Vice President Joe Biden, known for his sometimes incautious tongue, let slip a curse word Thursday during a talk to Harvard’s Institute of Public Policy when he talked about the challenge of being vice president.
Biden was taking questions, when a student introduced himself as vice president of the student body, to which
Biden responded, “Isn’t that a b—?” CNN reported.
Grinning, Biden quickly added, “I mean ... excuse me. The vice president thing.” Then seeming to realize that he continued to flounder, he said, “I'm joking, I'm joking, I'm joking. Best decision I ever made. I'm joking — that was a joke."
When the student responded that he hopes Biden loves his job, that Biden answered, "I do, actually. I love the guy I work with.”
Boston Magazine reported that Dean David Ellwood warned the audience about the VP’s tendency to speak off the cuff, adding, "Once in a while it causes him problems, but it’s part of his appeal."
The Boston publication then went on to highlight a few statements from Biden during the hour-and-a-half talk that qualified.
Those included, “You are twice as likely to be struck by lightning as you are to be affected by a terrorist event in the United States,” which Boston Magazine pointed out may not be the best thing to say in the midst of a city that suffered a terrorist attack.
Biden also handed out credit to Republicans when he spoke about the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. He effusively praised former president George W. Bush.
“George W. Bush. George W. Bush did this. George W. Bush, a Republican,” Boston Magazine quoted Biden, who added that some Democrats wanted to disconnect Bush’s accomplishments from the program. “Democrats can be as petty and as mean as any Republican I know, so George Bush deserves the credit,” Biden added.