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

[rosal]

Any mother, or father, easily responds to another human being and parent's pain. That showed us all the thru Palin, so much for the "mom" that "identifies" with mothers and fathers everywhere. Such hypocrisy! Its all about money and power, as always.

[smark]

So true. It sure had an effect on me. It pains me to see others in pain.

As for the Moose Queen, it was not in her script that she was studying for 5 weeks, so she could not respond to it. All she did was stand up there and recite the memorized talking points. Could not answer a single question on the fly. Hence the vast difference in the Couric and Gibson interviews and the debate. She needs to realize we are not as stupid as she thinks or expects us to be.

[bastalready]

That was the single most human moment in all of the debate...powerful and simple.

[IhaveaDREAMwhitegirl]

Senator Biden , we the public respect you and your family.

Mccant/Pain are an abomination to family values. Wrong on every level. Ambition is their game.

Voters please ck your voter/status.. at www.votersunite.org

[Voting Must Happen]

Oct 4 Polling Update
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=89&ArticleName=Poll+Update

Bridging the Partisan Divide of Election Projections
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=88&ArticleName=Bridging+the+Partisan+Divide

Checkout my piece on Youth Voter Registration. For every 100 registered voters aged 18-24, the democrats accrue a 9 vote advantage.
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=85&ArticleName=Youth+Vote%3a+The+Power+of+Registration

VP Debate Live Analysis
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=86&ArticleName=VP+Debate%3a+Live+Analysis

Obama 355, McCain 183
http://voteforamerica.net/electoral.aspx

Will McCain Re-suspend his Campaign?
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=80&ArticleName=Will+McCain+Re-suspend+his+Campaign%3f

[raul415]

I thought it was one of the few spontaneous moments in that thing and it really throw Gov Palin off for a sec, she didn't even acknowledge what had just happened.

It is just another thing in this amazing, crazy race. Just think years ago a guy gettin choked up would have disqualified him for office.

As for the Hillary moment. Much of the analysis was mean spirited BUT it was a self inflicted wound. By the time Hillary's moment happened she had built up so much distrust among so many people, myself included, that even a true glimpse of humanity was judged to be a fake.

Funny, I think if it had been Palin choking up the story line might have been be a little different as well.

[MargaretO]

I choked up when he choked up.

I immediately knew what he was thinking.

Joe is a good man.

[JFaye]

Senator Biden gave a brilliant presentation during his portion of the debate. He articulated his thoughts clearly, intelligently and with determined focus. He was gracious and very gentlemanly toward his opponent and the moderator as well he played by the rules. There were numerous incidences where he could have corrected his opponent and wisely did not other than bringing much needed clarity to some of her spoken untruths about both Senators Obama and McCain.

In his defense (not that he requires any) of publicly recalling what it is to sit at the bedside of an ailing child, not knowing if he will live or die, that moment filled my heart with such empathy. Perhaps because I’ve experience his anguish: The qualms of no discernible pain as you wait to see where life will take you and your child or children, respectively. God bless you Mr. Biden as your courage and commitment to family and country is estimable.

Mr. Biden reinforced unequivocally the sound judgments of our next president in choosing him as his running mate. These two are an imposing pair and will restore nobility to the office of the President both home and around the globe.

If I can call you Joe, Senator, I'd say, "Joe, you did good!"

[janfin]

jfaye, all I can say is you said everything eloquently and I totally agree! Thank you!

[nirak]

Biden choking up shows he has a heart.
I can so understand his emotion.

[IhaveaDREAMwhitegirl]

parvo63 is a paid tr0ll or tucker bound. do not respond.

[parvo63]

When one resorts to tears to win the political debate, it only shows that one is very desperate.

[KarateKid]

Your side is shedding a lot of tears, with so much more to come. Drink a lot of water, fella.

[Dangersea27]

Try watching again.
You are obviously so brainwashed by the McCain/Palin BS train, not to mention the past 8 years of rethuglican "defining reality" (their words, not mine) that you don't even know reality when it's right in front of you.
How sorry I am for you and your limited intellect. But not as sorry as I'll be for this BELOVED country of mine if you and your tethered goat maverick friends steal this election and put a sickly, misogynist, corrupt, corporate suck-up and a barely-educated, crazed, religious right wingnut who should hardly be in charge of the PTA in the whitehouse.
You're going to feel the pain of McCain when the roads aren't worth driving on, when creation is taught in science class, when abstinence-only is taught instead of medically-based health education, when the polar ice caps have completely melted and changed our climate beyond survival, when social security is privatized to Wall Street, when you can't afford health insurance, when the price of a gallon of gas is $5 or more, when the richest 1% become even richer, when all jobs are outsourced to other countries, when this god-awful, immoral war drags on and on and on...not to mention the wars McCain/Palin want to START in other countries, to the benefit of the military-industrial complex....
Gives me cold chills. Hey, maybe we can warm ourselves by the fire of a nice book-burning!

[charlygardel]

First of all, Biden didn't actually cry; he got choked up and regained his composure in an instant.

Second, if that was in any way shape or form calculated, then Joe Biden should be in Hollywood and not Washington. No actor could have pulled that off if it were scripted, and certainly nobody who is actually no actor at all.

Is it really so hard to believe that losing your wife and daughter and nearly losing your two sons might actually leave an emotional imprint?

I've nearly lost my wife twice. Trust me, it leaves a mark.

[meede]

How could you understand -- you have the personality of a Tin Man without a heart.
Now go return to your Leader, the Scarecrow with no brain.

[janfin]

meede, that was great!!

[lemonyashes]

And "schmidt the cowardly" I'd say Lion but that woulod be an insult to lions everywhere.

[smark]

Anyone can go up there with memorized talking points like your candidate did! It was obvious that she was clueless as to what she was reciting. And the copious note cards she kept flipping through!! The American people are not as stupid as she is!!

[Gizmo1125]

Biden's choked up moment only reminded me of when Hillary got choked up in the primaries. He is praised for it and she was cruxified for it. Go figure.

[classc 1]

Oh Please...Hillary's was cold and calculated...and over her "not wanting to see the country go backwards." Yeah...I for one DID NOT forget the "coding" in her words. As for Biden, he choked up over the loss of a wife and child and as someone whom didn't know whether his other children were going to live and die. Not to mention..his son was being deployed to Iraq within days.

Sorry...if you can't tell the difference between these two situations, then you are delusional.

[GeoLee]

Grow up...you sound like someone who would love Palin. Both were very real situations.

[nirak]

Sen. Biden had a very good reason to choke up.
I am so happy that he found his now wife and they seem to be happy

[Mort]

Hillary's was taken as an act because she has a history of being stone faced. Detatched. Joe is a passionate man. I've seen him get emotional before. For him, it's not so remote as to be a surprize.

[IhaveaDREAMwhitegirl]

Senator Biden, no explanation needed. We love that you loved your family. You are a shining example of real family-values and GRIT.

We love you and your family for the way you live and love. (Your Wife is a lovely woman. I am happy for the both of you!)

BTW, You were very Presidential during your debate. (Palin came off as a beauty-queen-speaking-to- the Choir, WINK. WINK-gross)

[Gizmo1125]

There is so much corruption going on in the government and congress that nothing is going to change until we get rid of the corruption. Democrats in congress is largely responsible for this bailout. They wanted to get everybody a house that they could not afford while they filled their pocket linings with money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Senator Dodd took the most money from these 2 corrupt organizations and Obama was second in line with the help of the corrupt ACORN organization who they tried to sneak into the bailout bill so they could get 20% so they can commit more corruption. And if they do a full investigation of the democratic party, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and ACORN I can guarentee you that Tony Rezko is somewhere slap dab in the middle of all this mess since he has had connections and ties with at least 2/3 of the democratic leaders since the 1980's. But hey go ahead and vote for more corruption vote for more of the same old BS, because this country as we knew it ended the day that the President signed the 800 BILLION dollar bailout bill. Blackmail, fear tactics, hysteria, manipulation, then there was the sugar coating, how it was all for our own good, change the name from bailout to rescue. The bottom line is it was a BAILOUT so corruption and greed can continue to live and breath. We were manipulated. We were screwed.

[oceanbreeze]

It seems you are angry, as we all ought to be. But it is not that clear cut to point to one or two people at fault for this.

I think you ought to find out what credit default swaps are, and what part they play in this entire mess. There is an NPR show called "this american life" and they have an darn good explanation in layman's terms for the role these instruments played in this mess.

If you want my two cents, it doesn't matter if you vote for a republican, or dem in congress. In the end, these really big companies donate to both of them at the same time. They don't have an ideology like voters do. They just care about political influence, and they buy them off. Meanwhile, we continue to reelect them for decades.

[JFaye]

It seems you and Ms. Palin are reading the same periodicals or resources for your mis-information.

[KarateKid]

The only statement you made that makes sense is your last sentence, but from a different perspective.

[acklebee]

I think he was extremely respectful of Palin and that they got along, he was a sweetheart and she is so out of her league but he almost championed her, now that is a choice to go with such a noble man.

[DefeatedAnOfficer]

I agree. Joe Biden showed a tremendous amount of class in the way he dealt with obviously-out-of-her-league Palin. He could have humiliated her, but he respected her as an opponent. That tremendous strength and grace of character is what separates a statesman from a politician. He was magnificent.

[peopleperson]

First of all I am NOT any spokesman for the family AT ALL, I am just a friend that wants to thank so many of you for the amazing things that you said and share with you my thoughts...
I have met Joe a number of times. I actually know Ashley very well and consider her a good friend. Something I am very proud of. As her friend in support of her dad, the man, not the VP candidate, I ask you to think about something…
Think about how proud you must be to be standing at a podium debating to be the Vice President of the United States, something that deep down you know that your blessed late wife knew you could be. Think about feeling that she and your baby girl are looking down at that moment, proud, when this part of your life is being examined. Think about the enormity of that moment and tell me that you would not get a little choked up.
I can assure you that the Biden Family is a very down to earth, very normal and very close. Although I do not know Joe as well as I know his family, both immediate and extended, I can tell you that what he was talking about affects all of them in a very real way. This was not an act. This was a man, in front of the world, experiencing a very real moment. Thank you for seeing that.

[T Pol]

There was no question that moment was real, unrehearsed, spontaneous passion that the love of a father deserves respect. He made me cry, and he made me proud.

Thank you for your comments.

Joe is a good man, solid. We are blessed to have him on the ticket...the one that will WIN come Nov. 4!

[formerprosecutor]

As busy as Senattor Biden is, I hope you direct him to these comments. And pass along a message: Thank for trying to help Indian Country apply the WAV Act to ALL reservation residents. he will know what I mean. Thanks Joe for caring about justice everywhere!!

[BlueStarMom]

I have always appreciated him and his candor, but did not know his entire story until he was re-introduced to us as Barack's running mate. He really won me over when he stood up during the hearings on torture and said, the Geneva Convention is there to "protect my son." He really spoke for me in that moment and his passion was evident.

I love him more than ever now. He was the only genuine article on that stage on Thursday.

[kmdippenger]

Thanks for writing this, most of us don't know the Biden's personally but feel we do because his service to this country reflects his character. You affirmed this.

[DefeatedAnOfficer]

Thank you for sharing for this, for vouching for Joe Biden. He has always come across as such an incredibly genuine, passionate guy and it's wonderful to hear first-hand confirmation of that fact.

The longer this campaign goes on, the more I learn about him, more I love him. I cannot name another politician I can say that about!

[Pappa]

Joe is refreshing; giving people the confort feeling they need in these troubled times; thats why he was selected and why he will bring the democrats to the White House; and most importantly, end the war.

[Samalabear]

I was thinking we need this desperately. We need hope in this country. We need people who are not trying to constantly instill fear in us. We need someone to tell us "we have nothing to fear but fear itself." We will not get this from McCain. Joe will be good for us and for Obama.