biden

Thirty-six years ago, Joe Biden lost his wife and young daughter in a tragic car accident. His two young sons were severely injured as well. It was the year he was set to begin his first term in the Senate. He nearly recused himself from the seat, but continued nonetheless. For the next few years, then, he juggled life as a single father and a Senator. Despite a remarriage, new children, and the success of his sons, the man still carries with him the weight of the loss. The man has my respect and sympathies.


Watch CBS Videos Online

Biden

I must confess that even though I'm a political junkie, I really didn't know that much about Joe Biden. I knew a bit about his record, and a bit about his role in the Senate. But for the most part, he was just another old white guy who passed through the halls of Washington. His speech tonight turned my attitude on its heels.

He came out as a powerful, but not erudite, speaker. He was genuine and grounded. His rhetoric was based in detail and personal experience rather than lofty propositions. When it came to his attacks on McCain, they were specific and established stark contrasts with Obama's positions. That said, what caught my attention from the outset was the story about the death of his wife and daughter and severe injury of his two young sons just before he was due to take the oath of office. For the next five years, he cared for his sons and commuted to DC for his Senate role. He was a single father—a crucible that anneals a man's metal.