Biden apologizes to Roberts

Posted: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 2:26 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: White House, The First 100 Days

From NBC's Pete Williams and Antoine Sanfuentes

Sources familiar with the conversation say Vice President Joe Biden telephoned Chief Justice John Roberts last week to apologize for a remark he made about the chief's memory.

"My memory is not as good as Chief Justice Roberts's," Biden said last Wednesday, as he prepared to administer the oath of office to new senior White House staffers. The remark did not appear to go over well with President Obama, who did not smile, though some in the room laughed. Biden's remark came the day after the infamous flub that occurred as Roberts led Obama through the oath of office.

A spokesman for the vice president confirms that Biden called Roberts after making the remark.

"They had a good conversation," the spokesperson said.

A Supreme Court official declined to comment.

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Comments

it was a classy thing to do since the remark was unclassy even though he was joking. go for you joe.

ace (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 2:39 PM)

You could tell by Obama's face that he didn't like the remark. Probably won't be the last time knowing Joe! He just sometimes speaks before he thinks. That's good that Obama's making everyone responsible for their own actions. Hope this continues. Change, indeed, has come to Washington!

Diane from Illinois (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 2:42 PM)

Ron Lincoln, Tulsa, OK (Sent Sunday, January 25, 2009 3:29 PM)
I wasn’t avoiding this topic, just had a busy weekend. I am extremely disappointed in any hypocrisy and this waiver is just that. I agree with the 90% or so who indicate, why make the rule so you can ‘waiver’ around it. It is just this type of hypocrisy that has ALL of us rankled, on the right, left or in the middle. Don’t make a rule you can’t uphold in the course of reasonable application. You aren’t ‘changing’ anything but the speaking voice when you continue to create multiple ‘standards’. PS. I am still not happy about Rick Warren at the Inauguration. I thought his entire “convert” the masses message was inappropriate and non-inclusive. I personally think the man is a bigot and doesn’t know the first thing about Christ’s real message. Pulpit pounders make me ill, in general. The louder they pound, the more I think they are ‘protesting too much’, reminiscent of Ted Haggert. But heck, what do I know, I’m just one person with an opinion.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 2:48 PM)

A perfectly-timed apology.

echo (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 2:50 PM)

Is the economy fixed yet?

Sven, LA, CA (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:02 PM)

What's the over/under on when Joe will first insult a foreign head of state?

March 1

mongo (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:07 PM)

Biden should just put an apology on an endless loop. Why anyone thought this loon was vp material is anyones guess. Wasn't Princess Caroline on the selection committee? We see the result.

Darius Daniels, Houston (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:11 PM)

I think that Roberts should be removed if he cannot even do that right!

Neal Levin (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:13 PM)

This is only ONE of an extremely long list of apologies that Joe Biden will be making throughout his vice-presidenial career and beyond.

Molly Anna (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:15 PM)

Mark, Springfield, VA (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:15 PM)

"He just sometimes speaks before he thinks."

That would cover everything he's said so far in his life.

Jim Treacher, Springfield (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:17 PM)

yeah, that Joe is a real card, huh Dianne? Thank God we're getting change.

Rufus O'Malley, Oakland NY (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:21 PM)

Making jokes are part of Joe's Biden personality and people should get use to by now. He is good and funny guy. He is not trying to be somebody he is not.....just himself.

lucy (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:21 PM)

Clara, So I guess Rick Warren is a bigot but Rev. Lowery is not a bigot? Get a life.

Grace, Kansas City, MO (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:22 PM)

Awesome we need to change the one in Wasington, sounds familiar. Obama-Nation (love and respect your neighbors it will go a long way towards resotring the US good name.

JK (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:24 PM)

I cover my ears and pray for the best everytime VP Biden approaches a michrophone. He is so inappropriate.

Sherri Orange county, Ca (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:30 PM)

Can't someone make a cute little quip without having to apologize? Good grief, maybe no one should say anything to anyone lest they feel offended.

The justice should be kidding himself and taking a good ribbing for the fluff. We all make mistakes and it is not unusual for us to laugh at ourselves (collecively and individually) for these little goofs.

eagle1776 (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:33 PM)

Joe will continue to say silly things from time to time, and obvioulsy can admit when it is wrong.
I will gladly listen to Joe's bad jokes anytime rather than sit for 8 years wondering what schemes Cheney is dreaming up to make himself and his buddies some money.

Teach (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:39 PM)

to clara:"I’m just one person with an opinion."

and what's wrong with that? I dont disagree with anything you wrote in this entry. Independant myself, i voted Obama but this waiver was a waiver in principle.

disheartened (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:52 PM)

I will gladly listen to Joe's bad jokes anytime rather than sit for 8 years wondering what schemes Cheney is dreaming up to make himself and his buddies some money.

Teach

So who's company would you invest in then? Joe's or Dick's?

You've Been Taught (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:58 PM)

mongo, i am a obama/biden supporter, but to your question; with joe you never know.

ace (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:04 PM)

I think that Roberts should be removed if he cannot even do that right!

Neal Levin (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:13 PM)

You have to be a dumb ass Dam O Crat if what the Dems in Congress get a pass and you go after the cheif justice.

Rick007 (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:05 PM)

So VP Biden apoligizes for ...a silly joke after a week in office... Still waiting though for former VP to apoligize about torture, Irak, Wiretapes, MacCarthy like athmosphere, etc.

Raven (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:06 PM)

Rufus O'Malley, Oakland NY,

It's Diane (one n)thanks,but who's counting?
I'll gladly take a gaffe or two from Biden compared to the slimy and "I'm above the law" bully Dick Cheney. Joe Biden is a good man, unlike the former VP who was the most hated VP upon leaving the White House. Darth Vader, indeed. He should be behind bars.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:08 PM)

Wow...the urban legend continues unabated. If you take the time to OBJECTIVELY listen to the oath you will see President Obama derailed the administration of the oath and set the entire train wreck in motion. Listen to it. Can we honestly continue this urban legend knowing full well Obama set the oath wreck in motion. Roberts was TOTALLY caught off guard when Obama interrupted him (Roberts) mid-sentence. Listen to it!
Mark, Springfield, VA

Mark, You are nuts. I was there (Blue section), and Roberts first off failed to stop at the normal pauses, which was why Obama "interrupted" Roberts. Justice Stevens stopped after the "I, Joe Biden" to allow Biden the opportunity to repeat, and then continued a sentence at a time. Roberts (who memorized it, but refused to keep a copy with him in case he needed it--which he clearly did) did not say "faithfully execute", He had faithfully at the end of the sentence. When President Obama interrupted to say I Barack Hussein Obama", and allow genius Roberts to say the oath again, and hopefully right, Roberts again screwed it up, and said faithfully not before execute, but at the end of the sentence. Obama was polite enough to repeat the oath incorrectly, instead of embarass the Chief Judge, who Obama and Biden both had the wisdom to vote against!

Biden was gracious to apologize but it was unnecessary!

Sara, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:19 PM)

FIRST: Darius Daniels of Houston, if you had 1/10th of Bidens IQ or 1/100th his experience you'd realize his value exceeded that of any other VP candidate available.

SECOND: Mark of Springfield VA, Obama's interuption was caused by Robert's flub, not the reverse. If you read the oath you'd see there is a break there where Obama expected it should be. No big deal either way,,,, but stop whinning over spilt milk for crying out loud.

Bob, Portland, OR (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:29 PM)

Joe will continue to be him-self, we should be able to laugh at ourselves, John Roberts was able to laugh about it afterwards too. Bush was so inappropriate he was in a world by himself and Chaney was all about power and making money for himself.

nora brown, manassas, va (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:33 PM)

Joe Biden needs a keeper. The man can't control his mouth so he keeps shoving his foot in it. The next four years should be a gas with this fool a heart beat from the presidency.

paulejb roslyn ny (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:50 PM)

And I was not happy to hear the rascist "prayer" by Rev. Lowery either, Clara. Didn't that offend you at all? It didn't Obama - he laughed about it! I can truly say that after all my 67 years, I am truly ashamed of my country to elect this dumb Marxist to be the president. The way that crowd booed President Bush was beyond shameful. And Joe Biden is nothing but a windbag that is a gaffe waiting to happen.

karen, oklahoma (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:55 PM)

Everything would have been fine if that dumb azz Roberts would have used index cards.

cal (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 5:08 PM)

Joe is the epitome of hypocrisy and the idiocy of this administration. He did not know what the job of the vice president did during the debate and now he is finding out that you should not alienate the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by making flippant remarks.

I think Obama will soon regret his choice, and more over all of his choices. Seems like it is all a political stunt, Offer Joe a choice between VP and Sec of State? Does he know what he wants him for or not? What is Joe good at? Isn't that the criteria for picking someone?

Obama lost half the nation on that pick...

Bill, Phoenix AZ (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 5:30 PM)

I saw a replay of when this happened. It was a funny off the cuff remark. I'd like to know if Roberts even minded, assuming he had heard about it. I was actually surprised at Obama's apparent reaction.

Completely unnecessary apology but I guess if Biden thought it was in order I suppose it doesn't hurt.

I thought it was a funny way to move past the inauguration oath gaffe.

Apparently other people don't.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 5:45 PM)

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