And he's right. I see some may try to call this a Biden "gaffe" but he was telling the damn truth (as he usually is). Getting that Bill passed and signed into law was a "Big fucking deal." Hell, him saying that in a way that I didn't even notice (and I watched it live) is only telling the truth and just yet another wonderfully human aspect of Joe Biden that makes us all love him more.
I can't say there were many, if any, people more hype than Vice President Biden in that room this morning, and he deserves it, he's been fighting right along with everyone else.
I'm sure many will talk about how awesome President Obama's speech was this morning, but if you missed Biden's speech, it was definitely a great one.
Here's Biden's speech:
Watch CBS News Videos Online
Transcript:
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Fired up! Ready to go! Fired up! Ready to go!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
Mr. President, I think we got a happy room here. (Laughter.) It seems ridiculous to say thank you all for being here. (Laughter.) Ladies and gentlemen, to state the obvious, this is a historic day. (Applause.)
In our business you use that phrase a lot, but I can't think of a day in the 37 years that I've been a United States senator and the short time I've been Vice President that it is more appropriately stated. This is a historic day.
And history -- history is not merely what is printed in textbooks. It doesn't begin or end with the stroke of a pen. History is made. History is made when men and women decide that there is a greater risk in accepting a situation that we cannot bear than in steeling our spine and embracing the promise of change. That's when history is made. (Applause.)
History is made when you all assembled here today, members of Congress, take charge to change the lives of tens of millions of Americans. Through the efforts of those of us lucky enough to serve here in this town, that's exactly what you've done. You've made history.
History is made when a leader steps up, stays true to his values, and charts a fundamentally different course for the country. History is made when a leader's passion -- passion -- is matched with principle to set a new course. Well, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. President, you are that leader. (Applause.)
Mr. President, your fierce advocacy, the clarity of purpose that you showed, your perseverance -- these are in fact -- it is not hyperbole to say -- these are the reasons why we're assembled in this room together, today. But for those attributes we would not be here. Many, many men and women are going to feel the pride that I feel in watching you shortly, watching you sign this bill, knowing that their work -- their work has helped make this day possible. But, Mr. President, you're the guy that made it happen. (Applause.)
And so, Mr. President, all of us, press and elected officials, assembled in this town over the years, we've seen some incredible things happen. But you know, Mr. President, you've done what generations of not just ordinary, but great men and women, have attempted to do. Republicans as well as Democrats, they've tried before. Everybody knows the story, starting with Teddy Roosevelt. They've tried. They were real bold leaders.
But, Mr. President, they fell short. You have turned, Mr. President, the right of every American to have access to decent health care into reality for the first time in American history. (Applause.)
Mr. President, I've gotten to know you well enough. You want me to stop because I'm embarrassing you. (Laughter.) But I'm not going to stop for another minute, Mr. President, because you delivered on a promise -- a promise you made to all Americans when we moved into this building.
Mr. President, you are -- to repeat myself -- literally about to make history. Our children and our grandchildren, they're going to grow up knowing that a man named Barack Obama put the final girder in the framework for a social network in this country to provide the single most important element of what people need -- and that is access to good health -- (applause) -- and that every American from this day forward will be treated with simple fairness and basic justice.
Look, the classic poet, Virgil, once said that "The greatest wealth is health." The greatest wealth is health. Well, today, America becomes a whole lot wealthier because tens of millions of Americans will be a whole lot healthier from this moment on.
Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama. (Applause.)
We all made history when we worked, volunteered, called, and donated money some of us didn't have (LOL) to help get President Obama into office, and President Obama is delivering.
Now it's time to get out there and show the American people what's really happening with this Health Care Bill. I think President Obama said it best at his second speech today:
Let's start with how health insurance reform will expand and strengthen coverage:
This year, children with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied health insurance coverage. Once the new health insurance exchanges begin in the coming years, pre-existing condition discrimination will become a thing of the past for everyone.
This year, health care plans will allow young people to remain on their parents' insurance policy up until their 26th birthday.
This year, insurance companies will be banned from dropping people from coverage when they get sick, and they will be banned from implementing lifetime caps on coverage. This year, restrictive annual limits on coverage will be banned for certain plans. Under health insurance reform, Americans will be ensured access to the care they need.
This year, adults who are uninsured because of pre-existing conditions will have access to affordable insurance through a temporary subsidized high-risk pool.
In the next fiscal year, the bill increases funding for community health centers, so they can treat nearly double the number of patients over the next five years.
This year, we'll also establish an independent commission to advise on how best to build the health care workforce and increase the number of nurses, doctors and other professionals to meet our country's needs. Going forward, we will provide $1.5 billion in funding to support the next generation of doctors, nurses and other primary care practitioners -- on top of a $500 million investment from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Health insurance reform will also curb some of the worst insurance industry practices and strengthen consumer protections:
This year, this bill creates a new, independent appeals process that ensures consumers in new private plans have access to an effective process to appeal decisions made by their insurer.
This year, discrimination based on salary will be outlawed. New group health plans will be prohibited from establishing any eligibility rules for health care coverage that discriminate in favor of higher-wage employees.
Beginning this fiscal year, this bill provides funding to states to help establish offices of health insurance consumer assistance in order to help individuals in the process of filing complaints or appeals against insurance companies.
Starting January 1, 2011, insurers in the individual and small group market will be required to spend 80 percent of their premium dollars on medical services. Insurers in the large group market will be required to spend 85 percent of their premium dollars on medical services. Any insurers who don't meet those thresholds will be required to provide rebates to their policyholders.
Starting in 2011, this bill helps states require insurance companies to submit justification for requested premium increases. Any company with excessive or unjustified premium increases may not be able to participate in the new health insurance exchanges.
Reform immediately begins to lower health care costs for American families and small businesses:
This year, small businesses that choose to offer coverage will begin to receive tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums to help make employee coverage more affordable.
This year, new private plans will be required to provide free preventive care: no co-payments and no deductibles for preventive services. And beginning January 1, 2011, Medicare will do the same.
This year, this bill will provide help for early retirees by creating a temporary re-insurance program to help offset the costs of expensive premiums for employers and retirees age 55-64.
This year, this bill starts to close the Medicare Part D 'donut hole' by providing a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the gap in prescription drug coverage. And beginning in 2011, the bill institutes a 50% discount on prescription drugs in the 'donut hole.'
And yes, all of that is a "big fucking deal." Republicans can whine to empty rooms all they want, it's not easy to overturn legislation, it's going to be even HARDER once people realize what's REALLY in the bill and how much they like it. Pres. Obama is soooooo over you and your drama, Republicans:
"I heard one of the Republican leaders say this was 'going to be Armageddon,'" the President said, referring to comments earlier this week by House Minority Leader John Boehner and RNC Chairman Michael Steele.
"Well, two months from now, six months from now, we can check it out, look around, and we'll see," Obama continued, drawing laughter from the audience.
I like having these guys in the White House, and I've never regretted putting them there, and I look forward to extending their stay in 2012.
Update [2010-3-23 15:44:51 by Muzikal203]: Yes! already! LOL
Looks like there is a Biden BFD T-Shirt (h/t lapis)
Hell, I kinda want one of those! LOL
And predictably, heads exploded at FAUX (again, amazing how fast they grow back over there):
GALLAGHER: We also had crossing the urgent wires...the possibility that Vice President Joe Biden might have slipped up and dropped an f-bomb when he was addressing the President. [...]
I want to add some more context about what I was saying about the comment that Vice President Joe Biden made to the President and it says here, in our urgent queue, that when he was hugging the President, he leaned over and said, "This is a big bleeping deal." We’ll play that for you if we can. [...]
BAIER: It was pretty striking for Vice President Biden to turn to the President and say, "This is a big blanking deal," using the f-word with the microphones picking it up, and I’m sure we’ll take about that later.
(h/t Vita Brevis)
I'm sure Dick Cheney has said FAR worse when people could find him.
Update [2010-3-23 17:58:23 by Muzikal203]: LMAO@ this
via Huffintgon Post