TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Biden, Rove clash over Bush encounter

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: April 12, 2009

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden said he gave then-President George W. Bush an earful in the Oval Office. Former Bush adviser Karl Rove says Biden's version is at best an exaggeration - at worst a lie - and part of a pattern.

"It's a habit he ought to drop," Rove said.

The tit-for-tat illustrates both the vice president's colorful way of retelling stories and Bush-era aides' effort to protect their former boss. The pair tussled during media interviews last week.

The events started Tuesday, when Biden criticized both Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.

Bush "said, 'Well, Joe,' ... 'I'm a leader,'" Biden recalled.

"And I said, 'Mr. President, turn around and look behind you. No one's following.'"

Days later, Rove, who has taken an aggressive tone against his successors in recent days, said Biden's version never happened.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT