.)  Senator Bob Casey is on the way and will be here soon, and we love Bob Casey. (Applause.)

TJ Rooney, chairman of the Democratic state party, is here. (Applause.) And I want to acknowledge a special friend, somebody who is a great supporter of mine and is the chairman of this event -- David Cohen is in the house. Please give him a round of applause.  (Applause.)

Now, I want to say a few things about Arlen Specter. Arlen is not someone who came to....

Shut the Oval Office, Obama's out campaigning again today

Now that he's reportedly called Kanye West a "jackass" -- unofficially, of course -- President Obama forsakes the sedentary business of governing again today to head back out on the campaign trail, which is more fun anyway in his profession.

On Monday the president flew to New York City to straighten out the financial mess one year after it blew up and to issue new warnings and announce new regulatory efforts.

Today he's on the road again. He'll make three stops -- one in Ohio and two in Pennsylvania, including his newly adopted favorite city of Pittsburgh. In Ohio, the president will talk economy with auto workers and, as he did Monday in New York, likely profess that he sees more signs the hard times are truly ending.

Not an easy argument for anyone to make, even if they are eloquent, with unemployment still above 9%. And the anxiety and fears almost palpable among many.

This morning the new Washington Post-ABC News Poll reveals that Americans aren't buying Obama's assertion of economic improvement, at least not yet. The results show only 51% approve of the....

Obama salutes Pittsburgh NHL hockey champ, wishes it was Chicago, makes fun of small Canadian

This morning The Ticket here mentioned President Obama's peculiar love affair with a sad little western Pennsylvania city named Pittsburgh and the local sports teams that its people cling to so bitterly like a religion or guns.

This evening the Democrat was late to the event, but as scheduled, he still hosted the team at the White House. He introduced a large number of people, praised the players for their teamwork and finally shaving, and got the predictable team jersey.

They even had the National Hockey League trophy there (see photo above, not actual size), which is called the Stanley Cup in honor of the guy who probably paid for it way back even before Joe Biden was a senator.

Here are the president's full remarks, as provided by the White House:

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you.  Please, everybody have a seat.

First of all, I'm sorry to keep you guys waiting -- I have all these things I've got to do....

What's with Obama and Pittsburgh, of all places?

(UPDATE: Due to the interest in this article generated among Pittsburghers, a humorous video has been added below.)

President Obama, who couldn't muster enough interest to drive several blocks from the White House to watch the exciting Washington Capitals during the professional hockey playoffs last spring, has instead invited the hockey team from somewhere in western Pennsylvania all the way over to the presidential residence today.

The Pittsburgh team is champion of something called the National Hockey League, which really should be called the International Hockey League since it's got teams in the U.S. and Canada.

Last winter the American president, who grew up in those known hockey hotbeds of Indonesia and Hawaii, cheered for Pittsburgh's once-woebegone football team because its owner campaigned for him.

And later this month Obama has invited the G-20, the so-called Group of 20 really important global finance ministers and central bank governors, to hold a crucial two-day summit in that ...