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Vice President Biden Addresses Black Journalists

NEW ORLEANS (WWJ) - Vice President Joe Biden addressed thousands of journalists in New Orleans Wednesday night saying the new Republican Party refuses to cooperate even on issues the old GOP embraced.

WWJ Newsradio 950's Vickie Thomas was on hand as Biden kicked off the Annual Conference of Black Journalists in the Big Easy.

Much of Biden's message focused on what he called the stark differences between President Barack Obama and the man who hopes to unseat him, Mitt Romney.

Biden says the Obama administration rescued the auto industry, while Romney would have turned a blind eye.

"(Romney) preferred to let Detroit go bankrupt.  He said, though, the market would take care of it.  Somehow they'd step in," said Biden.  "I didn't see anybody stepping in to rescue the market, including Bain Capital."

During his 35 minute speech, Biden touted some of the Obama administration's accomplishments, but he acknowledged it's not enough as the middle class, he says, fights for its very survival.

"We think it's time, not to balance the budget with the millionaire quote, unquote tax, the 'Buffet Rule.'  In my neighborhood [and] in your neighborhoods, my guess is no one minds as they say, giving it the office – but everyone hates being played for a sucker.  And that's what the American people think is happening now," said Biden.   "How do you explain an additional two trillion, eight hundred billion dollars in tax cuts for the wealthiest people in America?"

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