(Newser)
–
President Obama wasn't caving to the Russians or engaging in back-door politics in last week's "hot mic" moment with Dimitry Medvedev, he was just "stating the obvious," the veep charged this morning on Face the Nation. “The idea that in this election year we're going to be able to deal with the Russians on further reducing our nuclear arsenals in the environment that we have in the United States Congress now is difficult," Biden said, according to Politico. “We're not going to have the flexibility to sit down and talk with people in this Congress that are going to be able to listen and be able to work with us, probably between now and Election Day.” Other highlights from the Biden interview:
- On the contraception debate (as per ABC News): "I just find it remarkable that the argument is even taking place. I think it's totally out of touch with reality" and violates "the right of women to decide for themselves whether or not they want to use contraception."
- On the Supreme Court's ObamaCare decision: “No one has made any money betting on [the] outcome of cases based on oral arguments and the questions asked. We think the mandate and the law is constitutional, and we think the court will rule that way.”
- On Mitt Romney: “I think Governor Romney is a little out of touch. This is about the middle class, and what affects middle class people? Their jobs, being able to have a home, living in a safe neighborhood, being able to send their kid to college. It’s about their dignity. This is about the middle class and none of what [Romney’s] offering does anything—it’s just returning to old policies.”
