At the conclusion of Vice President Joe Biden's middle class task force meeting this afternoon at the University of Pennsylvania, bigwigs filed into small reception hosted by Penn President Amy Gutman and Mayor Michael Nutter to thank Sen. Arlen Specter for supporting the federal stimulus package.
"Arlen you deserve all the credit in the world, this wouldn't have happened without you," said an emotional Vice President Joe Biden. Nutter, Governor Rendell, Sen. Casey and Gutman joined in the chorus of praise.
When Specter took the stage he joked: "These comments sound to me like a eulogy. More appropriate for another day. I'm glad to be here under these circumstances."
Rendell also took the opportunity to tease Nutter, noting that the event provided almost no drinks or food.
"It's not Penn, this is the mayor's reception," Rendell said. "By providing no food, he's driving home the point that the city has no money."