IDP’s JJ Dinner, the ’09 Biden edition
November 21, 2009 by O.Kay Henderson · 1 Comment
Vice President Joe Biden was the keynote speaker for this evening’s Iowa Democratic Party Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner. During his remarks, Biden credited the late Teddy Kennedy for tonight’s senate vote on health care reform. Here’s part of the live blog of the event:
Biden said he was a bit late to the stage tonight because he’d been calling Democrats in the senate who he’d lobbied to vote tonight.
“I was on the phone and calling those senators who I was able to help change their minds on this vote. That’s why I was late. They did the right thing. Tonight, tonight we defied the pundits. We were told, every talk show you listen to, including the main stream media… health care was dead. Well, it’s alive and well and it will pass,” Biden said. The crowd was on its feet, cheering through this passage.
“I know you knew him and loved him as much as I did. We owe a gigantic debt to Edward M. Kennedy…He’s the reason. He is the reason why we persisted. He was the inspiration…He, were he here, would deserve our plaudits.”
Biden told the crowd he’d been monitoring the senate vote as he flew to Iowa on Air Force II.
“We had on CNN and as they announced the vote, the plane actually jiggled. I thought it was Teddy reaching down.”
Here’s the full live blog, with Biden’s comments at the end.
According to the screen hanging in the northwest corner of HyVee Hall in Des Moines, the Iowa Democratic Party’s 2009 Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner is to start in 47 seconds. I doubt that, as people are milling about, basically in the dark, as they search for their seats at the round tables. The room is set up in a sort of theatre-in-the-round, with the stage in the center of the room the only thing that is bathed in light. Party officials say they’ve sold “nearly 1500″ tickets.
Roxanne Conlin, the US Senate candidate, rented a reception room downstairs for supporters to gather before the dinner. She spoke to the crowd shortly after six o’clock.
“At this moment I have been a candidate for one week and six days and really, so far, so good,” Conlin said, laughing, as the crowd applauded.
“In Iowa we all try to live by the principle that those who work hard and play by the rules should have the same chance of success as everyone else. We pride ourselves on our independence, but Charles Grassley seems to have lost his. After 50 years in elected office, it’s time for him to take a rest, don’t you think?” Conlin asked. The crowd responded with clapping and a few cheers. [More photos]
