Joe Biden's from-the-heart remarks to families of fallen troops. Must see.

[Faygo Kid]

He is the Real Deal.

"It was the first time in my career, in my life, I realized someone could go out -- and I probably shouldn't say this with the press here, but no, but it's more important, you're more important. For the first time in my life, I understood how someone could consciously decide to commit suicide," the vice president said at the TAPS National Military Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp in Arlington, Va., according to Politico. "Not because they were deranged, not because they were nuts, because they had been to the top of the mountain, and they just knew in their heart they would never get there again."

Biden then gave a painful account of the day of the incident, which took place just weeks before his swearing in as a first-term U.S. senator.

"I was down in Washington hiring my staff and I got a phone call, saying that my family had been in an accident," he said. “And just like you guys know by the tone of the phone call, you just knew. You knew when they walked up the path. You knew when the call came. You knew. You just felt it in your bones: Something bad happened. And I knew -- I don’t know how I knew, but the caller said my wife is dead. My daughter is dead. And I wasn’t sure how my sons were going to make it. They were Christmas shopping and a tractor trailer broadsided them.

"In one instant, killed two of them and, well..." Biden said, his voice brimming with emotion.

After completing his own chronicle of grief and dealing with tragedy, the vice president ended on a positive note, encouraging listeners to stay strong and understand that the darkness cast by the death of a loved one will lift.

"Folks, it can and will get better," Biden said. "There will come a day -- I promise you, and your parents as well -- when the thought of your son or daughter, or your husband or wife, brings a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye. It will happen."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57441915-503544/biden-recounts-personal-loss-shares-anguish-with-military-families/

[BeyondGeography]

1. Joe really leaves it all on the field

Notice how silent the room is by the end of the clip? He helped them, which is what he lives to do.

[longship]

2. Wow! Thank you for this post.

I just made a post about my deceased father in another thread. So, maybe it's not surprising that this post brought tears to my eyes. After reading Biden's words, I realize the Democrats really have siezed the higher moral ground. His story is precisely the kind that Dems have to relate over and over again this year. It is our strength and the Republicans' weakness.

I really love nearly everything about Joe Biden. He is the real deal. Obama made a great choice for VEEP.

Oh, R&

[Faygo Kid]

6. Would like to see that thread.

Can you share? My relationship with my father was virtually nonexistent, but it turned out to be a bizarre story. Would like to see your thread.

[longship]

9. It is brief, but here it is.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1016&pid=29578

Someday I may write about my awesome parents (probably not here, but there may be opportunities, like today, when the situation dictates it).

Thanks for your interest. My father was an incredibly kind person; my mother a bit of a fire-brand. The fact that they lived together without any apparent strife for over 50 years is a story in itself.

I only hope that in my nearly 64 years I have come up to their standards. Somehow, I find myself doubting it. Sigh! One can only hope and continue to strive for such ideals.

Thanks again.

[Faygo Kid]

16. Terrific. Maybe you saw my post about Mom.

Like I said, not much to say about Dad. Didn't see him after I was 10 until I was 22, out of the blue. Then six months later I got a call from the Wayne County Morgue to ID him on a slab. That was about it.

You were fortunate. Thanks for sharing.

Mom was a different story.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002567161

[longship]

18. Wayne County? Faygo?

Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding!!!

By any chance... Are you, or have you ever been, from Detroit?

Myself, I confess to be a Cooley High graduate. What say you?

[Faygo Kid]

20. Me, I'm an East Sider

Grew up between Eight and Nine Mile off Gratiot, and went to East Detroit High School back in the day.

Born in Detroit and my roots remain firmly there. Went to Wayne State and was a Federal's Department Store stockboy. Mom worked at Denby.

[seabeyond]

3. he brought tears. the man speaks from the heart.

he may get in trouble, but more.... people know he is sincere and it endears.

an excellent thing to remember. when remembering bring a smile to your lip, before a tear to your eye.

[loyalsister]

31. I love the way he said that!

After we lost a family member, it was a long time before we could see pictures of her without crying. I think the fact that he understands and can articulate his feelings about that common experience means A LOT to many people. It brought me to tears as well.

[seabeyond]

32. yes... nt

[cindyperry2010]

4. That man is the real deal

AND HE GETS IT

[goclark]

12. His Bio link

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/vice-president-biden

What a gift he is to our country.

[aquart]

5. Yes.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

7. Joe is rough and crusty on the outside....

...soft and big-hearted on the inside. I can see why Jill fell for him. He is truly a great guy.

[lsewpershad]

8. Powerful

I felt in my bones that he was there.

[jwirr]

10. I cried because I remember that day when he lost his wife and child.

[goclark]

11. Love Joe Biden

He is the perfect VP for Obama.

He cares and that video link is a must see for anyone with a Heart.

Republicans will probably hate it because they don't have hearts.

[GoCubsGo]

13. I just hope the repugs don't try to do to him what they did to Ed Muskie and Michael Dukakis.

They have a history of trying to get people to question a Democratic candidate's mental state, and I can see how they could attempt to exploit Joe Biden's remarks. I'm not criticizing the VP at all, here, BTW. Frankly, I think that if the repugs try to negatively exploit this, it will likely explode in their faces.

[Skelly]

14. Still waiting for that day. n/t

[PatSeg]

15. I cried through the whole speech

but I always cry when Joe talks about his late wife and daughter. This particular speech was especially moving and his advice was perfect.

Rachel talked about the speech last night and said it was unlike anything she had ever heard from a president or vice president.

[onethatcares]

17. the deal is,

we are all in this thing together, don't matter what color skin, eyes, hair, political affiliations or anything, but it seems the rightwing party wants to deny the human element for money and power.

I would prefer the human element.

[malaise]

19. It was wonderful

Rachel played all of it last night

[CBHagman]

21. Honest view of grief.

To be honest, I often forget that Biden has been through what I regard as an unbearable loss, and I would be willing to bet few people in this country know about his history.

But what he says here is necessary. In these days of open narcissim and TMI nearly everywhere we go, he says what has to be said about grief and loss.

Judging by the response, he struck a chord with the listeners too.

[Faygo Kid]

23. I have never seen anything like this, and I am no youngster.

Yes, I'm kicking it, but if anyone - anyone - here on DU has not seen this, they must do so. Nows.

[Vattel]

22. Awesome Joe! Politics has not robbed you of your humanity.

[spiderpig]

24. I simply lost it while viewing.

I think you have to actually see him speaking rather than reading the text.

I just dissolved.

[Faygo Kid]

25. Hard not to lose it with this. Extraordinary.

I have seen few politicians as moving as this. Ted Kennedy at Bobby's funeral comes to mind.

[spiderpig]

33. I remember my grandmother telling about the military vehicle pulling up

outside the house to deliver the message that her eldest son had been shot down over the English Channel in WWII.

Then a few months later (her second son was in the Pacific), she was dusting upstairs and saw a soldier walking up the front steps and she fainted dead away.

He had the wrong address.

The pain is unimaginable.

[sellitman]

26. I saw this earlier

I was thunderstruck. No words....

[Faygo Kid]

28. Words are indeed useless. This will grow in legend.

Joe Biden nails what it is all about. It's about family. The neocons don't get it.

[babylonsister]

27. I too had read about this but hadn't seen it; thank you for sharing.

I imagine there were people who took great comfort in VP Biden's words.

[gateley]

29. The photos behind him of our fallen brothers and sisters...

He IS the real deal. I've always believed in him.

[WheelWalker]

30. Kick and recommend!

[jillan]

34. "...brings a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye." That is the most beautiful

comment I have ever heard regarding the loss of a loved one.

That comment will stay with me forever.

Joe is such a good man - and I am so sick to death of the comic book character the media has made out of him.

[Historic NY]

35. Yup.........

I've learned that. Nothing helps more than to remember and call them by name (even thou the chair is empty) at holiday gatherings. Break family photos, laugh, talk & remember...I'm getting older but I've seen much.

[awoke_in_2003]

36. There is a reason...

why Joe was my first pick in the primaries- he is real. He may sometimes drive the establishment crazy, but he is always real. I know about the tired cliche about having a beer with a candidate, but he has always appeared, to me, like the good natured next door neighbor. Obama was smart to bring him on board.

[valerief]

37. Great clip. Great message. nt