Senator Joe Biden - Barack Obama's Vice Presidential Nominee
Joe Biden is a 35-year Senate veteran for the state of Delaware and was named on August 23rd as Barack Obama's choice for Vice President. Read on to discover more about Joe Biden - what he brings to the Obama campaign, his record in government and more.
Contents...
- Joe Biden Chosen as Obama's Vice President
- Joe Biden at a Glance
- Joe Biden's Book
- What Does Biden Bring to Obama's Campaign?
- Are the VP nominees ready to become President if necessary?
- Joe Biden Videos
- Biden's Stance on Iraq
- Joe Biden and Law-Making
- Joe Biden Photos from Flickr
- Joe Biden: A Family Man
- Show Your Support for Obama and Biden!
- Joe Biden's Gaffes
- Is Joe Biden a Good Choice for Obama's Vice President?
- P.S. If you buy something from this page...
- Support the Obama Campaign with These Shirts
- Check Out These Official Sites
- For More on the Democratic Presidential Campaign, Check Out my Other Lens...
- Guestbook
Joe Biden Chosen as Obama's Vice President
Barack Obama's campaign announced early on Saturday, August 23rd, that Senator Joe Biden would be Obama's vice presidential nominee. The news followed an evening of speculation on the news networks that reported both Tim Kaine and Evan Bayh had been told they were out of the race, and that Senator Hillary Clinton had not ever been considered.
The news was announced by text message to supporters and on the Obama campaign's website, although it had leaked to news outlets hours earlier. Biden had confirmed in June that he would accept the nomination if offered.
Obama and Biden appeared together for the first time in Springfield, Illinois on the afternoon of Saturday, August 23rd. Biden formally accepted the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. He was introduced by his son Beau Biden, Attourney General of Delaware and National Guard Captain.
The news was announced by text message to supporters and on the Obama campaign's website, although it had leaked to news outlets hours earlier. Biden had confirmed in June that he would accept the nomination if offered.
Obama and Biden appeared together for the first time in Springfield, Illinois on the afternoon of Saturday, August 23rd. Biden formally accepted the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. He was introduced by his son Beau Biden, Attourney General of Delaware and National Guard Captain.
Joe Biden at a Glance
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. (; born November 20, 1942) is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States. He was a United States Senator from Delaware from January 3, 1973 until his resignation on January 15, 2009, following his election to the Vice Presidency. Biden was born in and lived there for ten years before moving to Delaware. He became an attorney in 1969, and was elected to a county council in 1970. Biden was first elected to the Senate in 1972 and became the sixth-youngest senator in U.S. history. He was re-elected to the Senate six times, and was the fourth mo...
Joe Biden's Book
Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics
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What Does Biden Bring to Obama's Campaign?
Joe Biden is a long-serving senator who brings much to the democratic campaign, especially in areas where Obama has been criticized.
Experience in Government
- Biden has been Senator for Delaware since 1972
- Served under seven Presidents
- Long-term member of Senate Committee for the Judiciary, including time as Chair
- Chaired International Narcotics Control Caucus
Foreign Policy Experience
- Chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee three times
- Worked extensively to resolve problems in the Balkans in 1990's, drawing attention to human rights abuses and convincing President Clinton of the need for military force
Biden is also a forceful speaker, who has a more combative style than Obama.
Biden's over 35 years of experience, including foreign relations and foreign policy experience, are in stark contrast to that of the Republican Vice Presidential Nominee, Sarah Palin. She has only 18 months experience as a Governor and is being investigated for a possible abuse of power related to the dismissal of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.
Experience in Government
- Biden has been Senator for Delaware since 1972
- Served under seven Presidents
- Long-term member of Senate Committee for the Judiciary, including time as Chair
- Chaired International Narcotics Control Caucus
Foreign Policy Experience
- Chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee three times
- Worked extensively to resolve problems in the Balkans in 1990's, drawing attention to human rights abuses and convincing President Clinton of the need for military force
Biden is also a forceful speaker, who has a more combative style than Obama.
Biden's over 35 years of experience, including foreign relations and foreign policy experience, are in stark contrast to that of the Republican Vice Presidential Nominee, Sarah Palin. She has only 18 months experience as a Governor and is being investigated for a possible abuse of power related to the dismissal of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.
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Joe Biden Videos
Biden's Stance on Iraq
Joe Biden has personal interest in resolving the Iraq situation - his son Beau is in the National Guard and is just about to be deployed there.
In the aftermath of 9/11, Biden worked with fellow Senator Richard Lugar to persuade the Bush administration to authorize military action against Saddam Hussain and Iraq only when diplomatic efforts had failed. This was unsuccessful.
Although Biden did vote for the war in Iraq, he has since worked to find solutions for the conflict and called on George Bush to 'level with the American people' about the cost and length of the war.
In 2006, Biden worked with Lesle Gelb (Professor Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations) to produce a strategy to end sectarian violence in Iraq. Their plan advocated a 'third way' - instead of US troops either pulling out or remaining in Iraq indefinitely, the situation would be resolved by federalizing Iraq and giving Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds their own areas.
In the aftermath of 9/11, Biden worked with fellow Senator Richard Lugar to persuade the Bush administration to authorize military action against Saddam Hussain and Iraq only when diplomatic efforts had failed. This was unsuccessful.
Although Biden did vote for the war in Iraq, he has since worked to find solutions for the conflict and called on George Bush to 'level with the American people' about the cost and length of the war.
In 2006, Biden worked with Lesle Gelb (Professor Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations) to produce a strategy to end sectarian violence in Iraq. Their plan advocated a 'third way' - instead of US troops either pulling out or remaining in Iraq indefinitely, the situation would be resolved by federalizing Iraq and giving Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds their own areas.
Joe Biden and Law-Making
During his Senate career, Joe Biden has worked to promote women's rights, education and civil liberties.
As a member of the Senate Committee for the Judiciary, Biden was involved in crime, drugs and civil liberties issues.
Biden was instrumental drawing up the:
- Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, 1994 (also known as the Biden Crime Law)
- Violence Against Women Act, 1994
When he chaired the International Narcotics Control Caucus, Biden wrote the laws that created the 'Drug Czar' and has campaigned against date rape drugs and the use of steroids in sports.
Biden has also worked to support families sending their children to college and wrote the 'Kids 2000' legislation to provide computer centers and training to young people, especially those at risk and from low income families.
As a member of the Senate Committee for the Judiciary, Biden was involved in crime, drugs and civil liberties issues.
Biden was instrumental drawing up the:
- Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, 1994 (also known as the Biden Crime Law)
- Violence Against Women Act, 1994
When he chaired the International Narcotics Control Caucus, Biden wrote the laws that created the 'Drug Czar' and has campaigned against date rape drugs and the use of steroids in sports.
Biden has also worked to support families sending their children to college and wrote the 'Kids 2000' legislation to provide computer centers and training to young people, especially those at risk and from low income families.
Joe Biden Photos from Flickr
Two U.S. Air Force T...
2009 USAF Academy Gr...
Class of 2009, USAF...
Biden Insults Presid...
Inauguration 09 - 17
President Obama, fla...
The Bidens and the E...
Dressed to impress
Joe Biden w/Obamas 0...
Joe Biden w/Obamas 2...
the many faces of Jo...
biden! mandel hall {...
Joe Biden: A Family Man
In 1966, while Biden was still at law school, he married Neilia Hunter. The couple had three children, Joseph R. Biden III (known as Beau), Robert Hunter Biden and Naomi Christina Biden (known as Amy). In 1972, Biden successfully ran for the Senate.
Tragically, while Biden was in Washington viewing his new office, Neilia and the children were in a car accident. Neilia and Amy died, and Beau and Hunter were seriously injured. Biden decided not to take the oath of office, as Delaware could find another senator, but his boys would never have another father. However, after persuasion by senior Democrats, he took the oath of office at his sons' bedside.
For the next few years, Biden communted home every night from Washington to the family's home in Wilmington, so he could be there for his sons. Although this is a 90 minute commute, he still does this today for his family.
In 1977, Biden (or as Beau Biden put it in his speech to introduce his father at the DNC, 'we') married Jill Tracy Jacobs. They have a daughter, Ashley.
Today, Beau Biden is Attorney General for Delaware and is a Captain in the Delaware Army National Guard, Judge Advocate General's Corps. He will be deployed to Iraq in October 2008.
Tragically, while Biden was in Washington viewing his new office, Neilia and the children were in a car accident. Neilia and Amy died, and Beau and Hunter were seriously injured. Biden decided not to take the oath of office, as Delaware could find another senator, but his boys would never have another father. However, after persuasion by senior Democrats, he took the oath of office at his sons' bedside.
For the next few years, Biden communted home every night from Washington to the family's home in Wilmington, so he could be there for his sons. Although this is a 90 minute commute, he still does this today for his family.
In 1977, Biden (or as Beau Biden put it in his speech to introduce his father at the DNC, 'we') married Jill Tracy Jacobs. They have a daughter, Ashley.
Today, Beau Biden is Attorney General for Delaware and is a Captain in the Delaware Army National Guard, Judge Advocate General's Corps. He will be deployed to Iraq in October 2008.
Show Your Support for Obama and Biden!
Joe Biden's Gaffes
Joe Biden is a passionate campaigner, and prone to the occasional gaffe.
The most famous gaffe occurred in 1987, when Biden was running for President and was accused of plagiarizing a speech given by UK Labour Party Leader, Neil Kinnock. Although Biden correctly credited Kinnock in many deliveries of this speech, one occasion when he did not was caught on video tape.
A revelation followed that Biden had plagiarized an article for a paper while in law school, leading to him having to retake the course. Biden explained this as being due to him not knowing the correct rules of citation, and the law professors also did not consider the issue serious. Even so, Biden withdrew from the race to become the Democratic nominee.
The most famous gaffe occurred in 1987, when Biden was running for President and was accused of plagiarizing a speech given by UK Labour Party Leader, Neil Kinnock. Although Biden correctly credited Kinnock in many deliveries of this speech, one occasion when he did not was caught on video tape.
A revelation followed that Biden had plagiarized an article for a paper while in law school, leading to him having to retake the course. Biden explained this as being due to him not knowing the correct rules of citation, and the law professors also did not consider the issue serious. Even so, Biden withdrew from the race to become the Democratic nominee.
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Check Out These Official Sites
- Senator Joe Biden. Senator for Delaware: Home
- Official Senate website for Joe Biden
- Welcome to Obama for America
- Official Website of Barack Obama 2008 Presidential Campaign
Guestbook
Share your stories, sightings, thoughts, rants, raves...
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kiwisoutback wrote...
Nice work! I think Biden may have made a better President than Obama will (he'll probably win).
Posted October 15, 2008
JudyDunn wrote...
Great lens. I think Biden was one of the best choices he could have made. Clinton would have presented lots of potential issues during campaign, and should he have won with her as his running mate, in the White House. He did the right thing in not considering her for the V.P. spot.
Posted September 01, 2008
oimdiane wrote...
In terms of smart choices, Clinton would have made Obama a shoe-in. Now we have to sit and wait and see... Sigh!
Posted August 24, 2008
