Biden Warns Obama: Don't Take My Guns!

No, you read that title right. This one is weird even for Joe Biden. Not quite a gaffe, just way, way out there.

Political Punch

In an out-of-nowhere attempt to re-assure a southwestern Virginia labor crowd about gun owners' rights, Biden -- who regularly scores "F" ratings from the National Rifle Association -- warned Obama that if "he tries to fool with my Beretta, he's got a problem."

"I guarantee you Barack Obama ain't taking my shotguns, so don't buy that malarkey," Biden said Saturday at the United Mine Workers of America's annual fish fry in Castlewood, Virginia. "Don't buy that malarkey. They're going to start peddling that to you."

Biden told the crowd that he himself is a gun owner. "I got two," Biden said, "if he tries to fool with my Beretta, he's got a problem. I like that little over and under, you know? I'm not bad with it. So give me a break. Give me a break."

First reaction, when a politician starts saying "ain't" and words like "malarkey" that's a pretty good clue they're trying to be down with the little people. And warning Obama with a "cold, dead, fingers" warning... why, is Obama planning something we should know about.? This is just weird.

Biden has an F with the NRA on gun issues. Obama has similar issues. Sarah Palin is a lifelong member of the NRA. This issue doesn't have the greatest resonance, since the NRA largely feels safe from attack on these issues, but there are still pockets where it matters, and they are quite often in swing states like Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania... and Virginia.