Presidential contender Joe Biden jokingly called a college student in New Hampshire a “lying, dog-faced pony soldier” during a campaign event on Sunday, just two months after he unloaded on an Iowa voter whom he called a “damn liar” and days after he dryly instructed a climate activist to “go vote for someone else.”
The campaign trail headscratchers came as Biden, 77, has gone on the offensive following his disappointing fourth-place finish in last week’s disastrous Iowa caucuses, well behind rivals Pete Buttigieg, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
The student, Madison, of Mercer University in Georgia, began by asking Biden how he could remain competitive in the race after that performance.
Walz mocked online after GOP lawmaker floats theory in heated hearing about why Kamala Harris chose him as VP
Fox News Poll: Voters give poor marks to economy, Congress and Trump
BREAKING: Kurds Open New Front Against Iranian Regime, Launch Major Ground Offensive
Watch: Schumer Repeatedly Struggles to Condemn Iran Strikes: ‘No One Wants a Nuclear Israel’
Planning committee expecting outrage at White House ballroom meeting after 9,000 pages of negative comments
GOP begs Trump to endorse Cornyn as president teases decision ‘soon’
White House and State Department defend evacuation strategies for US citizens
Man dies after sneaking into closed section of popular national park
Hegseth Explains Utter Devastation of Iranian Regime’s Defenses – U.S. Close to ‘Uncontested’ Control of Airspace
Trump teases kingmaker endorsement in Texas ‘soon’ to force other candidate out of runoff
Leavitt says ground troops in Iran not currently being considered, doesn’t rule it out
Man killed in Texas after Border Patrol checkpoint flight and shootout
Fact Check: No, Hegseth Did Not Indicate Boots Would Be on the Ground in Iran
Spain urges Trump not to ‘play Russian roulette’ with ‘destiny of millions’ in Iran
NATO defenses shoot down Iranian missile fired toward Turkey, defense ministry says
“It’s a good question,” Biden responded. “Number one: Iowa’s a democratic caucus. You ever been to a caucus? No you haven’t. You’re a lying, dog-faced pony soldier. You said you were; but now you got to be honest. I’m gonna be honest with you. It was a little bit confusing in Iowa.”
After a New Hampshire voter asks @JoeBiden why they should trust he can turn his campaign around, he asks if she’s ever been to a caucus before; when she says yes, Biden snaps: "No you haven’t. You’re a lying dog-faced pony soldier." pic.twitter.com/3uxOAu0Ues
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) February 9, 2020
Biden had used the bizarre phrase in January as well, in response to a question about President Obama’s broken promise that individuals would be guaranteed the option to keep their doctors under the Affordable Care Act.
Contrary to Biden’s previous suggestions that the line was from a John Wayne movie, TMZ reported that the phrase may have come from the 1952 Tyrone Power film called “Pony Soldier.”
Walz mocked online after GOP lawmaker floats theory in heated hearing about why Kamala Harris chose him as VP
Fox News Poll: Voters give poor marks to economy, Congress and Trump
BREAKING: Kurds Open New Front Against Iranian Regime, Launch Major Ground Offensive
Watch: Schumer Repeatedly Struggles to Condemn Iran Strikes: ‘No One Wants a Nuclear Israel’
Planning committee expecting outrage at White House ballroom meeting after 9,000 pages of negative comments
GOP begs Trump to endorse Cornyn as president teases decision ‘soon’
White House and State Department defend evacuation strategies for US citizens
Man dies after sneaking into closed section of popular national park
Hegseth Explains Utter Devastation of Iranian Regime’s Defenses – U.S. Close to ‘Uncontested’ Control of Airspace
Trump teases kingmaker endorsement in Texas ‘soon’ to force other candidate out of runoff
Leavitt says ground troops in Iran not currently being considered, doesn’t rule it out
Man killed in Texas after Border Patrol checkpoint flight and shootout
Fact Check: No, Hegseth Did Not Indicate Boots Would Be on the Ground in Iran
Spain urges Trump not to ‘play Russian roulette’ with ‘destiny of millions’ in Iran
NATO defenses shoot down Iranian missile fired toward Turkey, defense ministry says
Nevertheless, the moment drew mockery from conservatives and other commentators.
“You’re a lying, dog-faced pony soldier.”
“If he can’t handle a simple question from one of his own supporters, how can Joe Biden possibly take on Donald Trump one on one for six months?” asked Donald Trump, Jr., on Twitter.
George Washington University law professor and GOP impeachment witness Jonathan Turley added: “Hmmm, Biden does not appear to be confining his ‘go negative’ strategy to [Pete] Buttigieg, but seems to think it will work with voters. Calling a voter ‘a lying dog-faced pony soldier’ must be a new voter suppression strategy by targeting your own voters.”
In January, former VP Joe Biden used the phrase “lying dog faced pony solider” in response to a question about Obamacare. It’s a quote from a John Wayne movie. pic.twitter.com/oduqXA0R53
— Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) February 9, 2020
Walz mocked online after GOP lawmaker floats theory in heated hearing about why Kamala Harris chose him as VP
Fox News Poll: Voters give poor marks to economy, Congress and Trump
BREAKING: Kurds Open New Front Against Iranian Regime, Launch Major Ground Offensive
Watch: Schumer Repeatedly Struggles to Condemn Iran Strikes: ‘No One Wants a Nuclear Israel’
Planning committee expecting outrage at White House ballroom meeting after 9,000 pages of negative comments
GOP begs Trump to endorse Cornyn as president teases decision ‘soon’
White House and State Department defend evacuation strategies for US citizens
Man dies after sneaking into closed section of popular national park
Hegseth Explains Utter Devastation of Iranian Regime’s Defenses – U.S. Close to ‘Uncontested’ Control of Airspace
Trump teases kingmaker endorsement in Texas ‘soon’ to force other candidate out of runoff
Leavitt says ground troops in Iran not currently being considered, doesn’t rule it out
Man killed in Texas after Border Patrol checkpoint flight and shootout
Fact Check: No, Hegseth Did Not Indicate Boots Would Be on the Ground in Iran
Spain urges Trump not to ‘play Russian roulette’ with ‘destiny of millions’ in Iran
NATO defenses shoot down Iranian missile fired toward Turkey, defense ministry says
Also in New Hampshire, Biden forcefully echoed failed presidential contender Eric Swalwell in dismissing Second Amendment advocates, claiming personal gun ownership is an ineffective defense against government tyranny. (In an infamous tweet, Swalwell informed a gun-rights proponent that the government “has nukes” and could defeat an uprising in a “short war.”)
“Those who say ‘the tree of liberty is watered with the blood of patriots’ — a great line, well, guess what: The fact is, if you’re going to take on the government you need an F-15 with Hellfire Missiles,” Biden said. “There is no way an AK-47 is going to take care of you, if you’re worried about the government coming and knocking down your door.”
Biden’s defensiveness on the campaign trail has raised questions about his possible electability issues, especially given President Trump’s propensity for hammering the Bidens’ perceived corruption. This past December in Iowa, Biden slammed a voter who questioned Hunter Biden’s business dealings as a “damn liar” who needed to take an “IQ test.”
The former vice president then seemingly called the man “fat” after deriding him for his self-professed sedentary lifestyle, although the Biden campaign said there was a misunderstanding.
Walz mocked online after GOP lawmaker floats theory in heated hearing about why Kamala Harris chose him as VP
Fox News Poll: Voters give poor marks to economy, Congress and Trump
BREAKING: Kurds Open New Front Against Iranian Regime, Launch Major Ground Offensive
Watch: Schumer Repeatedly Struggles to Condemn Iran Strikes: ‘No One Wants a Nuclear Israel’
Planning committee expecting outrage at White House ballroom meeting after 9,000 pages of negative comments
GOP begs Trump to endorse Cornyn as president teases decision ‘soon’
White House and State Department defend evacuation strategies for US citizens
Man dies after sneaking into closed section of popular national park
Hegseth Explains Utter Devastation of Iranian Regime’s Defenses – U.S. Close to ‘Uncontested’ Control of Airspace
Trump teases kingmaker endorsement in Texas ‘soon’ to force other candidate out of runoff
Leavitt says ground troops in Iran not currently being considered, doesn’t rule it out
Man killed in Texas after Border Patrol checkpoint flight and shootout
Fact Check: No, Hegseth Did Not Indicate Boots Would Be on the Ground in Iran
Spain urges Trump not to ‘play Russian roulette’ with ‘destiny of millions’ in Iran
NATO defenses shoot down Iranian missile fired toward Turkey, defense ministry says
Iowa voter says Joe Biden sent his son to Ukraine to work a job he didn’t have the experience for.
Joe Biden snaps, calls him a “damn liar,” challenges him to a push-up contest, and then calls him fat.
This is the Democrats’ top candidate for president. pic.twitter.com/Wi1mI1ZtBL
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) December 5, 2019
Biden has stepped up his aggressiveness in recent days, although his attacks have been increasingly directed not just at individual voters, but also other rivals for the White House.
“This guy’s not a Barack Obama. Barack Obama had been a United States senator of a really large state,” Biden said this weekend, referring to Buttigieg. “This is a very different situation.”
Biden spoke with reporters hours after his campaign went up with a new digital ad suggesting the 38-year old candidate — who’s nearly four decades younger than Biden — didn’t have enough experience to be president.
The spot used a clip of then-President Obama calling Biden “the best vice president America’s ever had,” before going on to compare arguable successes of the Obama administration with mundane mayoral actions by Buttigieg, such as installing “decorative lights under bridges.”
Walz mocked online after GOP lawmaker floats theory in heated hearing about why Kamala Harris chose him as VP
Fox News Poll: Voters give poor marks to economy, Congress and Trump
BREAKING: Kurds Open New Front Against Iranian Regime, Launch Major Ground Offensive
Watch: Schumer Repeatedly Struggles to Condemn Iran Strikes: ‘No One Wants a Nuclear Israel’
Planning committee expecting outrage at White House ballroom meeting after 9,000 pages of negative comments
GOP begs Trump to endorse Cornyn as president teases decision ‘soon’
White House and State Department defend evacuation strategies for US citizens
Man dies after sneaking into closed section of popular national park
Hegseth Explains Utter Devastation of Iranian Regime’s Defenses – U.S. Close to ‘Uncontested’ Control of Airspace
Trump teases kingmaker endorsement in Texas ‘soon’ to force other candidate out of runoff
Leavitt says ground troops in Iran not currently being considered, doesn’t rule it out
Man killed in Texas after Border Patrol checkpoint flight and shootout
Fact Check: No, Hegseth Did Not Indicate Boots Would Be on the Ground in Iran
Spain urges Trump not to ‘play Russian roulette’ with ‘destiny of millions’ in Iran
NATO defenses shoot down Iranian missile fired toward Turkey, defense ministry says
Buttigieg’s team, in response, argued: “Vice President’s decision to run this ad speaks more to where he currently stands in this race than it does about Pete’s perspective as a mayor and veteran.”
Asked about his campaign’s digital video, Biden explained: “What I’m doing is responding to what Pete’s been saying for the last two months, that all the problems we have today are from the recent past.”
“When you get attacked, you have to respond. I kept my mouth shut for a long time. I haven’t responded at all. But it’s been constant, a constant assertion that the problems we’re facing today are somehow because of our administration. That’s simply not true,” Biden said.
Story cited here.
