the opinionist

Reading about Senator Joe Biden’s activities this week - as he tries to build some credible media coverage for his 2008 presidential aspirations - I read-up on his biography and learnt some fascinating insights about the Senator - that might better explain his character and decisions.

Joseph Robinette Biden is serving his sixth term in office as Senator for Delware and is their longest-serving Senator. He was first elected at the age of 30, is Catholic and his personal experiences certainly explain (and must have shaped) his sometimes brutally blunt seemingly sincere character.

Personal Background

Joe was first married in 1966 - at law school - to Neilia Hunter - with whom he had three kids - Joseph III, Robert and Amy. Shockingly his wife and infant daughter died in an automobile accident just after Joe’s first successful senate election in 1972. His two sons - though seriously injured - eventually made full recoveries. Joe was sworn into office from their bedside after being convinced by family, friends and colleagues to not resign from office.

Senator Biden commuted 90 minutes each day on the train from Washington D.C. to Wilmington DE to remain a caring ‘hands on’ father but also a full-time senator - and, by all accounts, still commutes to Delaware today! He remarried in 1977 to Jill Jacobs and with one child - Ashley.

In 1988, Senator Biden was hospitalized for two brain aneurysms which kept him from Senatorial duties for seven months and crippled his presidential ambitions that year. His 1988 Presidential bid was also dealt a terrible blow when he was accused of plagiarizing a speech given by the then leader of the British Labour Party (in minority against Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher) Neil Kinnock. In retrospect it appears the media (once again) greviously exaggerated the issue by failing to mention Biden had consistently credited the speech to Neil Kinnock MP many times in previous occassions and ommitted the mention just once - but that was enough for the media and his competitors (Dukakis) and the damage was done.

Senator Biden considered a possible presidential run in 2004 but made the decision not to enter the fray after examining his fund-raising abilities at that time. What is interesting is the story that he strongly suggested Senator John Kerry to invite Republican Senator John McCain as a strong and effective Presidential running-mate! Whilst this this suggestion was discounted by all parties - including McCain - it does once again demonstrate Biden’s strength of character that he failed to push himself as a possible candidate. Imagine how the 2004 elections might have unfolded differently with a Kerry | McCain ticket!

Biden’s Political Record

The strongest argument for his Presidential candidacy must be his record in the Senate. He was a member of the powerful U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary (chaired from 1987-1995) and rigorously pushed for legislation on drug policy, crime prevention and civil liberties.

Biden is a ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and has distinguished himself continually with his knowledge of security matters - from Bosnia to 9/11 - Afghanistan and Iraq.
Biden has tackled, authored or pushed legislation including:

• - Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 - the ‘Biden Crime Law’
• - Violence against Women Act of 2000
• - RAVE Act in 2003 - also known as the ‘Crack House Act’
• - Helped create the ‘Drug Czar’ - the Office of National Drug Control Policy
• - Kids 2000 legislation - to establish public and private sector partnerships for computer centers, teachers, internet access and technical training for schools and school leavers.

For more on Senator Biden’s (any indeed ANY Congressman’s!) record - check out Project Vote Smart

So, …

I’m frequently jealous of Senator Ted Kennedy’s incredible 20/20 hindsight; he should be on NBC’s popular show, Heros! In his speech to the National Press Club earlier this week; Ted Kennedy was quoted as saying that his own vote against the use-of-force resolution was the “best vote he’d cast in his 44 years in the United States Senate.” Such a wise ability to rule out specific ‘leaps of faith’ decisions must explain his inaction at Chappaquiddick.

More trusting congressmen - including Joe Biden - did make a leap of faith in support of the President when they supported the ‘Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002′ [H.J. Res 114] (October 10 & 11, 2002)

So when NBC’s Tim Russert - on Meet the Press - asked Senator Joe Biden if voting for the ‘Iraq use of force’ resolution was the ‘worst vote you ever cast?’ you have to respect Joe when he honestly and sincerely replied ‘I don’t think so. I think misunderstanding this administration is the worst miscalculation I’ve ever made in my career.’

You have to respect this answer. Senator Biden is not known for tact - far from it! He has the audacity to call a spade a spade! He could have said ‘trusting this administration’ or worse yet - ’supporting this administration’ as the worst ‘miscalculation’. Instead he said - and this is why I respect him for his honesty (a rare trait for a politician) - that he misunderstood the Bush administration. This would be an accurate statement for whole swathe of wholly moderate voters across the nation … and it certainly reflects why the Democrats won the House and the Senate last year.

At this point in the race - which has barely begun - it appears Biden is too frequently over-looked by our illustrious media.

The Associated Press ran this amusing story earlier this month:

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Delaware Senator Joseph Biden is making no bones about it — he intends to run for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Speaking with reporters at Southern New Hampshire University, Biden said, “I am running for president.” Asked if that was his “official” announcement, Biden drew laughter by replying, “I’ve announced it 27 times.”

I’m truly no fan of many (many!) positions taken by the Democrats (and Republicans) but I do respect certain individuals within the DNC and Senator Joe Biden is definitely one of them. It is my hope the media and voters in general give him a fair shake! Whilst it’s very early days on the 2008 presidential race - and a lot of silly mistakes can and will be made (Biden included) - early assumptions and gut instincts about the electability of a candidate can influence others and these first few months will decide the pattern of media coverage and, therefore, voter focus.
Richard Buchanan

As a matter of record: The House passed the ‘2002 Use of Force Joint Resolution’ by 296-133, and by the Senate on October 11 by a vote of 77-23. It was signed into law by President Bush on October 16.