Biden Explains Debate Moment Where He Choked Up

Newsweek catches up with Joe Biden and talks to him about the moment during Thursday's debate when he choked up with emotion:

About that catch in his throat: in the moment, he "could picture Beau in the bed" after the 1972 car accident that killed Biden's first wife, Neilia, and their baby girl and critically injured his young sons. Now Beau, the 39-year-old attorney general of Delaware, was off to war, a judge advocate general traveling to obscure regions of Iraq, where the road isn't exactly the safest place to be. The memory of being a single parent mixed with worries about Beau to create "a lot of bundled emotions. It surprised me. I was hoping nobody noticed." Only 70 million or so did.

Here's the video. More from the Newsweek piece below:

Biden, who had stayed neutral in the Democratic primaries after dropping out in January, told Obama that he was "ready to be second fiddle" and sought no specific portfolio--but only if he got a guaranteed hourlong, one-on-one session with the president every week (like Al Gore's lunches with Bill Clinton, and George H.W. Bush's with Ronald Reagan) and a presence at all important meetings. Obama said yes, that he wanted him for his judgment and for his help in enacting a big legislative agenda. And so the job was defined: "My role will be to say, 'Boss, here's the way I'd go about it'."

Biden says Obama reminds him of Bill Clinton in his "confidence, cognitive ability, judgment" and intellectual security--that he can listen and absorb advice without having to prove he's the smartest person in the room, a critical leadership skill. He says he experienced an "epiphany" during a recent conference call on the bailout bill with Bob Rubin, Paul Volcker, Warren Buffett, Paul O'Neill, Joseph Stiglitz, Larry Summers and Laura Tyson. "He [Obama] comes on the call and says, 'Well, folks, sorry I'm late. I've got four questions.' He was in total frigging command! Here's a 47-year-old guy in one of the most complicated economic dilemmas anyone has had to face since 1929 to '33. And it was like, 'Bang! Bang! Bang!' I called him afterward and said, 'You sold me, sucker!' "

Comments

[BlueBoomer]

I have been a Joe Biden fan since the first time I heard him speak... I still proudly have my BIDEN for President bumper sticker on my car (right above my Obama sticker)..­. And I'd still rather have Joe running for POTUS, but if this is the closest we can get, having him at Obama's right arm, then that's OK too.

I only wish more of you who have so generously shared your compliments here had known to support his POTUS campaign..­.Things might not be so inexplicably close now.

As always, I'm sidin' with BIDEN.

Obama/BIDEN '08 - '16

[Lazyeye]

I live in FLORIDA. And we are so scared of the republican machine stealing this election.
Joe Biden had good reason to be choked up, the thought of his loss, his son going to Iraq, his mother inlaw ver ill, so he worries about his kids missing their grandma, and his wife missing her mom, and everything, combined. Sarah Palin is a ..a clown. (all I could think of..)

[RJII]

your republicans are bold. Alot of people are worried.

[TakLoufer]

CNN is reporting that Biden's mother-in-law has passed away. Her illness was surely also on his mind Wednesday night. Condolences to his family.

[kinnycut]

I believe Biden genuinely respects Obama, and Obama not only respects Biden, but trusts him and any advice he may have to share. This kind of mutual trust and respect is the hallmark of a good team in Washington, or anywhere. It is no wonder why Obama chose Joe Biden. Together they will make history in many ways, but especially through accomplishment.

[neoconscums]

You know who Sarah Palin reminds me of? That nutty mother in the movie "Carrie"!

[MDHutchinson]

Agreed, though at least the mother in the film wasn't horrible enough to name her daughter Bristol.

[jcahill]

the hookers in fargo too

go on you tube and search fargo hookers-the clip is up there and it's too funny for words

[Topfeeder]

The actress's name is PIPER Laurie. A coincidence?

[Fingerbo]

If only Bristol could do to Sarah what Carrie did to her mom.

[fnygy]

Obama's choice of Biden told me just how serious he is about actually governing. Biden knows the senate - as well as any senator living. He understands the legislative process - which is where the rubber meets the road in governance - so clearly Obama understands it's not all about rhetoric. Obama seems to understand that he's going to have to work quickly once elected - and Biden was the PERFECT choice in that respect.

GOBAMA!!!

[MDHutchinson]

Not ashamed to admit it brought tears to my eyes...and the fact that Palin didn't seem to either respond or acknowledge the display of emotion created an odd dissonance between the two candidates. It seems that anybody with an ounce of emotional intelligence would be thinking, "you know, that was a really moving, powerful moment...m­aybe I should let a second pass, take a breath, exchange a sympathetic nod or smile and possibly tone down my perky 'gee shucks' exuberance a bit in my answer."
I don't know about anybody else, but there was something unnatural about the way she just launched into her response that just didn't sit right with me. Maybe I'm way off base, but I can't shake the sense that there's some sort of personality disorder going on there. Then again, a lot of strongly religious people give me that impression, so that's one possible explanation, but I'll check out the DSM IV for more.

[CocoGrrrl]

MDHutchins­on...well said. I think Sarah's problem was that Joe's moment of emotion was not in the script and its possibility had not even been discussed. Sarah is incapable of original thought and can only function via teleprompter, note cards, or rote memorization (and we have seen her failings in that). She was gifted a huge opportunity to show she has a heart but, alas, her inability to take advantage of that and show one iota of human empathy confirms to me that she has no heart.

As for your comment about her having a personality disorder, I totally agree. I think she has a huge dose of narcissistic PD with a bit of sociopathic PD thrown in. I think she is one sick puppy and the thought of her one heartbeat away chills me to the bone.

[MDHutchinson]

You may be right about narcissistic personality disorder (admittedly I have no formal education in abnormal psych and only took an interest in it after graduating from college, but the symptoms seem to fit.)
I think it's pretty obvious that given her personal tanning bed, she likely suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder, as does about 10% of the Alaskan population. That alone isn't frightening, but the link between SAD and Unipolar, Bipolar and Manic-Depressive Disorders has been well established, though, given her secrecy, it's probably reaching to try to infer too much from so little a record. However, the fact that she went to 5 colleges in 6 years does seem to definitely suggest something ain't right.

[Myshkin57]

I didn't even think she needed to specifically acknowledge it, but she should not have put on that huge grin afterward. That was despicable. The man had a real tragedy in his life that thankfully most of us have not had to experience. She could have at least toned down that idi otic smile just a bit.

[Wendie33]

that grin made me sick.

[nobozos]

MD...I felt exactly the same....it was weird and disconcerting, like when an opposing player is lying on the field with a broken leg, and the cheerleader shakes her pompoms and starts the hometeam cheer.

[jmpfjoy]

If I ever had any doubts about Obama, they were erased when he chose Joe Biden for VP. Joe is rock solid and as much a patriot as anyone I know. He has great integrity and character, and I feel comfortable in this uncertain time knowing that our future will be in their hands.

Obama could have assured himself the election by choosing Hillary, it would have been no contest. Instead, he chose the man that he knew had the knowledge and temperament to balance the ticket.
Hillary is great, but I think she would have a hard time playing second fiddle to Obama. Hopefully, she'll run again.

The fact that Obama made the VP choice he did is the measure of the man.

[Debanne]

Real men cry; they don't whine like some. Biden has shown his human side. Palin has a way of mocking the average woman. I have no respect for her .

[odoreida]

He's still milking it, I see. Too bad.

[Icantbelieveher]

Oh say it ain't so, Joe!!! Doggone it! (How annoying is she?)

Who's milking anything? Seems to me that all of these negative attack ads are a way of milking something that's already been addressed and dismissed! We can always bring back the Keating-5. Or better yet, how about we discuss who McVain is associated with NOW!!!

[shepbob]

Odor-Eida:

That is quite an odor emanating from your post. One thing I have noted this year again, that many on the right seem to be such hateful people.

I am sorry that your life is so bad that you have no compassion left for others.

Joe Biden is emotionally stable, but he still chokes up after all of the time that has passed. That is a normal human emotion. Contrast that with the attitudes of people like Barbara Bush in the wake of Katrina.

Again, I am sorry that you have been robbed of the human capacity to care for others. It is one of the best parts of life.

[UtahLady]

Milking the fact that he's a real person? Good for Joe. That makes him infinitely better than the plastic Barbie doll who was at the other podium.

[hypnotoad72]

Everyone is a real person.

[sharonh]

When somebody you love passes and you have a hard time getting over it, remember your crack about "milking it" You will be ashamed.

[wendy82551]

"Milking it?" You mean, like "noun-verb-POW" McCain?

[beden7068]

This is the first campaign that has even inspired me. I have also voted but because I felt it my duty. This year, I want to vote. I've knocked on doors, registered voters, and donated to a campaign. Obama and Biden are the reasons for my change in attitude towards an election. They are real people with wonderful family values. They truly love this country and want to make it better for all of us. The pure honest emotion Biden showed during the debate and the Obamas fist bump are just a few examples of how much they really are like the rest of us or what we aspire to be.

[Icantbelieveher]

I have donated to any campaign but I've donated this year. We really couldn't afford it, but the way we saw it, we couldn't afford not to!

[grantlingel]

Don't worry if we all noticed... it was a beautiful moment.
http://grantlingel.blogspot.com

[Truth4Voters]

It's true Joe. That moment demonstrated grace under the most difficult of circumstances and compassion. I am even MORE thrilled about voting for the Obama/Biden ticket now. If anything, this ticket has much more in common with "Joe Six-pack" than the Wealthy-Mi­litary-Bra­t-Madison Ave living-mul­ti-million­aire heading the other ticket.

[Icantbelieveher]

Again, that's what they keep telling America!!! They say one thing and live another! I'm so tired of this change is coming crap -- but they can't tell you what kind of change!! They think helping middle America is redistribution of wealth!! They've been redistributing the wealth for the last 8 years to the top 5%. Too bad when middle America doesn't have the $$$ to buy big business' crap, they start hurting and want Middle America to bail them out!

[ibivi]

Mr Biden, you don't have to explain. I was very moved. I hope that you and Mr Obama are successful. It will be a glad day.

[IhaveaDREAMwhitegirl]

Senator Biden is a MAN.

Make sure you are registered to vote .

(please go to www.votersunite.org) to see if you are really registered.

RobertKenn­edyJrArtic­le @ www.Opednews.com Sept 23, 2008.

[MikeG2008]

That one clearly genuine, human moment connected with THIS american voter, in a way that Palin's rehearsed, canned "folksiness" could never hope to. Joe Biden is a guy that most of us can relate to, who we recognize as a man not unlike our uncles, fathers, brothers; ourselves. We sense he has shouldered the burden of tragedy, as well as day-to-day hardship, with grit, courage, and a strong code of responsibility to his family, his community and his country, and we instinctively recognize him as one of us.

Barack Obama made an inspired, and ultimately deeply responsible decision when he chose Joe Biden as his running mate, and I'm proud of him for that,.

[JustLynn]

And Joe...I liked you before, I like you even more now...NEVE­R be ashamed because you showed us you were human...I would take your human over HER folksie c r a p ANY DAY....Goo­d luck Mr Vice President.­...