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By David Emery, About.com Guide to Urban Legends since 1997

Email: Joe Biden a 'Liar and a Cheat'

Thursday September 4, 2008
Photo by Win McNamee / Getty Images A personal email sent to a small circle of family and friends by a Maryland accountant calls Joe Biden's character into question, claiming the Democratic vice-presidential candidate "stiffed" him on debts accrued during past and present political campaigns.

"Joe Biden is a liar and a cheat," Bruce Riddle writes in the message -- which to his chagrin ended up being forwarded to thousands of other people. "I know it firsthand. Character is what life is all about. Joe Biden is a man of bad character and sets a bad example for America."

Not that he's changed his tune, exactly, but when I contacted the author to authenticate the story, Mr. Riddle replied that the Biden campaign has since "paid in full."

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Comments

September 5, 2008 at 11:10 am
(1) Hrabble says:

Nice reporting, David. Very interesting to see some of the amounts still owed by losers in the recent campaign.

September 6, 2008 at 5:16 pm
(2) jlynn says:

It is amazing that there are so many shell shocked people that don’t see the Republican spin on all of these negative ads. I am so disappointed in the American Psyche that they could be so vulnerable to these loud mouth Repuclicans and rude women speaking out on behalf of Gov. Palin, it is obvious she is a lightweight and try to discredit Joe Biden will not give her brains…..

September 6, 2008 at 6:46 pm
(3) jb says:

jlynn obviously did not see the following website which reveals that not only was this debt verified but that Mr. Riddle supports the Democratic Party. It’s a shame that it took this being made public for Mr. Biden to pay his debt.
http://frontpage.americandaughter.com/?tag=bruce-d-riddle

September 7, 2008 at 5:50 pm
(4) jbc says:

Joe Biden has repeatedly lied and cheated. He admitted he was a liar and plagarist in the past, but only when forced to do so which is what keeps him in office. It is no surprise that he would steal money from someone by not paying his debts, and no further surprise that his campaign would hurry up and pay once he got caught. This isn’t partisanship; he’s just doesn’t know right from wrong.

September 9, 2008 at 10:44 am
(5) JMart says:

Interesting.

I would quibble with the line “Not that he’s changed his tune, exactly…” Far as I can see, the tune has not been changed exactly, inexactly, or otherwise. The story was true at the time of the writing. The account has now been settled to the satisfaction of the vendor, who no longer wants to talk about it.

One lesson we can all learn: if working in a political campaign, all work is payable at the time it is done or you don’t hand over the results. OR you decide it is worth workign for free. NEVER leave a debt past election day.

May 28, 2009 at 3:16 pm
(6) charles lane says:

So what is your point. When will we all grow up a little bit and contest our differences along substantive issues? Why not try to act like an open minded adult? You are a smart guy, it is sad to see your talents so misused and wasted.

Biden is the friggin Vice President of your country. Get over it. What exactly is it you think you are accomplishing with this sorry purile mudslinging?

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