COMMENTARY | Vice President Joe Biden's Ohio tour was long on liberal rhetoric and short on substance. Biden's on-stage performance was reminiscent of former Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean's campaign antics. Biden did not imitate the infamous Dean scream, but he came dangerously close to making himself appear equally foolish with his overly energized rants. Biden's stop in the all-important swing state may have attempted to focus on important issues but evolved into a 48-hour Mitt Romney attack tour.
Biden claimed that not all liberals are "anti-capitalists" during a Steubenville speech, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
President Barack Obama may not have been on the stage, but one of his favorite catch phrases, "fairness" was very present. The idea of fairness is not foreign to Republicans, tea party members or libertarians, such fiscally responsible voters simply prefer the concept be applied equally throughout the United States.
It is not fair that middle class Americans are forced to send such a large portion of their hard-earned money to the government to pay for crippling entitlement programs. Liberal politicians are quick to point out the loopholes which exist for oil companies and the wealthy, but conveniently forget to mention the loopholes which allow those living on taxpayer funded assistance to turn temporary aid into a permanent lifestyle.
During an Ohio speech Biden stated he resents Republican accusations that he and President Obama are engaging in class warfare, according to excerpts published in the Columbus Dispatch. Surprisingly, Biden made those statements with a straight face. The Obama campaign is pushing hard on social issues in an attempt to paint Republicans as cold-hearted beasts who do not care about the poor or middle class. The faux Republican war on women diatribe does not appear to be swaying voters and Obama's evolution as a gay marriage supporter will not likely garner many new votes come November either.
Biden and his boss seem content to try any tactic which does not focus on the most important campaign issue -- the economy. The attention span of voters may be far longer than President Obama expected. Voters will not forget about the billions of dollars wasted on the failed stimulus plan before the general election. Pitting Americans against one another with slanted rhetoric is far more beneficial to the Obama campaign than addressing the president's abysmal economic record.
