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'Amtrak Joe' Biden Says Avoid Planes, Trains! (If You're Sick)
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 30, 2009
Modified Apr 30, 2009
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By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 30, 2009
Modified Apr 30, 2009
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Our Amtrak-loving vice president was his usual chatty, off-the-cuff self when speaking on the Today Show. Politico reports, "Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday that he would not recommend taking any commercial flight or riding in a subway car 'at this point' because swine flu virus can spread 'in confined places.' A little more than one hour later, Biden rushed out a statement backing off his stern warning a bit."
Matt Lauer asked Biden what he would tell relatives about traveling to Mexico and the VP was against any and all travel on a plane, "If you're in a confined aircraft and one person sneezes it goes all the way through the aircraft... I would tell members of my family — and I have — that I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now...That's me. I would not be at this point, if they had another way of transportation, suggesting they ride the subway."
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But apparently an airline official (we hope subway officials around the country, too) complained about Biden's "fear-mongering" so the White House statement, uh, clarified Biden's position, "The advice he is giving family members is the same advice the administration is giving to all Americans: that they should avoid unnecessary air travel to and from Mexico. If they are sick, they should avoid airplanes and other confined public spaces, such as subways. This is the advice the vice president has given family members who are traveling by commercial airline this week. As the president said just last night, every American should take the same steps you would take to prevent any other flu: Keep your hands washed; cover your mouth when you cough; stay home from work if you're sick and keep your children home from school if they're sick.”
Tagged
airline
amtrak
joe biden
oh joe
subway
swine flu
vice president
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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