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

[krocklin]

It's ironic that the evening that reminded us that our political system could produce a disgrace like Palin as a candidate for the second highest office also was when Biden made his authenticity and decency so apparent to the entire country.
I saw today that of the 100 Senators he ranks second lowest in wealth and income. And Obama must be very close to him in that ranking.
Quite a contrast to the extremely wealthy McCain and the extremely inauthentic strictly unprincipled Palin.

[THE JEDI 69]

gawd Joe Biden makes it cool for a man to show emotion..cause you know it's real....Obama /Biden..and man I gave $100.00 after the debate..go O'Biden

[Cambridge9]

You caught the 'O'Biden' too! Thanks. I thought it was only me - even though he always has that Irish twinkle in his eyes & smile.

Go O'Biden 2

[proudloudlib]

I seriously thought it was just me, until MSNBC starting mixing it in with the other Palinisms, but I haven't heard anyone comment on it. Another one of those "verbal typos" I guess. But it had me ROF!

[jennyjen]

Sen Biden it was frustrating for us to listen to Palin use her struggles to manipulate our emotions. I cheered when you stood up to her emotional battery. You were eloquent and showed a natural hesitation to use the life of your wife and child to push our buttons. You were right to stand up to Palin and we are greatful to you for that.

[Tom95134]

Why should he have to "explain". I was watching and understood immediately why he choked up with emotion. Are Newsweek reporters so unfeeling that they have to have it explained to them?

Give me (and Joe) a break!

[Ironfox]

It's just a bunch of jaded newstypes trying to resurrect the ( Muskie ? ) crying moment for effect. But I think we have moved beyond that. But they have not.

[attuned4news]

I love the way Biden cherishes his family and holds sacred the role of father.

Biden's most touching moment in the debate revealed Palin's callousness. Any woman who truly identifies herself as a mother and nurturer, first and foremost would have reacted to Biden's remarks.

[allison]

I have to say that Palin's attempts to make herself supermom was a joke. A supermom would never had allowed the wild partying and ultimate pregnancy of her teenage daughter. For shame Mrs. Palin. You failed in your role as a mother.

[progressivepam]

And, if her kid gets knocked up... she certainly doesn't parade her out in the world to see. And, if she chooses to have a down-syndrome baby... they take a whole lot of care, then you choose to parent that chlid. Ahhh... what an excellent example this woman is. Coming from a pro-choice, working mom and feminist... something's always got to give, and the bottom line is, you choose to bring kids in the world, you sure as hell are responsible for them (especially when they are young...) She's got a 5 month old down syndrome baby, and it looks to me like she's abandoning it to others... You know, stuff like that happens regularly, but don't portray yourself as "Mrs. Family Values" where what we need in the world is people taking responsibility for their actions.

[Cambridge9]

If she was a truly loving parent she wouldn't have paraded that baby on stage at that time on night!!

[Nikonicus]

Godspeed to Beau Biden (and Track Palin.)

What struck me about the moment was that Biden was IN the moment while in front of 70 million people. His emotions were genuine. In that fraction of a second he was not on stage, he was with his family. His opponent seemed not to notice in her rush to make her next point before it evaporated from her head.

Biden's emotions don't magically qualify him for VP; they do emphasize his humanity, and THAT reassures me about his authenticity as a father and person. I want those qualities in someone that represents me.

www.nikonicus.net

[Dree58]

Although I have never had a child of my own, I cannot fathom why a mother of 1 or 5 or more would not at least pause for a moment in empathy with a man (or woman) who had lost a child. Granted, I have liked Biden for years, but even Cheney had been in Biden's place, I honestly would still have had that lump in my throat and wet eyes. Anyone who knows me would not consider me "sentimental."

[MsBeale]

HEAR HEAR

[LarBear]

Dree58...

Agreed... And I have seen Dick Cheney show emotion when speaking of the Love he has for his daughter...

Yup! Yup! Sarah Palin... WE men have emotions too...

[cruisepuppy7452a]

Joe never needs to appologize for being human and having real emotions. His moment was every parent's worst fears. Especially those of us who already lost one child, and are terrified of losing that child to drugs, alcohol, violence or war. It really brought home what this political team is all about, true family values, morals, ethics, THE Family. That Palen could be as stoic about her son going there scares the hell out of me. Its like yeah, whatever, pass the ketchup. Biden is one of us, shares our fears, worries, understands where many of us have been, walked the walk, not just talked the talk. That he didn't try to persuade him not to go, buy his way out of it, proves, he did what many parents have had to deal with, watching sons and daughters choose to fight for thier country. Its a hard thing to have to let go, not knowing the outcome. Biden wasn't weak, he was human, and it proves o me, he will get this war ended. Bravo Joe. You have my vote and prayers.

[meltingpot101]

Loss becomes part of who you are. It impacts how you live your life, how you view the world.

Joe, you need not explain.

Love and respect to you Joe.

[JLee]

Poetry. Faved.

[TuesdayMorning]

The best moment of the debate! Joe Biden is a class act!

Obama-Biden 08

[nostalgia]

The more I see of Biden, the more he has become a hero. Somehow I completely trust him.

[TheDude72]

Yup, I've always liked and respected him, and often been amused by him, his love of speaking, but in this election, what really shines through is his basic, earnest decency. He really wants to help Obama to help this country. I trust him.

[Davwbaird]

I have always like Biden for his straightforward way of putting things. I really believe we will have the best team possible working to help us get out of collective rut. They have already gone a long way on the hope issue.

[Cambridge9]

And most of the rest of the world respects this man too. Imagine foreign leaders being able to call the White House and know that both (or either) President Obama and VP Joe Biden won't hesitate to answer that call at 3.00am.

OBAMA/BIDEN 08

[herhonor]

A year ago, I didn't think we would ever have a chance to rebuild our country into the caring, compassionate nation we used to be, instead of the psuedo-facist "big brother" "you are on your own" administration we have endured for so long...I have high hopes and high expectations from the Obama Biden administration. If anyone can turn this country back into a government by the people and for the people, it is these very special men. I know they will rise to the challenge.

[Nikki1976]

I'm a fairly cynical person. And like a lot of people, I mostly watched that debate to see if Palin would finally crash and burn.

But...that moment when Biden got choked up and tapped into the fearfulness and pain that many of us are feeling right now about our future and the future of our families and this country was sobering to say the least.

God help us if Obama/Biden DON'T get elected.

[boycottrightwingthings]

OH! Bill Clinton also wrote a book BEFORE he was president, as Obama did, and Bill is always late, too!! LOL