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Biden Does It Again: VP Appears to Have Significantly Overstated His Role in 1983 Social Security Reform

Oct. 16, 2012 7:03pm Jason Howerton

During last week’s vice presidential debate, Vice President Joe Biden claimed he was sitting “in the room” where the 1983 negotiations over Social Security took place. There’s only one problem — it doesn’t appear to be true.

ABC’s Jake Tapper first reported that Biden seems to have “significantly” overstated his role in the negotiations.

“Look, I was there when we did that with Social Security in 1983. I was one of eight people sitting in the room that included Tip O’Neill negotiating with President Reagan,” Biden said during the VP debate. “We all got together and everybody said, as long as everybody’s in the deal, everybody’s in the deal, and everybody is making some sacrifice, we can find a way.”

Biden reportedly made a similar claim on “Meet the Press” in 2007, saying he was “one of five people — I was the junior guy — in the meeting with Bob Dole and George Mitchell when we put Social Security on the right path for 60 years.”

However, Tapper did a little digging and found out that, according to the historical record, not only was Biden not in “the room,” he wasn’t even a significant figure in the 1983 Social Security negotiations.

Biden’s office released a statement after the debate that argued that the vice president was merely saying he was part of the negotiations not that he played a significant role in the reform process:

“In 1983, then-Sen. Biden was one of many senators who weighed in on budget-related issues with the party leadership, including on Social Security reform,” the statement from the vice president’s office said. “In particular, he was part of a group of members who met with Tip O’Neill while the Speaker was negotiating with President Reagan on reform specifics. In those meetings, the Vice President and other members gave their thoughts on the negotiations to the Speaker and Senate Minority Leader Robert Byrd. The consensus of that group was that as long as everyone is in on the deal, and everyone is making sacrifices, they should be able to find a way. O’Neill and Reagan worked it out.”

That certainly sounds a little different than what Biden said at the debate.

But according to the historical record, Biden’s inclusion in the “working group” did not translate into any important role in the reform talks.

ABC’s Tapper has more details:

Dole told ABC News, when asked about the vice president playing any sort of role in Social Security Reform: “Biden’s a good friend of mine, and I’ve been really racking my brain here, but I don’t remember that.”

Alan Greenspan, who declined to comment on the record, wrote about the commission in his book, “The Age of Turbulence,” and didn’t mention Biden’s name at all in his version of events.
Most of the others who were indeed in the room have passed away. George Mitchell was traveling and could not be reached for comment.

Former Social Security Commissioner Robert Ball, who was on the commission, wrote about the importance of other key players in the reforms who were not on the commission, including Rep. Dan Rostenkowski, D-Ill., chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Rep. J.J. Pickle, chair of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security. He did not mention Biden.

Tapper also points out that Biden does not mention his Social Security accomplishments in his memoir, “Promises to Keep.” Nor does a March 1983 Washington Post editorial that names the “many heroes of the fight to rescue Social Security.”

Biden’s Social Security stretch is the fourth debate statement that the White House has had to walk back or clarify. Remember, Biden said “we” didn’t know the U.S. Consulate in Libya had requested more security. He also said that U.S. troops would be brought home from Afghanistan in 2014 “period” when in reality the State Department is currently in negotiations to keep troops there past 2014. Finally, Biden claimed President Obama’s tax plan would only raise taxes on individuals earning more than $1 million, a claim that the White House quickly shot down.

To read Tapper’s entire report, click here.

Watch Biden’s comments from 2007 here:

Featured image from AFP/Getty Images.

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Comments (118)

Wool-Free Vision
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:53pm
“Biden Does It Again: VP Appears to Have Significantly Overstated His Role in 1983 Social Security Reform”

I would just like to say that “overstated” is the absolute perfect word for Joe Biden in a vast multitude of ways. Biden in a nutshell = Overstated. He is a living caricature. A cartoon.

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- desertspeaks
  Posted on October 16, 2012 at 8:24pm
  Biden thinks he’s obama and that no one on the left would fact check!
  
  Report this comment
- godlovinmom
  Posted on October 16, 2012 at 8:30pm
  Well he’s an idiot in my book…I’m embarassed by him and Obama…jeez…can America do better than these lying fools?
  
  Report this comment
- cosette
  Posted on October 16, 2012 at 8:53pm
  Seriously??? I’m beginning to believe this man is mentally ill. Pathological liar.
  
  Report this comment
- Ronko
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 12:16am
  Joe Biden is the Republican’s secret weapon.
  
  Report this comment
- DIR
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 12:57am
  When Joe finally is relieved of his Vice Presidental responsiblities, he should buy a Burger King so he can sell Whoppers. The only problem is Joe’s whopper’s aren’t easily digested.
  
  Report this comment
- wordsofwisdom
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 1:20am
  I would like to say a lot of things but this song sum’s them up pretty good for me. It’s called
  “Don’t Get Him Started” http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11916731
  
  Report this comment
- bumfuzeled
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 11:19am
  Hubris
  
  Report this comment
- johnjamison
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 11:39am
  Isn’t about time that we called these lies what they are LIES. Biden didn’t overstate his role Biden LIED stating his role in the entire SS reform. Just one of the many LIES (not overstatements) made by Biden and Obama daily.
  Biden is a LIAR even more disturbing is the ease at which the LIE rolled off his touch without so much as a facial tick or body movement indicating an internal struggle with LYING in front of 70.000.000 U.S. CItizens.
  
  Report this comment
- BadDog40
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 4:46pm
  When did ‘Overstated’ replace ‘Blatant Liar’. Quit making excuses for this lying jerkoff!
  
  Report this comment
- Freelyn
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 5:59pm
  Lie with impunity and accuse the other side of doing it, watch your lapdog Statist media tow the party line and cover and obfuscate it all. Enjoy your spoils as a large part of the electorate of undecided voters pays little or no attention to the facts and votes solely on how they feel that day.
  
  Report this comment
- RWCT
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 6:40pm
  When Biden tells the truth, it is entirely by accident. He fills the role, so well, re the joke: How can you tell a politician is lying? His lips are moving. Sadly he is but one heartbeat away from the Presidency. Mind you, his boss seems to be the same way!
  
  Report this comment
- ginger ghent
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 12:11am
  Good gravy…can no Dem tell the truth????
  
  Report this comment
Viking64
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:52pm
Biden, Obama, Pelosi, Reid, etc., they all cut from the same sad mold, they all think a like, they all are bad for America and they all try to out do the others on who can spin the biggest best lies. Biden needs to be selling used Cadillac’s in some nice high income suburb where they have many rich , old, not so bright widos looking for one owner used cars. He would excell! Wish he would retire

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- huufarted
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 1:22am
  Heyyyyyyyyyyyy stop insulting Cadillacs! Biden should be selling used Hyundais…
  
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Ben__Franklin
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:52pm
“This is not a Big F’ing Deal”

Joe Biden

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progressiveslayer
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:47pm
The drunk can sing,hear for yourself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmRXH7RkCZQ

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Ben__Franklin
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:47pm
Hrmmm, me thinks “Overstated” is code words for “He Lied”.

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oicu814me2
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:46pm
did he not also say in the debate that he says what he means?

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- EveF.Destruction
  Posted on October 16, 2012 at 8:10pm
  He says what he means but he doesn’t mean what he says.
  
  Report this comment
nickyinva
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:45pm
Liar liar, pants on fire.

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progressiveslayer
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:44pm
When I hear that dry drunk speak and tell his BS lies which is every time he opens his idiotic mouth I feel the need to shower. He’s like the creepy uncle you keep locked in his room,a slimy bastard indeed.

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- CatB
  Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:48pm
  Exactly PS … he went from crazy to CREEPY in the debate for me. I had thought he was just crazy .. but not after seeing that whatever it was .. he is CREEPY. A legend in his own mind.
  
  R & R 2012.
  
  Report this comment
Owt_Raged
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:43pm
Listen, Biden had to drop out of the 1988 Presidential campaign because he couldn’t stop lying. He was caught time and time again. Why do we expect anything different now?

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- Ben__Franklin
  Posted on October 16, 2012 at 8:03pm
  Oh, I thought he dropped out because he forgot how to get home. He was reported running naked down Interstate 74 and later picked up on a grade school swing set.
  
  Report this comment
helllsbellls
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:39pm
Has gore tutered biden on the arts of embellishment? Hells Bells.

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:56pm
  Actually, I think that is the other way around.
  
  Report this comment
noslave
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:39pm
hey their “ledgens in their own minds”mut attack only democrats,gore invented the internet?hillary got her name? after sir edmond climed mt everest several years later??many claimed they worked with MLK??obama ??well he has the biggest imagination,thinks he not the worst pres in history??

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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:38pm
Lying is a prerequisite to work in THIS administration.

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- Al J Zira
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 3:12am
  Lying is a prerequisite for becoming a politician. There hasn’t been an honest one since Abe Lincoln.
  
  Report this comment
13th Imam
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:34pm
Actually Bite Me walked by Bob Dole and Tip, and they axed him to get a couple cups of coffee for them. He screwed that job up by grinning like a fool and tripped over his lower lip and spilled the coffee’s. After that he plagerized a report, but that means nothing to DEMOCRATS, just a resume enhancer

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DarkJello
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:34pm
Joe is senile, a liar, or a senile liar. His teeth are top notch though!

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- coolidge
  Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:53pm
  LOL! Nicely put.
  
  Report this comment
- 2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT
  Posted on October 16, 2012 at 8:01pm
  His are the best teeth Solyndra money can buy.
  
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DEFCON4
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:29pm
Old Joe needs a “Check-Up” from the neck-up!!!

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Fitzzz
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:27pm
Put that senile old queen out to pasture

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Gonzo
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:25pm
Lying liar and crap weasel.

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- Wango
  Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:46pm
  Yeah, those Asian ones always look so young, don’t they, Nuge?
  
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- Ben__Franklin
  Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:46pm
  It is so easy to beat Biden in a debate using the old Rope a Dope. Just get Biden’s dander up a little by pointing out the truth and then let him do the talking. Its priceless comedy.
  
  Report this comment
- Ben__Franklin
  Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:56pm
  The Oblamo and Plugs Defenders are here. Wango was in the room with Plugs too during the Social Security Reform negotiations, and the Civil Rights Bill too. Only they were adamantly against both.
  
  Report this comment
- jthirteen
  Posted on October 17, 2012 at 11:54am
  Wango and Gonzo,
  
  Do you two know each other? I enjoy the comments on here mostly because it seems like 90% of Gonzo’s comments are followed by a reply from Wango. So I was just curious if you knew each other personally.
  
  Report this comment
ColoradoMaverick
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:25pm
Being a serial liar must be contagious. Biden needs to stay away from Obama.

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pissantno.10
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:21pm
how long will it be before he says he was capt. kirks right hand man and not spock

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GO-FOR-LIBERTY
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:15pm
So another lie from the joker. What else is new? How about F&F2? These people make me sick!!

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Zurich
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:14pm
Don’t forget Biden was constantly saying: These are facts my friend. Facts, Martha!!! The fact is that Obama is God and Biden is the Vice-God, so he can be everywhere and in several events at the sane time without been seen. I am only waiting for him to say that he signed the Constitution!

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- pissantno.10
  Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:35pm
  its sad but i would not put any money on that
  
  Report this comment
- Ben__Franklin
  Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:49pm
  Biden did not just say these are the facts. He also looked into the camera three different times and said “Who ya going to believe folks”. Well, I knew each time he said it, it was not him. Just more proof.
  
  Report this comment
2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:14pm
You can’t expect a drunk to remember every little detail from so long ago.

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- progressiveslayer
  Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:32pm
  I bet the stupid bastard had black outs to and that idiot is as phony as a three dollar bill.
  
  Report this comment
- Wango
  Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:44pm
  PRONGDEALER . . . You know a lot about three dollar bills, don’t you Prong? Yes, you do.
  
  Report this comment
- progressiveslayer
  Posted on October 16, 2012 at 8:15pm
  Wangsucker You know a lot about nothing don’t ya wang you little obamazombie you.
  
  Report this comment
coyote1hell
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:13pm
Joey B can’t Lie as well as Obama..he will be put back in the closet…..

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nobull14
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:12pm
Again Biden is a four star Butt plug!!!!!! . He has no business being in office even know he was elected as vice president ?

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QuincySmith
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 7:10pm
Do you mean VP biteme dabbles in ‘untruths’ too?

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