Biden To Maddow: GOP Has A ‘Desperation’ To ‘Pander To The Lowest Common Denominator’ (VIDEO)

Vice President Joe Biden was on Rachel Maddow’s show last night, and talked a lot about the Republicans’ attempt to “delegitimize” President Obama because that’s what you do “when you can’t compete on ideas.” He added that there’s a “desperation on the Republican side to pander to the lowest common denominator.”

“The truth is,” Biden said, “that it’s real tough for the Republican Party. It’s really kind of hung on a shingle. You know, ‘no moderates need apply.’ It sort of spawns a tone in politics that is not helpful to getting things done.”

The Vice President also commented on people like former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who recently described Obama’s ‘Kenyan anti-colonial’ ideology. Biden said he’s “stunned [Newt] bought into this playbook.”

Maddow asked Biden about recent wins in the primaries by Tea Party-backed candidates like Christine O’Donnell, who won in Biden’s home state of Delaware. Though Biden said the O’Donnell win is “hard to explain,” he added, “I wouldn’t sell short these candidates” and that “it’s a big mistake not to take it seriously.”

But, Biden said, as part of taking these candidates seriously, he wants to “tell the progressives out there, you know, ‘get in gear, man.'”

“You should not stay home. You better get energized,” Biden said.

Despite the threat from right-wing Republicans, Biden was confident about the Democrats’ chances in November: “We are going to retain control on the House. We are going to retain control of the Senate.”

Here’s part one:

Part two: