Last night’s vice presidential debate possessed all the components of a great political showdown. At times it was comical, serious and emotional, and it lacked very few dull moments.
VIDEO: Ryan & Biden Go Head-To-Head
VP Joe Biden was a firecracker who captivated viewers from the start, with his impulsive laughs, quick-witted comebacks and clever zingers. He held it down for the democratic base and made up for the slack for President Obama left from the first presidential debate in Denver. Congressman Paul Ryan didn’t do that badly either, considering it was his first time debate on a national stage. He showed his weaknesses on foreign policy issues and stumbled on the question of the troop withdrawal in Afghanistan, but overall, he was sharp and poised and didn’t disappoint the Republican base.
In case you missed it, here are a few of the best one-liners from last night’s debate.
Biden: “That’s a bunch of malarkey.”
Biden called Ryan out when he talked about not reducing defense cuts in order to maintain American integrity saying, “With all due respect, that’s a bunch of malarkey.”
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Biden: “These people are my mom and dad, and they pay more effective tax than Romney pays in his taxes.”
Biden compared Mitt Romney’s low income tax rate (14 percent) to average middle income Americans like his parents, and made mention of Romney’s infamous “47 percent” comment.
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Ryan: “I think the vice president very well knows that sometimes the words don’t come out of your mouth the right way.“
In reference to Romney’s “47 percent” comment, the Republican Congressman noted that Biden is also known for misspeaking.
Biden: “But I always say what I mean. And so does Romney.”
With a quick retort, Biden shot back at Ryan, stating when he and Romney misspeak, they both state their true intentions and beliefs.
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Ryan: “Watch out, middle class, the tax bill’s coming to you.”
According to Ryan, Democrats are proposing to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans, as well as the middle class. He stated, “and so the next time you hear them say, ‘Don’t worry about it, we’ll get a few wealthy people to pay their fair share,’ watch out, middle class, the tax bill’s coming to you.”
Biden: “Oh, now you’re Jack Kennedy?” (See video above)
Ryan and Biden went back and forth on the Romney-Ryan tax plan that would cut tax rates by 20 percent across the board. Ryan defended the economic plan, arguing that he could cut taxes but still preserve popular deductions for the middle class, claiming that President John F. Kennedy did the same thing. That’s when Biden fired back, asking Ryan if he was serious about comparing himself to Jack Kennedy.
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Ryan: “They got caught with their hand in the cookie jar, using Medicare as a piggy bank for Obamacare.”
Ryan brought up the conservative talking point that Obamacare is an oversized government program that will drain funds from Medicare.
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Biden: “Stop talking about how you care about people. Show me something.”
Biden called out Republicans for their opposition toward passing bills that would help middle class families.
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Biden: “One, we will find and bring to justice the men who did this.”
The US attacks in Libya was the first topic addressed at the debate. Biden used that as an opportunity to assure Americans that the men that killed the four US ambassadors in the Middle East will be brought to justice.
Sparks flew last night at the debate and we can’t wait for the next one!
