Biden, too, expressed gratitude by telling Specter that deep down inside, the veteran Republican is really a Democrat.

It was supposed to be a meeting, not a roast. But at the inaugural session of Joe Biden's Middle Class Task Force ...

... in Philadelphia Friday, one guest was in for some rough treatment: Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter.

The moderate Republican – one of three who voted for the stimulus package – found himself the target of good-natured cracks from Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and no lesser personage than the Vice President.