Biden Preps for Debate As Son’s Deployment Looms
EmailABC News’ Matt Jaffe Reports: All the attention this week might appear to be on Thursday’s vice-presidential debate in St. Louis, but such is not the case for one of the two participants in the much-anticipated duel: Sen. Joe Biden’s son Beau, Delaware state attorney general, will begin his year-long deployment to Iraq with a ceremony Friday in Wilmington.
Biden interrupted his debate prep Tuesday for lunch with Beau, Beau’s wife Hallie, and their four-year old daughter Natalie at a family favorite burger joint, The Charcoal Pit in Wilmington.
"Debates are important but family is always what’s really important," said Biden spokesman David Wade. "The Biden family, like all the families in our country who have a loved one called up, deserve some time to themselves outside the glare and frenzy of the political process. They appreciate how incredibly understanding folks have been, including the media."
Following Thursday’s debate, Sen. Biden will fly home to Delaware to get back in time to attend and speak at Friday morning’s deployment ceremony for Beau’s unit, scheduled for 11am in Dover.
Earlier this month, Republican vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was the featured speaker at her son Track’s deployment ceremony in Fairbanks bidding him a very public goodbye on the tarmac.
In her remarks, Palin never referenced her 19-year-old son. ""Soldiers, we honor you. Each one of these soldiers is here by choice," she said.
Lt. Col Len Grattieri, public affairs officer for the state National Guard, said that although the 60-minute event will feature the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, it is in no way a political forum.
"It is by no means a political rally," Grattieri said. "This is about the soldiers."
Biden, Grattieri stated, has regularly attended the 10-15 deployment ceremonies since the 9-11 attacks, although Friday’s will have added meaning for the Delaware senator.
"He will always speak at these and he said he will speak at this one as well," Grattieri pointed out, noting that the senator, chairman of the Foreign Relations committee, frequently uses the forum to impart to the troops his international know-how on Iraq and Afghanistan.
"He’s a real foreign relations expert, so he’s usually gonna tell the soldiers his view of what’s going on there based on his visits."
But Grattieri cautioned that Friday’s event is not about the Bidens, but rather the entire 261st Signal Brigade, set to deploy for the first time.
"These are unique circumstances because of the senator’s position and Capt. Biden’s position," said Grattieri. "There are 115 soldiers going out with this unit and Capt. Biden is just one of them."
Friday’s ceremony will take place on the Legislative Mall in front of the state capital in Dover. Along with Biden, it is customary for other elected officials from Delaware to speak, including Gov. Ruth Ann Minner.
"They always come to wish our troops a fond farewell," noted Grattieri.
Following the event, the troops will actually be able to return to their families for the weekend. The 115 soldiers then leave Sunday morning for Ft. Bliss, Texas, where they will spend six to eight weeks before heading to Iraq. If all goes well, the unit, commanded by Brig. Gen. Scott Chambers, a one-star general, could return as soon as September 2009.
In Iraq, Capt. Biden’s work will be "very technologically-based," and "very complicated" according to Grattieri. "He will be providing communications to soldiers in the Iraqi theater."
"They’re not infantry men," Grattieri added, "but they’ll be in combat zones."
Biden has referenced his son’s deployment at various points along the campaign trail, including an August meeting with guardsmen in Denver when he asked them to "keep an eye out" for Beau.
"We love you," said Biden, accompanied by his wife Jill. "And by the way if any of you get shipped back over, keep an eye out for my son. He’ll keep an eye out for you guys. Keep the faith, go get ‘em."
Just last Monday in Baltimore, Biden addressed the National Guard’s annual conference, noting that he was not just speaking as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee.
"I’m also here today as a father of a guardsman," he continued. "My son Beau is proud to wear the uniform, and proud to answer the call to serve."
Beau introduced his father at the Democratic convention last month, giving a speech in which he referenced his pending deployment to Iraq.
"Because of other duties, it won’t be possible for me to be here this fall to stand by him the way he stood by me." Beau said to the Democratic party gathered at Denver’s Pepsi Center. "So I have something to ask of you. Be there for my dad like he was there for me."
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Hopefully he is practicing keep a straight face during the many BS sessions Sara will initiate in response to any queston asked of her. He cannot laugh at any answer she gives no matter how stupid and off subject it may be. He cannot roll his eyes as she says “thanks but no thanks” yet again to the bridge to nowhere. A bridge whose funding was already lost when she took office I believe. He cannot sigh and throw his hands up as she confuses Atlanta Georgia with the capital of Georgia (I do not know what it is either. I am not running for VP). He must remain straight face and serious or he will no doubt be accused of being sexist and condescending.
Posted by: Jenny Rome Ga | September 30, 2008, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm
I agree with JENNY ROME how can biden stand there and keep a straight face knowing she is a liar and a fraud not to mention how is he gonna control not laughing when she will clearly prove she has no idea with whats going on lets just hope mccain doesnt accuse him of sexisim!
Posted by: angie | September 30, 2008, 4:27 pm 4:27 pm
he must play it cool, refute any knowledge of what she claims of McCain, “I’ve known John McCain for almost 30 years” Look at her for gosh sake and apologize each time you mist correct her. She will embarrass herself enough, Joe won’t need to do a thing.
Posted by: Danny | September 30, 2008, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm
I enjoy ribbing Biden for his outrageous comments, but wish his son well during his tour of duty and pray for his safe return.
Posted by: marylou | September 30, 2008, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm
Marylou, as someone who mocks Gov. Palin for almost everything she says, I would like to echo your sentiments about Biden’s son to Gov. Palin’s son deployed overseas.
Posted by: gT | September 30, 2008, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm
Angie..Are you kidding…Are we talking about the KING of putting my foot in my mouth before thinking Biden…the Biden who said:
President FDR went on television after the stock market crush of 1929..Problem no TV’s and no FDR as President
It is patriotic for the rich to pay taxes
Told CBS he thought an Obama ad mocking McCain as a computer illiterate was “terrible.” Later after actually seeing the ad Biden said it was OK.
Hillary would have been a better choice for Vice-President
and my personal favorite,
Encouraged wheelchair bound Missouri State Senator Chuck Graham to stand up at a campaign rally…the list goes on and on you mean that Biden
yes, all Palin has to do is keep her mouth shut and let Joe, bless his heart, talk…I like Biden..he’s like the crazy fun uncle everyone likes…but is not the best when it comes to diplomacy…
Posted by: checks and balances | September 30, 2008, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm
Is Palin gonna thump Biden over the head for this incredible lie he told last week?
“The fact of the matter is, the only thing succeeding in Iraq right now is the PLAN that Barack and I talked about that Petraeus is implementing … giving local control in the very areas with a limited central government.”
You’ve gotta be kidding me!!
I suppose we are now expected to believe that when Biden said, “The president and others who support the surge have it exactly backwards,” in December 2006, he secretly meant, “Go through with the surge, Gen. Petraeus — I believe in you!”
Or, when Biden was pushing for Iraq to be divided into into three ethnically-homogeneous, unsustainable “states,” then abandoned, he was actually working behind the scenes with the freshman Senator from Illinois and General Petraeus to craft a plan to make Iraq more unified and sustainable.
We are likewise expected to believe that, when Barack Obama sponsored legislation that would have withdrawn U.S. troops from that country beginning last year — at the most sensitive point to date in the entire conflict — with a full retreat having been completed by this past March, thereby rendering every single achievement made possible by the ‘Surge,’ from the rising up of Concerned Local Citizens, to the driving out of al Qaeda in Iraq, to the quelling of sectarian violence, to the growing political reconciliation that made possible legislation passed this week setting the stage for provincial elections in that country, entirely null and void, he was actually laying the ground work for success there. Good thing General Petraeus was somehow in on the secret there, and understood that all of Obama’s posturing was actually cover for Petraeus to do what he has done to date in Iraq.
Posted by: Weapons Grade Revisionism | September 30, 2008, 5:53 pm 5:53 pm
The goal of the surge was to ‘buy time’ for the political process to take hold. That DID NOT occur. The only real success was for the military, but it did not even fully achieve it’s goals. Paetraus told congress he believed the reduction in violence would have occurred anyway due to the sectarian violence and ethnic cleansing going on, although slower, and that a lot of the violence had simply shifted elsewhere in the country. Obamas original plan, had you read it, was to designed to reduce the military and allow political means to end the war. Amazingly enough, a recent RAND analysis, given to congress shows that when looking at how terrorist organizations have been defeated over history, that is EXACTLY how the vast majority have been taken out, and that military means rarely work. Given Obamas stance on the war in the beginning, and his plan to end it, I would say that is amazing insight, something that this country desperately needs after 8 years of having a numnuts in office.
http://www.rand.org/pubs/testimonies/CT314/index.html
Posted by: zeke666 | September 30, 2008, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
—( all Palin has to do is keep her mouth shut )—
That’s all she has been doing pretty much up to now anyway..
Posted by: Concerned American | September 30, 2008, 6:21 pm 6:21 pm
Hmmmm…not a single mention by ABC, CBS, CNN, etc of Gov. Palin’s son who is also getting ready to deploy. Fair and balanced? The media should be ashamed!
Posted by: Loves this country | September 30, 2008, 8:01 pm 8:01 pm
Good luck to the son but hey you signed up and I thank you for that but you deserve no greater send off than any other service member has had….
Posted by: Karl | September 30, 2008, 8:23 pm 8:23 pm
Like Senator Biden’s son, my brother has made repeat tours of duty to Iraq. I am glad to see that someone has finally realized that Beau Biden is off to serve his country in this way. I truly thought that we were going to hear only about Gov. Palin’s son up until Election Day. Having been involved in several ceremonies for returning and departing service men and women, I know that it doesn’t matter whether you are the son of a senator or the son of a maintenance worker. The troops themselves don’t make that distinction, and the only item with which anyone else should be concerned is the safety of this whole unit while they are in the Middle East. We will be praying for the Bidens and for all of the families with loved ones in service to our great nation. Take care, God Bless, and as they say in Ireland, “Safe home” to you.
Posted by: Colleen448 | September 30, 2008, 10:08 pm 10:08 pm
I am an Independent Voter but I have a rule of thumb. When Democrats are talking, they are lying.
Posted by: john b | October 1, 2008, 4:32 am 4:32 am
Loves this Country: “Hmmmm…not a single mention by ABC, CBS, CNN, etc of Gov. Palin’s son who is also getting ready to deploy. Fair and balanced? The media should be ashamed! ”
Yet again Republicans re-writing history to fit their desperate need to feel persecuted. The TRUTH is that Track Palin’s deployment was well, and positively, reported. Her speaking at his deployment Fort Wainwright was headline news for a day.
From abcnews.com:
“”Soldiers, we honor you. Each one of these soldiers is here by choice,” she said.
Palin never referenced her own son. As his mother spoke, Track Palin stood at attention wearing desert fatigues and a black beret, in a formation of some 4,000 soldiers facing the crowd of friends and family. He was nearly anonymous among the soldiers of his unit—nicknamed the “Grey Wolves.”"
Are you so wrapped up in playing the victim you can’t remember two weeks ago?
Posted by: jhw539 | October 1, 2008, 10:28 am 10:28 am
Democrat All My LIfe: Good post – re-treading the hardest-left conspiracy theory nutjobs’ fantasies about President Bush as an identical rant against Obama really throws into sharp relief just how desperately silly the Republican campaigning has gotten.
Sometimes straight faced satire is a powerful tool.
Posted by: jhw539 | October 1, 2008, 10:32 am 10:32 am
Please. He’s going as a military attorney. You really think he’ll be anywhere remotely dangerous? My doctor is deployed right now (for the 3rd time) and he is in more direct danger than any lawyer.
Posted by: Jeanne | October 1, 2008, 11:15 am 11:15 am
Uh, “Concerned American” – Palin’s son deployed last month. Get with it.
Posted by: Unreal | October 1, 2008, 11:40 am 11:40 am
for all you mental giants:
anyone going to iraq, to help out with this war, deserves respect and thanks, grow up!!!
Posted by: matt | October 1, 2008, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm
I’m glad that Sarah Palin did not fall on her face during the debate. I didn’t mind seeing a less aggressive, mouthy Palin. However, if people leap to the conclusion that she is competent to be vice president, that is unfortunate.
She seriously lacks the knowledge to hold such high office. She needed to come into this race with the awareness of many subjects. It is ridiculous to think that she can learn everything in time to be prepared. McCain and Palin lack judgement if they think that a vice president can be so ignorant and lacking in experience.
The vice president should support the president by being able to respond in substance. I’d try a toothpaste if Palin advertised it, but I wouldn’t vote for a ticket that has her as V.P..
I’m glad for her that she came out of it less pathetically than she did the interviews with Katie Couric. However, I’m very sad for the U.S. if people jump to the conclusion that it demonstrates readiness to be V.P.
Posted by: Andrea Jones | October 2, 2008, 11:40 pm 11:40 pm