Former U.S. Treasury Secretary and conservative political commentator Bay Buchanan told Newsmax TV in an exclusive interview that vice president Joe Biden has some good points in the beginning of Thursday’s vice presidential debate, but did not treat the event or voters with the seriousness they deserve.
“I'll be honest, as I started, I thought that maybe Joe Biden was making some good points,” Buchanan said. “But as I looked at Paul Ryan throughout that debate, he was a serious person, and he had a complete command of the facts. He understands that America is facing some very, very critical issues, and he laid out the plan to turn things around.
Watch the exclusive interview here.
“On the other hand, the vice president of the United States, he was interrupting, he was rude, he got loud when he didn't know what to say and he didn't show proper respect for the viewers,” Buchanan continued. “Americans tuned in so they could see what the vice presidents are all about and I don't think Joe Biden showed them the kind of respect that they deserved. He didn't seem to appreciate how serious the problems are that this country faces that he would be so cartoonish throughout this debate. The snickering and sneers and laughing; it was a caricature of a person. So he very much harmed himself, especially with women.”
Ryan, on the other hand, delivered votes for Mitt Romney’s campaign by taking their issues seriously during the debate.
“Women are concerned about jobs,” Buchanan commented. “They are concerned about the economy, about their kids, about the future of this country, and millions of women are small business owners so they're also concerned about the taxes and the enormous spending that's going in Washington, D.C.”
And while women could see a serious person in Ryan, they saw a “buffoon” in Biden, Buchanan said.
“In Paul Ryan, you have someone who understands this, who's laid out several plans, who's fighting to get something done to address these issues and has for many years,” Buchanan said. “On the other hand, you had somebody who just was buffoonish in his responses in the sense of the laughing and interrupting and not taking it seriously.”
Buchanan said women are very sensitive about when women talk over their concerns and laugh and interrupt and don’t respect their opinion.
“He hurt the Obama-Biden ticket with women,” Buchanan said. “They're going to be very concerned that there would be somebody as vice president of the United States today, with all of the problems we face, that would be so rude and disrespectful of this great process of ours where you have these great debates.”
Ryan is helping deliver the Republican point of view, Buchanan believes.
“I have been key to the Mitt Romney efforts to reach out to conservatives,” Buchanan said. “I have spent the last six, seven months working very closely with conservative leaders in conservative groups around the country. And they were coming aboard. They were very much coming aboard prior to our convention.
“But, when he named Paul Ryan, what happened is they not only were aboard, now, they were energized, excited and just recognized that with that one decision on the part of Mitt Romney, he sent a message to conservatives across the country and all Americans that he is serious about putting this country on the track to a balanced budget and getting America working again,” Buchanan said. “As you can see, not only are Republicans aboard, but Independents are coming aboard in droves. So we're very, very excited. After this debate, America will see these are serious people for serious times; the kind of leadership America wants.”
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