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Former Vice President Joe Biden likes Republicans, and he doesn't care who knows it.

Biden on Wednesday defended himself after facing criticism for delivering a speech in October praising Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), who was up for re-election in a tight race. The New York Times had reported that Biden was paid $200,000 to deliver these remarks, which were ultimately used in Upton's campaign advertising and may have helped him defeat his Democratic rival.

The former vice president weighed in on this report at the U.S. Conference of Mayors. "I read in The New York Times today that if I run for president, one of my problems will be that I like Republicans," he said. Biden then crossed himself and sarcastically begged for forgiveness, saying, "Bless me father, for I have sinned." He also defended the remarks by saying that he was praising Upton for his work in helping to fund cancer research, per The New York Post.

The former vice president, The Washington Post reports, also complained that "we've divided the country into pieces" and asked, "How can we be one America if we continue down this road?" Watch Biden's comments below. Brendan Morrow