Biden Responds to "Shackles" Criticism

from the inbox, a transcript of remarks from Vice President Joe Biden:

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TRANSCRIPT: Vice President Joe Biden delivers remarks in Wytheville, VA.

"We don't have to imagine anymore. The details are there. Here's what Congressman Ryan said. He said, 'We believe a renewed commitment to limited government will unshackle our economy.' The Speaker of the House said, used the word 'unshackled' as well, referring to their proposals. The last time these guys unshackled the economy, to use their term, they put the middle class in shackles. That's how we got where we are.

Nine million jobs lost. Wage stagnation. 16 trillion dollars in wealth you all lost in your home equity, in your 401Ks and your pension plans. You're the ones that got nailed. All of America, except the very few.

And I'm told that when I made that comment earlier today in Danville, Virginia, the Romney campaign put out a tweet. You know, tweets these days? Put out a tweet, went on the airwaves saying, 'Biden, he's outrageous in saying that,' I think I said instead of 'unshackled,' 'unchained.' 'Outrageous to say that.' That's what we had. I'm using their own words. I got a message for them. If you want to know what's outrageous, it's their policies and the effects of their policies on middle class America. That's what's outrageous.

I think it's outrageous to continue to give companies tax breaks to outsource rather than tax breaks to in-source. To make massive cuts in education, massive cuts in college aid, massive cuts in Medicaid, throwing 19 million people off -- who desperately need healthcare -- off of Medicare, including 1 million seniors. How many of you know somebody in a home right now who is getting extended care. Eight will get you 10, they're there because they have Medicaid. What happens when they do this? That's outrageous. You want to know what's outrageous. Massive changes. Massive cuts to Social Security for future generations. That's the hard proposal."