Oink.

Joe Biden talks and people listen.

WASHINGTON – Joe Biden said Thursday he advised his family to stay off airplanes and subways because of the swine flu, a remark that forced the vice president's office to backtrack, the travel industry to cry foul and other government officials to try to massage Biden's message.
"I would tell members of my family — and I have — that I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now," Biden said on NBC's "Today" show. Within two hours, Biden's office issued a statement backing off the remarks and suggesting he was talking about travel to Mexico.

Right. The subway is a great way to get to Mexico. Paso subterráneo. Cincuenta centavos, por favor.

It would be nice, once in a while, when one of these people says something and gets called on it, that he backed up what he said instead of backing off. Try this: “That’s right, I said it, and if you didn’t hear it the first time, I’ll say it again.”

Backpedaling and adjusting your stance because someone challenged you is weak. A spokesman for American Airlines accused the Vice President of “fear mongering.” Maybe there’s enough fear mongering to go around, since the Swine Flu pandemic is front page news and the lead story on every TV newscast – just in time for May sweeps.

Oh, that's right - we're not calling it Swine Flu anymore. Now, it's the numbered version: 2009 H1N1. But, if it looks like a pig and smells like a pig...