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

[maribelle1963]

My son is also in Iraq--the emotions that hit you at odd moments can take you by surprise. The immediate deployment time is especially volatile, and Beau was to deploy the next day.

I completely believe Sen Biden was startled by starting to choke up at the debate--and I noticed how he focused in tight attention on Gwen Ifill to ground himself, to bring himself back.

This reminds me of one the *very best moments* of the convention; when Beau mentioned the day that "we--me, my brother and my dad--married my mom, Jill." I cried so hard at that.

God bless single parents and blended families, too often maligned and sidelined in our "family values" culture.

Safe passage to Beau, to Track, to all our sons and daughters.

[Freesia2]

Maribelle, "we--me, my brother and my dad--married my mom, Jill" turned me into a fountain. The look on Jill's face when he said it. She certainly did make a success of the blended family. Now that is a woman that all women can admire.

And all the best to your son. Having him away must be hard.

[Speakupper]

Amen to that.

[debwarot]

Thanks for your post. May your son return to your safely and soon.

[JNail]

Thank you to your son for his service to us all. And we all pray for his and all of our team over there to return safely.

My son is 8 and I hope he serves someday, but not in the same wars we are in now...

God bless..

[Freesia2]

I love Joe. He's so comfortable in his own skin. Just like Obama, only with a different style. They compliment each other.

And I don't think anbody (with a heart) had a problem with Joe choking up for a moment. (Not even Palin - who totally ignored it.) It shows he has an awareness of suffering.

I know a few years ago, that he got another phone call. Jill had been in an accident - a tractor trailer. Just like Nelia. He must have felt like he was caught in a nightmare, getting a call about the same thing twice in a lifetime. Only this time the ending was happier. I was so glad for him.

Did I mention I really love Joe?

[CTtransplant]

You know, I think you just nailed it! Why people love Obama AND Biden! They are both comfortable in their own skin - they are both REAL...something that is severely lacking in McCain/Palin!

I love Joe, too! I never even heard of him before the primaries, and only started to get to know him when he was chosen as Obama's running mate - and, in all honesty, I don't think Obama could have made a better choice! Thank you, Obama!!!!

[GiannaX]

Spot on!

[notthistime]

Freesia2 -- so do I. I love Joe Biden. He is a good man.

[debwarot]

Every day, in every way I honestly grow to care more for both Biden and Obama as I learn more about them. To strong smart, genuinely likable family men. God bless them both!

[chitown8]

Everytime I see that moment in the debate that was when I realized that Obama picked the right person. That moment I swear gets me everytime!

[Kindheart]

And the fact that Sarah couldn't stop her canned responses and respond to that emotion, speaks volumes for who she is as a human being.

[MaybeMilo]

She was probably kicking herself for not going there first.

[chitown8]

Maybe?

Maybe not?


She what she had to do for her base. I don't think she moved the undecided.

[labman57]

Her problem is that she's an ice queen. She would have to fake it, and she's not that good of an actress.

Her main concern regarding her kids is how to maximize the political gain from their exposure while minimizing the political damage from their mistakes.

[Taliese]

Human being? I thought she was McCain Beauty Queen/Mindless Trophy Campaign Sidekick model #39501. What? Are you saying she's not an android? I mean, the signs were all there during the debate given her robotic recitation of fake facts and canned responses....

[LynndaMaree]

She doesn't even show emotion towards her children, you know she could care less about Senator Bidens emotions. She's just our for self.

[faithfully]

She doesn't seem real at all; not a warm bone in her body. No apparent maternal instinct.

[anopenmind]

I love it ' He (Obama) was in total frigging command" - no games just to the point and ready to get things done!!!

And having "Warren Buffett" along with Bob Rubin, Paul Volcker, Paul O'Neill, Joseph Stiglitz, Larry Summers and Laura Tyson. on the team doesn't hurt one bit!!

[obamanation31]

That paints a powefull picture.

[philistine]

I'd like to hear that the butcher, baker and candlestick maker attended that meeting, too. Still, I'm glad he's decisive without being The Decider. We've had enough Decidering to last us for a century.

[faithfully]

Remember when Hillary said she didn't need economists?

[pupbayer]

I have no problem with it. I think it was sincere and not contrived. What he went through is something no normal person would ever get over or forget. My only problem is if it were HRC or P alin, they would be barbequed. That's not Joe's fault. That's just America today.

[chitown8]

Agreed by the problem with Palin is that she seems to be more of Mccain new bunny that VP.

All she says is Maverick and Bless me to be VP.

Fine but invoking a bubbly personality is not what this country needs from their leaders.

[theone718]

That's because it was genuine. You can really FEEL his hurt then, there is NOONE that could watch that vid and think he was acting. Palin..........yea right.

[IndependentTogether]

I think that's overgeneralizing. As I always say, *context* is key. A male politician can see his political career hopes sink if he is seen as weak. Normally, crying or even "choking up" can be viewed as the ultimate expression of weakness, but the reasons that drive the display of emotion do matter.

In HRC's case, she says that she was concerned for the nation. When you're running for POTUS, it is unacceptable to just cry "generically" over the problems we face. Also, she left the implication that she she thought that only *she* could help the nation, but she was losing to Obama... someone she thought (again by implication) could not help the nation. In essence, this appeared to be a very selfish and contrived emotional display.

In Joe Biden's case, memories of the tragedy that befell his family and the ensuing feeling of helplessness as his child fought for his life proved difficult to contain. His emotional display was clearly genuine and unselfish. It was palpable. I damn near cried, and I find it difficult to even view the videos that have been posted. I'm sure others feel the same way.

So, these situations are not simply apples and oranges; they couldn't be any further apart.

[jubei]

forget blowhards like Lou Dobbs and Pat Buchanan,Obama is a genius hands down whenever u got people like the richest man in the world Warren Buffett and bush former treasury sec paul o neil and paul volcker former chairman of the fed reserve workin 4 u u is a beast,Barack put me in the mind of King Solomon bkuz of his wisdom and his intelligence!!!

[SOFOROBAMA]

I think it's great. I've been married for 34 years and still there are times that I look at my husband as if seeing him for the first time and think "God, I'm glad I'm here." That's what this Biden comment said to me. Even though he obviously was on-board two months ago, he still has the ability to be amazed by the man he's sharing the ticket with. Let hope he can have these epiphanies over and over again for the next eight years.

[firewmn]

**
I LOVE the fact we will have REAL Human Beings with caring emotions in the Whitehouse..!!

Obama/...."O'Biden"..... 2008, 2012
***

[Speakchic]

Yes! Not props with fact agendas and lies trying to divide us and highlight out differences. I think these two will make a perfect team. Biden had the debate of his life because he has finally after all of these years and attempts found someone who could help guide his vision and mold his aspirations into success. The O-campaign will go down in history as the best that ever did it. And Biden believes in Obama, they are going to w ork together because they're not the same, they bothhave very different upbringings and see things differently. While Palin and McCain are claiming that they have so much in common I think the authenticity of Obama/Biden is their differences. You get all perspectives and visions.

McCain/Palin are frauds! Obama/Biden are true winners!

[notthistime]

Adding one more . . .
Obama/Biden/We the people because Obama wants us to stay involved and is providing the tools to make that happen.

[LAR1969]

Compassion and decency in the WH? I will weep tears of joy, literally.

[caywen]

We have a great man running for President, and a great man who has got his back.

Should the unthinkable occur, we would still have a great leader.

[MissT]

So true.

[ladyv]

It's an embarrassment of riches, really.

[FiveFortyOne]

It's like the universe is making up for the last eight years.

[Beowolf741]

I got it Joe Biden. In that sentence and that choke-up showed you were human which is more than I can say for Ms. Palin and her scripted answers and slightly less convention snarky answers. She might make a great PR person but she is not presidential material.

[bygollymissmolly]

Joe Biden was totally real in his debate and I have to admit I got choked up when he did because I knew what he was referring to. Sarah Barracuda, on the other hand, is 100% phony bologna. I found it totally demeaning to women when she blew a kiss to the crowd, winked and made flirty faces. What an horrible example she is to young women who want to become politicians.

[LiberTLover]

It sorta makes you wonder how she got to the positions she did.

[LAR1969]

Probably started with the missionary position.

[warsaw]

Can you imagine someone like Hillary, or Margaret Thatcher or Benazir Bhutto winking and blowing kisses? If your running for serious office than act the part.

[Smirk]

Or Jeane Kirkpatrick, Condi Rice, Madeleine Albright, Angela Merkel, or Indira Gandhi?

[suzycolorado]

OBAMA POST-DEBATE DONATION SURGE (HumeSkeptic's genius idea:)

Many Obama Supporters are joining together to send a message to the world. We intend to donate en masse after the debate in large enough numbers that it will reach the radar of the MSM.

We need YOUR help. Please participate and pass the word.

YES WE CAN!

[RobinL]

HAPPILY!!

[dutchess2]

YESSSSSS!

[Dane1911]

Wow what a great man we have running for President.....

[d00derman]

.....and Vice President