This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Aug. 15, 2012 - U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill told reporters that Vice President Joe Biden's comment this week that Republicans are “going to put you all back in chains" was an “unfortunate use of words.”
Biden attracted controversy after speaking at a campaign event in Virginia. He told the crowd that likely GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney “is going to let the big banks once again write their own rules – unchain Wall Street.” He then added “they’re going to put ya’ll back in chains.” Romney has said that the remarks “diminish the White House.”
When asked by a reporter Wednesday at the Soulard Farmers Market about Biden’s comment, McCaskill, D-Mo., said she didn’t “think that was the right way to put it.”
“I think he’s said that,” McCaskill said. “I think we can spend all day commenting on how Joe Biden says things some times. I think what he meant was he wants to look after the middle class. And he wants to look after Medicare and Social Security and student loans."
“I think it was just a mistake,” she added. “He makes them every once and awhile, you notice? We all do. I do, too. ... It’s hard to say things perfectly all the time when you are out there.”
McCaskill was in St. Louis to continue her criticism of U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Wildwood, for opposing a farm bill that’s stalled in the U.S. House. The stop was part of McCaskill’s “Fighting for Our Farmers” tour, a multi-city barnstorming tour aimed at showcasing her support for a five-year farm and nutrition bill.
McCaskill – who faces Akin in the general election – said the farm bill is critical to agricultural producers dealing with one of the worst droughts since the 1950s.
“The Tea Party is refusing to allow it to come to the floor for a vote. And one of those people that is blocking that critical relief for farmers and ranchers right now is Todd Akin,” said McCaskill, referring to the farm bill that passed in the U.S. Senate. “He has never voted for a farm bill. He has refused to support this farm bill. And in this farm bill is the lifeline that Missouri agriculture needs, particularly our livestock producers.”
[House Republicans put forward a short-term disaster relief. But the Senate didn’t take up the legislation before adjourning for its August recess.]
The Associated Press reported last week that Akin opposed the overall farm bill mainly because most of its spending involves the food stamp program, which he thinks has grown too big. Akin has made similar comments at forums, debates and campaign stops throughout the state.
Ryan choice 'a real contrast'
McCaskill also was asked for her reaction to Romney choosing U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., as his vice presidential pick. She told reporters Ryan would provide “a real contrast, much like the Senate race in Missouri.”
She said voters will decide whether “it’s more important to give another tax break to the wealthiest Americans on top of the tax breaks they’ve already gotten.”
“Should we actually be giving multi-millionaires more tax relief at this point?” McCaskill said. “And the same time privatizing Medicare and blowing up Pell Grants and student loans? I think that most Missourians think that the very wealthy don’t need another tax cut on top of what they have, all in the name of privatizing Medicare. That’s what I think is so hard for people to understand.”
McCaskill was referring to a part of Ryan’s budget plan where the government would give Medicare recipients a set sum of money to seek out a private health insurance plan. That proposal has gained increased visibility since Romney chose Ryan as his running mate.
New Crossroads ad again targets McCaskill
Crossroads GPS, the SuperPAC overseen by former Bush adviser Karl Rove, is back in Missouri with a new anti-McCaskill spot that seeks to portray her as a big spender.
Crossroads says it's spending about $700,000 to air the ad statewide for a week.
“With the looming fiscal cliff, it’s time for Claire McCaskill to take action and cut the debt so we can move our economy forward,” said Nate Hodson, Crossroads GPS Director of State and Regional Media Relations, in the release announcing the ad. “We intend to keep urging Claire McCaskill to push for the practical solutions in the New Majority Agenda.”
The New Majority Agenda, by the way, calls for changes in the nation's entitlement programs -- including Medicare, reductions in domestic discretionary spending and changes in the federal tax code.
Here is analysis by the nonpartisan Factcheck.org on a number of attacks by Crossroads and others in the presidential contest.
(Start of update) McCaskill's campaign contends that Crossroads' new ad inadvertently slams Akin as well "because he supported many similar programs during his 12-year career in Congress."
"Akin voted four times to raise the debt ceiling (including once last year), supported three different stimulus bills under George W. Bush, and in stark contrast to McCaskill, sponsored more than $100 million in earmarks over the course of just three years," McCaskill's campaign said in a statement.
“The true fiscal hawk, standing on the side of Missouri's taxpayers, is Claire McCaskill,” said Erik Dorey, McCaskill for Missouri spokesman. “While Todd Akin supported $100 million in earmarks between 2008 and 2010 alone, Claire's the only reason we no longer have earmarks and top Republicans are helping her make that ban permanent. When it comes to protecting our taxpayer dollars, Todd Akin simply has no credibility.” (End of update)
