Wow, didn't know Biden's wife and son were killed in a wreck

[greenbriar]

the man is STRONG

[MADem]

1. Happened a long time ago, but he was pretty friken devastated at the time.

He has good family--they rallied round.

[karlrschneider]

2. He had (has) 2 other sons who needed him.

I don't always agree with him but I absolutely respect him.

[SoxFan]

3. daughter, actually

His daughter and wife were killed, his two sons were badly injured. He considered resigning his senate seat, but the "old bulls" of the senate, guys like Hubert Humphrey, Mike Mansfield, Bill Fulbright, and, of all people, Strom Thurmond, took JRB under their wing and helped him through the difficult period. It's an amazing and compelling story, and you're right, Biden is a strong individual with a ton of character.

[LastDemocratInSC]

28. Biden delivered the eulogy at Thurmond's funeral in 2003

... in Columbia, SC.

http://biden.senate.gov/newsroom/details.cfm?id=205868

[Lex]

4. Yes, it's pretty common knowledge

or I thought it was. :shrug:

[gateley]

5. Somebody on DU snarked the other day about Biden not having a home in

Washington DC. It's because he takes the train to and from Delaware every day. When he agreed to try out the senate for 6 months after the death of his wife and daughter, he was determined to go home each night to his sons. Amazing devotion to those boys. And I think it's a pretty long commute -- every single day. THEN he had to have brain surgery -- twice! -- for aneurisms. His strength is simply inspirational.

[greenbriar]

6. thats awesome

I would have been afraid to drive too

[MelissaB]

13. I wish I could nominate your post.

[robinlynne]

20. wow. Would vice president be too little to ask of him?

[CTyankee]

31. Upon reflection, I think he would be more helpful as Sec. of State.

I do think VP would be a waste of his talents. But I would be very proud to vote for him for president, too. He would bring so much to the office...

[Mnemosyne]

33. Thanks gateley! I never knew any of this about Biden.

I'm torn between Biden and Edwards, after Dennis of course. :)

:hi:

[Virginia Dare]

34. Charlie Gibson had a nice profile of him last night..

he said he had contemplated suicide, and then felt guilty for wanting to live. He's an amazingly strong man.

[Glimmer of Hope]

7. I just learned about this recenlty too. I had no idea.

[Shine]

8. wow, news to me

whew, whatta loss! how heartbreaking....

[democrat2thecore]

9. Here's a good newspaper article

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/election2008/story/21450.html

[democrat2thecore]

11. That article also tells how he is 99 out of 100 senators in personal wealth -nt

[greenbriar]

12. so I am thinking a Edwards/Biden ticket would be great

what say you?

[FourScore]

19. THAT sounds like a great ticket, or vice versa...

I haven't decided yet which of the two I am gonna vote for, but probably Edwards since he stands the greater chance of winning.

I did not know about the car acident either. Did he ever re-marry? Are his two boys okay now? When did this happen and how old was his daughter and his boys at the time?

Geez. A persons worst nightmare...

[CTyankee]

22. I am for Edwards and was mystified today by Biden's statement about a "bad time" in his life.

DU helped me with that. How awful for him. He was so restrained and sad at that moment in the debate, I felt sorry for him. Now that I know what he went through I am doubly sorrowful.

He and Edwards would make a great team. Edwards also had a great loss in his son, Wade who was only 16 at the time I believe. I read about it in E. Edwards book and had to stop reading at one point because I was crying so hard...

[FourScore]

23. Oh, geez,

I just don't know how people keep going on with life when something that tragic occurs. It takes a special strength.

[robinlynne]

21. YES!!!!!!!!!! Biden is great with international affairs and negotiation. Edwards is great with

local labor, and economic issues, and fighting. together we would have it all.

[mmonk]

26. I could support that ticket wholeheartedly.

[annabanana]

15. (not an automatic disqualifier)

[democrat2thecore]

25. Not sure what you mean

There is only one other senator poorer than him. His income is from his job as senator and he teaches Saturday morning law classes for $20,000 a year. That's it. No paid speeches, no investments, no NOTHING.

[annabanana]

27. sorry

forgot :sarcasm:

[Beausoir]

10. News to me as well. That's terrible.

He is a tough man.

[annabanana]

14. I didn't know this either.

I've enjoyed watching him in the debates. He gets very little air time, but seems to come right to the point, in a dry kind of way. He doesn't seem to be trying too hard, but then, it doesn't seem like he has to get his point across. There's a minimum of theatrics.. He gives the impression of not being "over-managed".

[bunkerbuster1]

16. I've known, but I had my serious reservations about Biden before this campaign...

I've come to develop a lot of respect for the man. I'd be proud to vote for him for President, were the party to nominate him.

[Swamp Rat]

17. Not only is he a strong person, his mind is incredibly sharp.

[Redstone]

18. Holy shit! I never knew what he'd been through, and I thank you for posting

the details.

My respect for him has just gone up about a dozen notches.

Redstone

[greenbriar]

24. I didn't know until tonight

he and Edwards both know what it is like to be regular people

[treestar]

29. Most people aren't tested with that

Who knows but they could pass, as "strong" in the same situation.

I'm from Delaware and all, but I see this thread as promoting someone just for being a victim. Why does that make a person better than anyone else?

Make it about his policies and stands on the issues, not just emotionalism about how he survived victimhood.

It's not fair to the others. They were lucky and didn't suffer this kind of thing happening to them, but that does not make them weaker. We don't know but that they'd do the same had they suffered the same plight.

[K Gardner]

30. K&R

[Ilsa]

32. We have some strong candidates who have endured

incredible pain and adversity. The Edwards come to mind as well.

I admire Biden. Sometimes he says schmucky things, but I think overall he'd be a good president. Well, any of our candidates would be good presidents.

[joe_sixpack]

35. When ever I see him speak,

it's as if he's the only one who talks naturally, he's not saying what's rehearsed, not worried about a sound bite, not "campaigning" constantly. He simply seems to say what he feels at the time, honestly and direct. I wish more would consider Biden. We may never again have a candidate who doesn't sound like a wound up robot after we let the media decide this year's primary.

[JBoy]

36. True, he is often refreshingly honest

Frequently he gives you a "you're not going to like hearing this, but it's the truth:" rather than weasel-word some middle of the road pablum.