Why Joe Biden asked Barack Obama to deliver his son's eulogy

[BeyondGeography]

WASHINGTON — Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama went through the fires together: two presidential campaigns, economic collapse, war, terrorism, destabilization of the Arab world and societal change that spawned the tea party and gay marriage waves simultaneously.

But aides say it is the men's shared experience with personal grief, and an unexpected bonding of their wives, daughters and grandchildren, more than their tests as officeholders, that have turned a political partnership between two men separated by race, age and temperament into a deep, if mostly unsung, friendship.

...Obama is often caricatured as aloof and professorial, with a poorly concealed arrogance, while Biden is Biden, prolix, comic both intentionally and inadvertently, self-effacing and engaging to a fault. Given these differences, it's easy to assume that their declarations of mutual affections are for show. But Ron Klain, Biden's former chief of staff, who later served as Obama's coordinator on the administration's response to the Ebola threat, said there is more to it. "The president ... has this reputation for being cold or distant - but he isn't," Klain said. "For the people in his orbit, the people he has a chance to get to know, he has a real sense of family" and the Bidens "are part of that. I think it's a loss that he feels personally."

Ted Kaufman, Biden's close friend and longtime Senate aide, said that "the president has been incredibly supportive, in every possible way, during this."

...At their regular lunches and in other private settings over a period of years, Biden confided his fears about his son's health to Obama. Beau had what was determined to be a mild stroke in 2010; at the time, there was no indication of cancer. He was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2013, had a lesion removed and went into remission. Then the cancer came back, and when Beau entered Walter Reed last month, it was clear it was terminal.

Obama had gotten to know Beau Biden on his own, during time together during both campaigns. He also saw him on a visit to Iraq, while the vice president's son was stationed there. Their embrace was memorialized in photos. "The president respected Beau a lot as a rising star in our party, as a person who had taken on some great fights and done a great job and served our country in Iraq," Klain said. "The president independently had a relationship with Beau and a great deal of respect for everything he stood for and had fought for."

Read more here: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2015/06/05/4331796/why-joe-biden-asked-barack-obama.html#storylink=cpy

[hlthe2b]

1. I'm glad they have the relationship they do. I am just heartbroken for Joe Biden

So much tragedy in his life...

[etherealtruth]

2. This is so very sad.

[BeyondGeography]

5. I agree

[Drunken Irishman]

3. Al Gore and Bill Clinton had a great relationship - but I don't think one touches Obama-Biden.

No Prez-Veep relationship really comes close - especially with Clinton and Gore's relationship being strained toward the end of that administration. You can tell both legitimately like and respect each other. Obama's pick of Biden was such a good one.

[Tarheel_Dem]

6. How did the "aloof" meme get started? I know that "arrogant" got started on RW radio.

Aloof sounds more like inside the beltway b.s. than actual reality.

[Hekate]

10. It's a can't-win meme. If he has dignity (he does), he's aloof.If he relaxes, he's shuckin' & jivin'

Since he's extremely intelligent, he must be arrogant too. It is BS; it's how Michelle gets that garden to grow so wonderfully.

[Tarheel_Dem]

13. I sometimes wonder why they don't just call him the "n" word and be done with it? Word parsing is..

so cute. NOT!!! "Aloof" & "Arrogant" = "Uppity".

[Drunken Irishman]

11. I remember it in the 2008 campaign...

He was the professor - wonkish and aloof. So ridiculous.

[treestar]

16. It's so clearly untrue

Right wingers must dislike Obama so much that they won't listen to him or watch him or hear him and so they can make that up in their heads. The slightest observation shows that "aloof" is a ridiculous word to describe him.

[63splitwindow]

22. yep, dope addict/hypocrite Rush led the charge...

... only to be followed by even more scummier bloviators making millions feeding the right wingnuts.

[jwirr]

24. That is an excellent question. I have never seen him as aloof. He is a hands on very involved

president.

[Frustratedlady]

27. I think the RW couldn't handle his class and intelligence.

How dare a black man be that smart and/or in the White House? The RW is so ignorant and lacking in self-confidence, they can only fight a person like Obama with nasty words and slurs. He's the person they'd love to be, but they know it is out of reach for them.

Biden is the perfect match. They are total opposites but still so much the same. I'd love to be a mouse in the Oval Office when they are unwinding at the end of a rough day. What a contrast to W and Cheney.

[Tarheel_Dem]

38. Agree with every single word.

[morningfog]

31. I have never understood the "aloof" and "professorial" descriptions.

He always seems so engaged and personable.

[Number23]

32. I was all set to rec this OP until I saw that "aloof" shit.

Aloof in this case just means a black man that doesn't feel the need to shuck and jive to make other folks feel superior.

He is funny as hell, super smart, and you can see his warmth as a human being from a million miles away. The "aloof" crap is just garbage.

[Tarheel_Dem]

37. It's media created bulls**t, much like most of the crap this president gets tagged with.

The old folks used to tell me that children and animals can always tell, and kids light up when they're around this president. That's enough for me.

[vankuria]

41. Love it!

What a sweet photo!

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. RIP Beau Biden.

[Thinkingabout]

7. Biden has provided a road map of how to be a devoted father. Perhaps the tradegy in Biden's lifw

Helped him build a strong ability to be the father he is. Beau does not have appeared to have fallen far from the tree, a family very proud of Beau, they will miss him every day.

[Tarheel_Dem]

14. ^^^^ THIS ^^^^

Gone too soon.

[vankuria]

19. OMG

Not sure I can even put into words how deeply moving this photo is. RIP Beau Biden on the wonderful life you lived and the joy and honor you brought to your family, friends and your country.

[Tarheel_Dem]

35. I just realized this morning that Joe has now buried two of his children. No parent should have to

do that. My heart breaks.

[vankuria]

40. Yes...

Our Vice Pres. has had a very tough life, he almost lost his whole family with the crash that killed his wife, baby daughter and injured his two sons. He's a remarkable man in that he not only persevered, but went on to have an incredibly accomplished life and raise to 2 wonderful sons.

We can only imagine what he must be going through.

[FailureToCommunicate]

23. I have looked everywhere in vain to share this photo. I am SO glad you were able to find, and

Last edited Sat Jun 6, 2015, 08:21 AM - Edit history (1)

post it. It speaks powerfully, I believe, to the notion: 'who can know the troubles I've seen'

[Tarheel_Dem]

36. Glad I could share it. I love this family, and wish Beau's children long & happy lives.

[sheshe2]

8. A strong bond

Of love and mutual respect.

RIP
Beau Biden

Healing
For the Family Biden

[Cha]

9. Yeah, President Obama is "caricatured as aloof and professorial, with a poorly concealed arrogance"

like that by the effing US mediawhore manufacturing press.'

Nothing could be further from the truth. But, then you'd have to know what really goes on with the President and his Admin.

Thank you for this, BG..



RIP Beau

[Boomerproud]

29. Excellent example of lazy psychobabble.

They both deserve so much better.

[Cha]

33. Thank you for getting it, Boomerproud!

[Drunken Irishman]

12. Here's more of Obama being aloof and arrogant...

[Cha]

34. Excellent, DIrish.. Mahalo!

[longship]

15. They both rolled 18 on charisma.

I love both my POTUS and my VEEP.

They are great.

[Fearless]

17. I'll always remember Joe for his 2012 VP debate

I would credit him completely with turning around the campaign that year after Obama's terrible 2nd debate.

[BeyondGeography]

18. It was a great and critically important performance

Ryan was basically manhandled.

[vankuria]

20. Loved his "malarkey"

line and he was laughing through much of the debate.

[Kalidurga]

28. Me too it was a great debate.

I loved that he laughed so much even though I get the feeling it was due to pain. That is how I am anyway when I hear things that are just so off the wall stupid and things that are obviously bs lies.

[NCarolinawoman]

21. Wonderful post and wonderful photos here on this thread. n/t

[3catwoman3]

25. Aloof, my ass.

There are so many wonderful photos of his delightful smile among crowds of people. He is engaging and engaged.

[mountain grammy]

26. Every single person who has met the President and First Lady

has remarked on how warm and down to earth they are. Every single person!

In my opinion, the label 'aloof' is just code for uppity.

[LyndaG]

30. The Prez is a great guy

Never forget the photo of him with some of the children of Sandy Hook families.

[lovemydog]

39. Thanks for this. My heart just aches

for Joe and his family. I'm so glad President Obama is there for him. They have a great working relationship and a great personal connection as well. Interestingly, that's often not the case in the history of VP's and President's. I've often felt that the first important decision that a nominee for President makes is in the choice of running mate. When Barack chose Joe, he knocked it out of the park. Class act all the way.