Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumThe "I Know Joe" Testimonials #1
I hope these testimonials keep on coming. They are at the heart of Joe's campaign. He is the real deal. WYSIWYG. And what uyou get is enshrined in testimonials like the following.
Captain Kevin Penn, USMC (Ret.)
My name is Kevin.
For 20 years and 8 days, I served in the U.S. Marine Corpsas a helicopter mechanic, as a drill instructor, and as an intelligence officer, deploying three timesto the Persian Gulf, Iraq, and Kuwait.
Since my retirement from the Corps, my most important title is "volunteer." Today, I spend most of my time with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), working with children and other Gold Star family members grieving the loss of a loved one who served and died, regardless of the timing or circumstances.
Over the course of my career, I've had the opportunity to meet a handful of leaders with true character. Joe Biden is one of them. I want to tell you why.
The first time I met Joe Biden was at a TAPS event, with the children of deceased service members. It was a closed-media eventno news outlets of any kind, just the mentors and the kids they worked with. Suddenly, the back door opens, and in walks then-Vice President Joe Biden. He didn't come in with fanfare, he didn't get up onstage or stand behind a podium.
He made it very clear to us: "I'm here for the kids." And he proceeded to speak with, take photos with, and shake the hands of every kid in that room. They were over the moon. I had never seen anything like it. And by the way, this was several years before Joe lost his own son, Major Beau Biden.
The second time I met Joe Biden was in April of 2010, on the South Lawn of the White House. I was part of a group of active-duty service members sending off our wounded brothers and sisters for the White House to Lighthouse Challenge a 60-mile, three-day ride that starts on the South Lawn of the White House and ends in Annapolis, Maryland.
Then-Vice President Biden delivered remarks, joined all of us to see the warriors off, and then walked straight into the crowd of servicemembersshaking hands, taking photos, listening to people's stories.
And here's the part I haven't forgotten:
Joe was definitely running late for some meeting or another, because his staff was getting increasingly persistent"Sir, we really need to go." Not in a way that was disrespectful. It was just clear that they needed to be on their way.
Finally, Joe turned to his aides and said:
"I'm going to stay here shaking hands until there's nobody left to shake hands with, and taking photos with these people until they get every photo they want."
That's exactly what he did. And I promise you that the service men and women who were on the South Lawn that day haven't forgotten it, either.
Character is about what you do when the cameras aren't rolling.
Joe Biden is a man of character.
And in the age of Twitter and perfect sound bitespeople who are most interested in themselves, shaping their own imageJoe Biden is a man who, after more than 40 years of public service, still wants to give. I honestly get chills when I think about his empathy for and dedication to everyone but himself.
At a time when everything feels disingenuous and hand-crafted for a certain audience, Joe Biden is genuine.
Now more than ever, we need to have leaders we truly believe in. I truly believe in Joe Biden.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
highplainsdem
(48,957 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
UncleNoel
(864 posts)I hope it will show up elsewhere.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Lucid Dreamer
(584 posts)Google "Captain Kevin Penn, USMC"
Response:
[link:https://medium.com/JoeBiden/i-know-joe-biden-captain-kevin-penn-usmc-ret-f3664f56e5a1|
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
WheelWalker
(8,954 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Thekaspervote
(32,750 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Staph
(6,251 posts)That is what this election is all about.
I am still completely undecided about which candidate that I will support when my primary rolls around. But she or he will be one who is the same person, with the same sterling character, day or night, public or private, whatever the circumstances.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(297,029 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
peggysue2
(10,826 posts)Great testimonial. Thanks for posting.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(145,046 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden