One VP Candidate Sticks Around To Answer Questions

Greensburg, PA: Speaking to a packed house in the Greensburg Salem High School gym Thursday, Democratic VP nominee Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) criticized the Bush Administration on its handling of U.S. military involvement in Iraq, shouting, "we will end this war."

Introduced by NFL Hall of Famer and Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, and Norma Margonari, a local activist who comes from a large family of coal miners, Biden opened his remarks by thanking Pittsburgh for pitching in to help his family. He choked up and somberly spoke about how after his wife and daughter were killed in an automobile accident, Rocky Bleier, one of the Steelers, came to his sons' hospital room to give them footballs to cheer them up, at the request of Dan Rooney's dad.

Biden calmed fears when he said the Obama-Biden team would guarantee to keep Social Security intact. He answered questions on health care benefits and fixing the economy - but his most crowd-rousing comments were given about the Iraq War.

His statement, "Imagine a country where we only go to war when it is absolutely necessary" brought a big round of applause.

Biden continued, "and when we do..... we go with the support of the rest of the world."
More big applause. And then, " Ladies and gentlemen, we will end this war." Standing ovation.

Senator Biden's got a personal interest in six-year long war, since his family learned their oldest son, Beau, currently Delaware's Attorney General, and a captain in the National Guard, will be deployed to Iraq next month. But he's been blasting the Bush Administration for several years for their lack of commitment to benefits for vets returning home, including making it extremely hard to be considered "eligible" for education and health benefits once their tours of duty are over.

Last year, the senator's bill to provide funding for MRAPs, mine resistant ambush protected vehicles, paved the way for construction and distribution of these V-shaped hull tanks, directly leading to a dramatic drop in the deaths of US soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan who were hit by roadside bombs. The bill was passed by a vote of 75-24. The one remaining vote was Sen. Hillary Clinton, who was absent in the Senate that day.

Pittsburgh has a higher than average number of residents in the U.S. military. Speaking to the veterans and their families in the crowd, Biden continued, "The only people sacrificing right now are those who have children or husbands or wives who are serving, and the families that are left behind. And we don't mention it often enough, but we have thousands of people who have died. We have over 30,000 who have been wounded."

He continued, "Ladies and gentlemen, we owe them. We owe them more than we can ever repay them."

The senator stayed to answer questions (unlike his counterpart, Gov. Sarah Palin, so far...) and left to a standing ovation.

Comments

[OutsiderSA]

I just wanted to comment on the MRAPs mentioned.

I am surprised that the USA goes in with vehicles like the Hummer where back in the '70's in the Rhodesian conflict we already had what we called MAP vehicles (Mine Armour Proof) We also had specialised mine clearing vehicles and the troop carriers would stop/deflect an RPG rocket with armoured glass (2" thick) and portals to return fire in an ambush.

The design was simple with shaped sides of 1-1/2" thick steel that would stop any firearm projectiles including shrapnel.

During the elections, UK peacekeeping forces came and travelled on known mined roads in thin skinned vehicles and there were more casualties in one month than the preceding 12 - all British peacekeepe­rs/monitor­s.

This is old technology and was really surprised to read this bit.

[LizM]

It will also surprise you to know that Senator Biden had to fight tooth and nail to get the billions of dollars for these invaluable vehicles - to get enough of them produced and sent into theatre - in the Defense Appropriations bill and that he was the only senator running for President who voted for that bill, saying that some things are worth losing elections for.

It wasn't that the US didn't have the technology and the updated technology or the necessary funds - it was a case of the Bush administration's utter incompetence and criminal disregard for the lives and limbs of the soldiers they sent into harms way in not providing those troops with everything they needed to survive and complete their mission.

[LizM]

Thanks for that summary, Erin...it's nice to hear from you again! I miss the Biden Blog. :(

Elizabeth

[Erin Medlicott - Huffpost Blogger]

Me too.

I tried reaching out to several people on the Obama Web site, to ask if I could post news on their homepage or policy pages, but no one responded. So I have my own blog page on that site, "Welcome to Biden supporters" and I post news there.

I'm really looking forward to watching the VP candidates debate!!!

[LizM]

Excellent! I'll definitely check that out.

I wish the Obama site would show the entirety of Senator Biden's speeches, too. They do sometimes, but not always.

I am concerned by the lack of media coverage since his selection as VP - I jokinly said that they couldn't possibly continue to get away with ignoring and dismissing him as a VP candidate, could they!? Well, not only has he been largely ignored and dismissed by the media and blogosphere but when they do cover him it is just to propagate any number of media-created and driven national Biden myths...if I hear one of 'em talk ignorantly about his propensity toward being "gaffe"-prone one more time...

However, I have noticed a distinct rise in public recognition and support for him despite the incompetence and ineptitude of the media - mostly from people who have personally seen him in action or who have taken the time to do some research on their own - and that says a lot!

Anyway, I can't wait for the VP debate, either. But, I'm still not convinced that it will actually occur - these days, it seems, anything can happen and you can't rely on anything or anyone...well, except Joe Biden!

Take care!

[Indtxwm]

I have to admit that I really didn't know much about Biden until he was in the running for VP. So, as I do with everything else, I went out and researched; immediately I felt that this would be a great team and now I know. He is a down to earth realistic person. He will do the american people good.

We must win this election. Joe, you Barack are so what we need.

[Erin Medlicott - Huffpost Blogger]

For more info on the candidates, you should check some non-partisan Web sites...
like -- Project Votesmart -- that has the candidates' voting records on major issues.

And of course, Senator Biden's senate Web site, http://Senate.Biden.gov.
On that homepage, you can click on the tab "Issues" and see a whole array of topics
with info on his legislation.

Thanks so much for your support!

[OhioJan]

Obama/Biden = the BEST Presidential team in modern American History!!! MAN, they make me proud to be an American, as well as a Democrat!!!!!



Obama/Biden - '08/12!!!!!

[Erin Medlicott - Huffpost Blogger]

I couldn't have said it better myself!

[Pupadup4oBama]

"His statement, "Imagine a country where we only go to war when it is absolutely necessary" brought a big round of applause.

Biden continued, "and when we do..... we go with the support of the rest of the world."
More big applause. And then, " Ladies and gentlemen, we will end this war." Standing ovation."

AMAZING! - I could FEEL the energy in the room just from these statements.

What a perfect team - I knew way back when he would be VP with either Obama or Gore as POTUS -
I just had a feeling. I'm happy to know I was right all along.

[Erin Medlicott - Huffpost Blogger]

And I totally agree with you. Thanks for your comment!