Who Really Is Joe Biden?

CBS Evening News: A Deeper Look At What The Longtime Senator Brings To The Democratic Ticket

(CBS)  He doesn't really need an introduction. Joe Biden has been in the Senate for 35 years, CBS News anchor Katie Couric reports.

He won his first Senate seat in 1972, when he was just 29 years old.

But that early victory, came tragedy. Shortly after he was elected, his first wife and infant daughter were killed in a car crash. His two sons were badly injured.

"I felt like a piece of me had died," Biden said.

Biden took the oath of office at his sons' bedsides. And in order to care for them, began his Capitol Hill career commuting from Wilmington to Washington. It's a practice he's never stopped.

A powerful voice in Washington, Biden is the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. He voted to authorize the war in Iraq, but has since become an outspoken critic.

No stranger to presidential campaigns, Biden sought the top spot himself for the first time in 1987, but was forced to pull out following allegations of plagiarism.

"There will be other campaigns and I'll be there," he said.

He had his share of medical problems, too: surgery to repair two aneurysms.

"I joke and say those two craniotomies I had for these … aneurysms, they took the top of my head off," he said.

Outspoken and candid - he's sometimes a little too candid.

"You cannot go to a 7-11 or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent," he said recently.

Biden is a man who's been know to say what he thinks. But he's learning.

At the April 2007 MSNBC debate, moderator Brian Williams asked: "Sen. Biden, words have, in the past, gotten you in trouble. Words that were borrowed and words that some found hateful. Can you reassure voters in this country that you would have the discipline you would need on the world stage, Senator?"

"Yes," Biden said, curtly.

[maggie8912]

Why must it be a shame that he is Catholic and Pro Choice he is not the one making the decision and yet he is smart enough to know that it is a WOMAN%u2019s right to choose. I think that Catholics should be more worried about what their priests, who vow to live a sinless life, are doing to little boys, That is what is a shame and who should lose all credibility.

[kstar42]

This is to funny....Obama is about change....and Joe has been in the senate for 35 years...Think about it........

[misha128-2009]

This is to funny....Obama is about change....and Joe has been in the senate for 35 years...Think about it........

Posted by kstar42 at 08:45 PM

Yes, I have thought about it. Two men with intelligence willing to listen, explain and refine differing opinions (which they will have) into a plan more complete and more robust than either could do alone.

Sounds like the complete opposite of the dictatorial dogma of the current administration or the kneejerk recations we have seen from Senator McCain as he arbitrarily and repeatedly reduced the time period for withdrawal in a single sentence to impossibly short periods that would have endangered the US troops during the withdrawal.

[forevertru-2009]

Somebody want to tell Obama that were in America, its called freedom of speech!

%u201CHaving failed in its attempts to get our legal, factual and fully-supported ad off the air, Barack Obama%u2019s campaign now wants to put our donors in prison for exercising their right to free speech," said Ed Martin, American Issues Project%u2019s president. %u201CThese over-the-top bullying tactics are reminiscent of the kind of censorship one would see in a Stalinist dictatorship, with the only difference being that those guys generally had to wait until they were in power to throw people who disagreed with them into jail.%u201D

In addition to two letters sent to the Department of Justice asking the government to investigate American Issues Project, its officers, board of directors, and donors, the Obama campaign has been contacting stations running American Issues Project%u2019s ad in an unsuccessful attempt to compel them to pull the spot.



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Posted by jackDems at 09:07 PM :
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Doesn''t surprise me at all. Obama doesn''t understand American Values. And why would he? The males who influenced him during his formative years where of very different cultures. Democracy was only introduced to him long after these other values were instilled in him.

[misha128-2009]

Doesn''''t surprise me at all. Obama doesn''''t understand American Values. And why would he? The males who influenced him during his formative years where of very different cultures. Democracy was only introduced to him long after these other values were instilled in him.

Posted by ForeverTru at 09:47 PM

The Freedom of speech is not absolute and never has been. in general and possibly/probably not related to this case there are libel and slander laws that limit Freedom of Speech. There are also Campaign Finance Laws that happen to contain Senator McCain''s name, which are probably applicable in this case, that limit and/or control Freedom of Speech issues. This conflict is surrounded in legal issues. As such there is due process before a resolution of differences is determined. Both sides have publicly presented their versions however there may be the requirement for legal proceedings to run their course before this is resolved.

[rgartner2]

One of Joe Biden''s babies is the Violence Against Women Act. This law provides no support for men and fathers who are abused. THis law has caused a plethora of false allegations of domestic violence as well and many falsely imposed restraining orders. Read www.mediaradar.org

[rgartner2]

One of Joe Biden''s babies is the Violence Against Women Act. This law provides no support for men and fathers who are abused. THis law has caused a plethora of false allegations of domestic violence as well and many falsely imposed restraining orders. Read www.mediaradar.org

[demwatcher]

""We could be in Iraq for 100 years and that would be ok with me!"

John McCain

Posted by SHURCH4TRUTH at 10:18 PM : Aug 27, 2008"

Yeah, go after McCain with your lame little plots. That is because you KNOW that your boy Obama has NO LEADERSHIP QUALITIES that you can brag about.

[demwatcher]

"Yes, I have thought about it. Two men with intelligence willing to listen, explain and refine differing opinions (which they will have) into a plan more complete and more robust than either could do alone.

Posted by misha128 at 09:42 PM : Aug 27, 2008"

Another SUCKER reveals them self. A real Liberal lemming.

[armydog2]

Yes Biden has been in the Senate for 35 years, and he goes home to his family every night from DC. He is a family man,who as a single parent raised his two boys until he met his wife. And he still goes home every night to Delaware. His net worth is approximately 150,000.00 not the millions mccain is worth. So now you tell me who is in touch with middle class America.Biden has Foreign Relations experience out the wazoo, he is the Chairman of the Senate committee. He is on the Senate Judicial Committee. He is the perfect choice to advise obama, since he definitely has experience.mccain is the same old same old, and i do admire and respect his service to our country but that does not qualify him to be president, like Hillary said he is not a Maverick anymore he is bush''s sidekick.

[n0morerepubl]

I am g@y and proud of it!

Posted by BagdadsHere2


MAYBE YOU SHOULDN''T TELL EVERYONE YOUR G@Y - YOU SHOULD USE THE WORD REPUBLICAN

[shameonbush]

You know, there is nothing wrong with joking about Indians and 7-11''s, I know many people from India and they too find this humourous. Isn''t it just like our media to once again, try and form the candidate. CBS writes, "At the April 2007 MSNBC debate, moderator Brian Williams asked: "Sen. Biden, words have, in the past, gotten you in trouble. Words that were borrowed and words that some found hateful. Can you reassure voters in this country that you would have the discipline you would need on the world stage, Senator?"

WHO IN THE WORLD DOES BRIAN WILLIAMS THINK HE IS? What does he mean can he "discipline" himself? Who, besides Brian Williams WANTS BIDEN TO FEEL "DISCIPLINED." If you want a Stepford Wife, than vote for a Republican. Biden doesn''t play that game, THANK GOD.

[shameonbush]

We finally get a candidate that has testicles and Brian Williams wants to tame him down, wants him to be "disciplined." I''m so sick of this countries government run as if it were a corporation. Mr. Biden is not a CEO that should fear stockholders, Mr. Biden is running for the Vice Presidency of the United States, HE NEEDS TO HAVE TESTICLES not articulation. WE NEED BIDEN to tell it like it is, and that is the way EVERY politician should feel free to do. Do not try and hinder it all ye intervierers on the air, Brian Williams should feel ashamed to insinuate in any way that Mr. Biden needs to be more "disciplined." I think Williams owes Biden an apology.