Spring Break
Biden known for foreign policy experience
Christopher Duray
Issue date: 11/3/08 Section: Election Special
Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden (Del.), 65, was born in Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of Delaware in 1965 and attended law school at Syracuse University. He then practiced law until 1972, when he ran and won the race for Delaware senator and was sworn in January of the following year.
Weeks before he was sworn in, he suffered a tragedy when his wife and daughter were killed in a car crash and his sons were critically injured. Years later, he re-married, and his three children serve as a social worker, attorney, and Delaware Attorney General, respectively.
As a senator, Biden has been lauded for his knowledge of foreign policy, and for serving on many distinguished committees, like the Foreign Relations Committee and the Judiciary Committee. He is credited for playing a large part in Congress's involvement in the 1999 conflict in Kosovo, leading the congressional efforts concerning the Darfur Genocide, expanding NATO and authorizing countless pieces of crime legislation, like the Violence Against Women Act and the creation of the sex offender registry.
In 1988, Biden suffered a massive brain aneurysm. After two surgeries, he is reportedly in good health.
Health Care
Wants to work to create more coverage for poorer people and create a new federal insurance plan.
Abortion
Supports Roe v. Wade, but opposed bill for public funding of abortions.
Iraq
Voted for the Iraq war, but has since condemned it; now supports withdrawal.
Taxes
Wants to repeal Bush tax cuts for top earners and cut taxes for the middle class.
Gay Marriage
Supports civil unions, but not gay marriage. Claims to support equal benefits for civil union couples, but voted for a bill which denied them those.
Weeks before he was sworn in, he suffered a tragedy when his wife and daughter were killed in a car crash and his sons were critically injured. Years later, he re-married, and his three children serve as a social worker, attorney, and Delaware Attorney General, respectively.
As a senator, Biden has been lauded for his knowledge of foreign policy, and for serving on many distinguished committees, like the Foreign Relations Committee and the Judiciary Committee. He is credited for playing a large part in Congress's involvement in the 1999 conflict in Kosovo, leading the congressional efforts concerning the Darfur Genocide, expanding NATO and authorizing countless pieces of crime legislation, like the Violence Against Women Act and the creation of the sex offender registry.
In 1988, Biden suffered a massive brain aneurysm. After two surgeries, he is reportedly in good health.
Health Care
Wants to work to create more coverage for poorer people and create a new federal insurance plan.
Abortion
Supports Roe v. Wade, but opposed bill for public funding of abortions.
Iraq
Voted for the Iraq war, but has since condemned it; now supports withdrawal.
Taxes
Wants to repeal Bush tax cuts for top earners and cut taxes for the middle class.
Gay Marriage
Supports civil unions, but not gay marriage. Claims to support equal benefits for civil union couples, but voted for a bill which denied them those.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Will
posted 11/03/08 @ 2:44 PM EST
Actually, Biden is known more for his foreign policy errors than his experience. He has been wrong on nearly every issue he has ever taken a position on. (Continued…)
Post a Comment