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

[inthecolour]

cool read.

loved the bit about biden being impressed with obama's leadership skills. A+

[jacqmac]

I think that every thinking and feeling MOTHER in this country who was watching that moment knew EXACTLY what he was feeling. Especially after the explanation. Here's the kid whose bed you stood by, who you AGONIZED over,the kid who you treasured so much that you nearly DIDN'T get sworn in as a Senator because of his suffering. Here's this VERY SAME KID going off INTO HARM'S WAY-to a part of Iraq where IED's are nearly a 'cash crop'. And there isn't anything you can DO to keep him any safer than than he was way back then. Gosh! If there was a SPONTANEOUS BONE in that woman's BODY-she could have at least responded with something that SOUNDED like she understood HIS pain! Even a 30 second period of SILENCE from her end of the stage would have been some kind of acknowledgement!!

[janfin]

Jac, excellent post. My husband died 11 yrs ago and I still get teary-eyed at unexpected, unanticipated moments. I can only imagine what it's like to lost a CHILD, and at the same time fear for your two other childrens' lives, back when the accident happened, and now for his son Beau. I've watched that clip of Joe choking up many times and each time I cry for him. He is the real deal. And that sorry excuse for a VP candidate is a cold-hearted phony.

[SecondBase]

Great article on James Baldwin & Barack Obama, by Colm Toibin in the New York Review of Books...

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/21930

[GwenElle]

Great read. Definitely a keeper. Thanks!

[concernedforeigner]

Thanks for the link - fascinating and enlightening analysis

[JenMI]

Biden did a superb job articulating Obama positions, showing command of issues and facts and he did it with both hands tied behind his back by a media intent on demanding he and this country dumb down for Ms.Palin.

[IhaveaDREAMwhitegirl]

Chicago, Indiana, Wisconson, OhIO,... Peeps, please ck your voter/status Re: www,votersUnite.org

[chitown8]

BTW SNL nailed it tonight!

Quenn played the part.

[IhaveaDREAMwhitegirl]

Vote.

Obama/Biden

[munki]

I feel... he understands hard working Americans...
Not a quick rick scheme - failing institutions and sending tab to taxpayers...

I am glad I finally got a chance to listen to Joe... Thank you.

[NU81]

I've always had a really "good feel," really good intuition of people, and I can tell you that Joe Biden absolutely had NO plans to mention his early days as a single parent or his wife and daughter's tragic death. I could feel it build up inside him as he heard Palin tell her "sob story" of being a busy Mom. I was SO glad he set her straight. He OWNED her. My heart absolutely went out to him, but then again I've always admired him. I felt he held himself togther very well, given what he was discussing. Love ya Joe!

Obama-Biden 2008

[gladys46]

Sen. Obama & Sen Biden both married up ... they both said so!! I've seen many political prostitutes before .... as well as pollys wanting more crackers ... McCain's involvements of women is well documented ... not much is very up!!

[mrkallman]

How demeaning for Joe Biden to have to debate this dimwit! The "can I call you Joe?" thing at the entrance was merely asked so that she could use the "say it isn't so Joe" line later in the evening. What a phoney! Her lines were rehearsed and when the questions didn't match what she had rehearsed she plowed ahead with the script. That wasn't a debate! It was an audition for summer stock! give me a break and vote Obama/Biden '08!

[smark]

Yup, yup. Exactly!!

[Mabila]

I admire Joe more since the debate. You have to be very humble to master what Joe put up with that night!!

[bubbainca]

Katie Couric should ask in her next Palin interview....

1. Governor, could you please explain the phrase "be-all and end-all"
2. Governor, could you please explain what "Achilles Heel" means
3. Governor, what was the name of that Commanding General again?
4. Governor, could you please use "also" in a sentence.

... and then we can all forget about this economic mess for one more day.

[Guynemer]

Five deferments.

[chitown8]

Your point?

[Guynemer]

I just find it ironic. Cheney had five deferments from military service in Vietnam and Biden had five deferments from military service in Vietnam. I've heard Cheney criticized numerous (read thousands of) times for these deferments, but I've never heard anyone ever criticize Biden. I just find it ironic.

[chillingaz]

Exactly, what is your point Beaver Cleaver?

[Guynemer]

My point was deleted. I guess we can't talk about the Biden/Cheney cosmic connection here.

[CindyInNC]

What a moving moment. It was the first time I actually cried during a political debate. And it was not contrived.

Biden and Obama.; two incredible family men that I want to see in the WH in 2009.

[lily31]

Senator Biden ~ thank you for telling us about your moment of pain there on the stage during the debate. I have always loved and admired you and ALWAYS ALWAYS watched you when you came on MTP. You are who you are and that's a wonderful, bright, articulate gentleman and funny to boot.,

You did a great job being very presidential during the debate and the contrast couldn't have been more stark. You made all the debate watch group I was with up here in Maine so happy! We'll be even happier when we see you on the capitol steps in January with Barack Obama.

Thanks also for the "4 questions" story and I know he didn't have to read the haltingly off a piece of paper his staff gave him.

God love ya' Joe and protect your dear son!

[Dangersea27]

At the end of the debate, when both candidates families joined them on stage, Sen. Biden took the initiative to go to Gov. Palin. He shook her hand and gently held her elbow, and said some words that to me, were in the nature of fatherly advice.
I'd love to know what those words were.