The Complete Bidenisms
Collecting the vice president's gaffes and head-slappers.
"And, today, we're announcing another important Recovery Act program, the 'Retrofit Ramp-Up.' Now, I wonder what sometimes our constituents think when we come up with these names. [Laughter.] The 'Retrofit Ramp-Up.' We all in this room know what it is. We may be the only ones who know exactly what it means. [Laughter.] But it's a kind of a buzz word, retrofits."—Riffing on the name of the Retrofit Ramp-Up program as he announced its implementation, Washington, D.C., April 21
Click here to see video of Biden's comments. The Bidenism is at 15:55.
"I realized there was a microphone, but I had no idea that it was that sensitive."—Explaining to the hosts of The View how he got caught calling the health care reform bill "a big fucking deal" on a live mic, New York, N.Y., April 22, 2010
Click here to see video of Biden's comments.
"No one can say a negative thing about Dan Quayle. When he was vice president, he built that pool. I just want you to know, he is my favorite vice president."—Showing off the swimming pool at the vice presidential residence and explaining why George H.W. Bush's veep was his favorite predecessor in the office, Washington, D.C., April 12, 2010
Click here to see video of Biden's comments.
"Now gentlemen—I want to show you the Dan Quayle swimming pool."—Welcoming foreign leaders to the vice presidential residence, Washington, D.C., April 12, 2010
"I can see exactly why John Callahan should be in United States Senate."—Campaigning for Democratic House candidate John Callahan, Bethlehem Township, Pa., April 15, 2010
"I just got off the phone with Majority Leader Harry Reid, and I said, 'I'm up here for the new congressman,' and he said, 'Well, talk to him about the Senate.'"—Attempting to recover from the Callahan gaffe, Bethlehem Township, Pa., April 15, 2010
"I'm a little blunt, as some of you may have learnt. I never say what I don't mean, and sometimes I say more than I should."—Using a double negative to describe his forthright speaking style while campaigning for Callahan, Bethlehem Township, Pa., April 15, 2010
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Jeremy Stahl is Slate's social media editor. You can follow him on Twitter.