Sprinkling Salt in the Whine

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

First, let’s get something straight.  The Chicago Trib is using that headline and this photo out of context.  Why? Because media thrives on conflict, and here was an easy chance to play up the tension between the Administration and the Left Wing.

Whereas Biden made the “stop whining” remarks on Monday during a campaign fundraiser in New Hampshire, then reiterated the point more tactfully that evening with Laurence O’Donnell, this photo was actually taken on Tuesday in Hollywood, Florida at a rally for Kendrick Meek and other Florida candidates. The video and stories of the Tuesday rally, by the way, make no mention of any whine, “re-whine” or blame dished out — except in George Bush’s direction.

It’s bad enough Biden and the Administration feel the need to strike out at the left wing in the first place. What we certainly don’t need, however, is the traditional media piling on, driving a deeper wedge by taking an image of the Vice President rallying party faithful in an emphatic way and framing it as internecine warfare.

…Below you can read the the actual Getty-supplied caption the Trib chose not to use in favor of the irrelevant and conveniently undate and unlocated one above.

Original Getty caption: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaks as he attends a Florida Democratic Party event in honor of Florida’s Democratic candidates at The Westin Diplomat Hotel on September 24, 2010 in Hollywood, Florida. Biden was in South Florida for fundraisers and to support Democratic candidates running in the Florida elections. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)