Outrage! Journalist Has Temerity to Ask Biden Real Questions

Joseph Biden, in an interview this week with Barbara West, of WFTV-Channel 9 in Orlando, Florida, became visibly angered by West's line of questioning, after she asked if Barack Obama would "spead the wealth":

WEST: You may recognize this famous quote, “from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.” That’s from Karl Marx. How is Sen. Obama not being a Marxist if he intends to spread the wealth around?

BIDEN: Are you joking? Is this a joke? ... Or is that a real question?

The Obama camp immediately cancelled a a follow-up interview with Jill Biden.

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ADDED: Ann Althouse takes issue with the Obama campaign:

Ha ha. Wow. You don't usually get questions like that. Biden can't believe it. But, you know, Biden handles it perfectly well. I don't see him losing his cool. He's fine. Good questions. Good answers. Ah, but what is lame is cutting off all future interviews with the station. Pussies!

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West responded to criticism of her interview:

We are given four minutes of a satellite window for these interviews. Four precious minutes. I got right down to it and, yes, I think I asked him some pointed questions. These are questions that are rolling about right now and questions that need to be asked. I don't think I was rude or inconsiderate to him. I think I was probing and maybe tough.

Daily Kos has posted West's e-mail for readers, "In case you want to drop Barbara a line..."

Yeah, just like folks wanted to drop Joe the Plumber a line, and there's the pattern: Ask Obama and his team an honest question, and you'll be hounded like a carrier of the plague.

What is this country coming to?