Biden Tells Story of Putting Dead Dog on Woman’s Doorstep, Forgets Which Administration He Served In, Gas at 7-Year High

On 2/15/2022, President Biden addressed the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference with a rambling speech that included telling a story about putting a dead dog on a woman’s doorstep, appearing to forget which administration he served in as Vice President, and falsely claiming the child tax credit existed when he was a child. Psaki separately tried to credit Biden for lowering gas prices despite them being at a seven-year high, said the White House was not funding crack pipes while opposing legislation to prevent government-funded crack pipes, and had “nothing to detail” about reversing anti-energy policies.

The Dead Dog Story

Biden told county officials about his days as a county councilman. “I got a call one night. A woman said to me, obviously not in the same persuasion as I was politically, called me and said, there’s a dead dog on my lawn,” Biden recounted. He said he told her he would get county services in the morning, but the woman demanded immediate action. “She said, I want it removed now. I pay your salary.”

“So I went over. I picked it up. She said, I want it out of my front yard. I put it on her doorstep,” Biden said, drawing laughter.

Biden also joked about leaving local office: “My name’s Joe Biden and I used to be a county councilman. And I ran for the Senate because it was too darn hard to be on the council."

"The Administration I Served In Last”

Biden appeared to momentarily forget which administration he had served in. “I started the cancer moonshot, which I worked very hard on — the administration I served in last,” Biden said, using an unusual construction that suggested he could not recall saying “the Obama administration.”

Child Tax Credit “When I Was a Kid”

Biden claimed the child tax credit had existed when he was growing up, but it was actually created in 1997 when Biden was already 54 years old. “It was well-intended originally, when the child tax credit existed early on,” Biden said. “I remember it used to drive my dad nuts, because we had four kids.”

Gas at 7-Year High

Gasoline prices had risen 20 cents per gallon in 30 days, with oil approaching $100 per barrel. A reporter asked whether Biden was considering reversing his energy policies to increase domestic production. “Is there any consideration to reversing some of the policies and going back to increasing U.S. energy independence?” the reporter asked.

Psaki had “nothing to detail” on policy reversals. “Our overarching objective is to decrease the impact on American consumers and increase the impact on Russian leaders,” she said.

When pressed again — noting prices had risen beyond pre-SPR levels even without a Russian invasion — Psaki said Biden was “continuing to look at options” but had no prediction of any decision.

Crack Pipes Controversy

Senator Blackburn had raised concerns about government funding for crack pipes through a harm reduction program. Psaki said Biden opposed funding crack pipes but also opposed legislative efforts to prevent it. “We’ve been very clear that we are not providing funding for crack pipes,” Psaki said, while characterizing Blackburn’s efforts to codify that position as threatening to “hold up funding the government.”

Fed Nominees Standoff

Psaki called the Republican boycott of Fed nominee hearings “a very extreme step” and “totally irresponsible.” “Republicans are out there saying inflation’s a problem, it’s a huge issue. We agree. And then they’re not even bothering to show up to even vote against these nominees to the Federal Reserve,” she said.

Fed Nominees Standoff

Psaki called the Republican boycott of Fed nominee hearings “a very extreme step” and “totally irresponsible.” “Republicans are out there saying inflation’s a problem, it’s a huge issue. We agree. And then they’re not even bothering to show up to even vote against these nominees to the Federal Reserve,” she said. “What message is that sending to the American public?”

She defended Fed Vice Chair nominee Sarah Bloom Raskin as “one of the most qualified individuals to ever be nominated to the Federal Reserve.” Senator Toomey and Senator Kennedy had previously grilled Raskin over her advocacy for using the Fed to steer capital away from fossil fuel companies.

Key Takeaways

• Biden told county officials he put a dead dog on a Republican woman’s doorstep when he was a county councilman after she demanded he remove it from her lawn.
• He appeared to forget the name of the Obama administration, calling it “the administration I served in last.”
• Biden falsely suggested the child tax credit existed when he was a child; it was created in 1997 when he was 54.
• Gas prices were at a seven-year high with oil nearing $100; Psaki had “nothing to detail” on reversing Biden’s energy policies.
• Psaki said the White House was not funding crack pipes but opposed legislation to codify that position, calling it a threat to government funding.

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio (unverified — AI-generated from audio).

• She said, I want it removed now. I pay your salary. So I went over, I picked it up. She said, I want it out of my front yard. I put it on her doorstep.
• I started the cancer moonshot, which I worked very hard on — the administration I served in last.
• Gasoline prices are up 20 cents a gallon over the last 30 days. Is the president considering reversing some of the policies? I don’t have anything to detail for you.
• We are not providing funding for crack pipes.
• Nobody earning less than $400,000 a year will pay an additional penny in taxes. We can do this without increasing the deficit.
• Republicans are out there saying inflation’s a problem. And then they’re not even bothering to show up to vote.

Full transcript: 1349 words transcribed via Whisper AI.