Obama Reacts to Biden's Crisis/Plumber Gaffes

Amanda Carpenter | October 22, 2008 12:06 PM

Barack Obama scheduled a press conference to discuss national security issues but spent most of the event explaining controversial remarks his vice president made at a private fundraiser and reacting to the GOP.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden predicted "an international, a generated crisis to test the mettle" of his running mate to supporters in Seattle on Sunday evening.

"Joe sometimes engages in rhetorical flourishes," Obama said this morning during a press conference in Richmond, Virginia. "But his core point is that the next administration is going to be tested regardless of who it is because of the fact the next administration is inheriting a whole host of really big problems."

Obama also played defense on the GOP criticisms about the conversation Obama had with the now-famous Joe the Plumber. In the exchange Obama said "I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."

Plumber Joe said he thought that sounded "socialist" and most Republicans agreed.

.
Today Obama told reporters his tax plan doesn't "spread wealth" but "does involve spreading around opportunity."

"That does mean people like myself making more than $250,000 pay a little bit more," he said.

After Obama's press event ended the Republican National Committee's Alex Conat responded: "Obama believes that raising taxes to ‘spread the wealth’ will create ‘opportunity.’ If Obama does not prescribe to socialism, then what economic theory does he follow? Obama apparently believes government creates jobs, which is why he wants to raise taxes on hard-working Joes."