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Democratic Primaries
In reply to the discussion: Biden's gaffes are likely an extension of his stutter - which he has had most his life. [View all]Gothmog
(179,648 posts)96. What Joe Biden Can't Bring Himself to Say
I was a stutter until about 4th grade. I find these attacks on Biden to be sad. This article about Joe's stuttering really hit home with me. The discussion of the movie The King's Speech was very moving for me.
Link to tweet
In Bidens office, the first time I bring up his current stuttering, he asks me whether Ive seen The Kings Speech. He speaks almost mystically about the award-winning 2010 film. When King George VI, when he stood up in 1939, everyone knew he stuttered, and they knew what courage it took for him to stand up at that stadium and try to speakand it gave them courage
I could feel that. It was that sinking feeling, likeoh my God, I remember how you felt. You feel like, I dont know
almost like youre being sucked into a black hole.
Presidential candidates usually dont speak about their bleakest moments, certainly not this viscerally. It resembles the way Biden writes in his memoir about the aftermath of the 1972 car accident that killed his first wife and young daughter and critically injured his two sons, Beau and Hunter: I could not speak, only felt this hollow core grow in my chest, like I was going to be sucked inside a black hole.
A few weeks later, I ask Jill Biden what she remembers about sitting next to her husband during the movie. It was one of those moments in a marriage where you just sort of understand without words being spoken, she says.
As he watched The Kings Speech, Biden accurately guessed that the screenwriter, David Seidler, was a stutterer. He showed me a copy of a speech they found in an attic that the king had actually used, where he marks hisits exactly what I do! Biden tells me, his voice lifting. My staff, when I have them put something on a prompterI wish I had something to show you.
Presidential candidates usually dont speak about their bleakest moments, certainly not this viscerally. It resembles the way Biden writes in his memoir about the aftermath of the 1972 car accident that killed his first wife and young daughter and critically injured his two sons, Beau and Hunter: I could not speak, only felt this hollow core grow in my chest, like I was going to be sucked inside a black hole.
A few weeks later, I ask Jill Biden what she remembers about sitting next to her husband during the movie. It was one of those moments in a marriage where you just sort of understand without words being spoken, she says.
As he watched The Kings Speech, Biden accurately guessed that the screenwriter, David Seidler, was a stutterer. He showed me a copy of a speech they found in an attic that the king had actually used, where he marks hisits exactly what I do! Biden tells me, his voice lifting. My staff, when I have them put something on a prompterI wish I had something to show you.
I agree with Joe that it would be difficult for trump to use Joe's stutter against him
In Bidens office, as my time is about to run out, I bring up the fact that Trump crudely mocked a disabled New York Times reporter during the 2016 campaign. So far, hes called you Sleepy Joe. Is St-St-St-Stuttering Joe next?
I dont think so, Biden says, because if you ask the polls Does Biden stutter? Has he ever stuttered?, youd have 80 to 95 percent of people say no. If Trump goes there, Biden adds, itll just expose him for what he is.
I ask Biden something else weve been circling: whether he worries that people would pity him if they thought he still stuttered.
He scratches his chin, his fingers trembling slightly. Well, I guess, um, its kind of hard to pity a vice president. Its kind of hard to pity a senator whos gotten six zillion awards. Its kind of hard to pity someone who has had, you know, a decent family. I-I-I-I dont think if, now, if someone sits and says, Well, you know, the kid, when he was a stutterer, he must have been really basically stupid, I-I-I dont think its hard toIve never thought of that. I mean, theres nobody in the last, I dont know, 55 years, has ever said anything like that to me.
I dont think so, Biden says, because if you ask the polls Does Biden stutter? Has he ever stuttered?, youd have 80 to 95 percent of people say no. If Trump goes there, Biden adds, itll just expose him for what he is.
I ask Biden something else weve been circling: whether he worries that people would pity him if they thought he still stuttered.
He scratches his chin, his fingers trembling slightly. Well, I guess, um, its kind of hard to pity a vice president. Its kind of hard to pity a senator whos gotten six zillion awards. Its kind of hard to pity someone who has had, you know, a decent family. I-I-I-I dont think if, now, if someone sits and says, Well, you know, the kid, when he was a stutterer, he must have been really basically stupid, I-I-I dont think its hard toIve never thought of that. I mean, theres nobody in the last, I dont know, 55 years, has ever said anything like that to me.
This is an issue that I have strong feelings about.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
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Biden's gaffes are likely an extension of his stutter - which he has had most his life. [View all]
Drunken Irishman
Aug 2019
OP
Stress, time pressure, performance anxiety increase symptoms, and thus the speaker has to work
emmaverybo
Aug 2019
#39
NOT TRUE. Aphasia is loss of the ability to understand or express speech, caused by brain damage.
highplainsdem
Aug 2019
#8
Well, then I guess everyone on earth suffers from aphasia, because everyone makes such mistakes.
highplainsdem
Aug 2019
#13
And see this for a Psychology Today article on slips of the tongue and why they happen:
highplainsdem
Aug 2019
#23
You think that's funny? I'll take that over someone who read a book about it
redstateblues
Aug 2019
#86
Aphasia is usually caused by a stroke, and it's not at all what you think it is.
cwydro
Aug 2019
#85
Unless he did not write the recent op-Ed about conditions in Central American countries himself,
emmaverybo
Aug 2019
#32
Catching other candidates' mistakes isn't part of their media narrative, and would undermine
highplainsdem
Aug 2019
#14
You, and some other Biden supporters, are trying so hard to place a force field around Joe
True Dough
Aug 2019
#9
This post makes no claim about criticisms on past policy positions or Biden's place on the
emmaverybo
Aug 2019
#45
Your response is not a response to any of the comments I made. I said nothing about your" point
emmaverybo
Aug 2019
#60
See this thread for a linguistic expert's take on how unfairly campaigning politicians are judged:
highplainsdem
Aug 2019
#11
You're seeing OPs about slips of the tongue today because the top half of the 1st page here had
highplainsdem
Aug 2019
#35
People have been talking about Biden's gaffes for years. It's nothing new
StarfishSaver
Aug 2019
#46
So I'm not allowed to point out that slips of the tongue are common for everyone, if I didn't
highplainsdem
Aug 2019
#49
But if people point out that slips of the tongue are common, you say it indicates that they're
highplainsdem
Aug 2019
#57
Expressing an opinion about what you post on an internet discussion board isn't the same
StarfishSaver
Aug 2019
#59
I am glad to see this post. Yes, even at DU! It is incumbent on those that pounce on Biden's
emmaverybo
Aug 2019
#22
I believe his stutter probably is a factor, but in fact slips of the tongue are common for everyone:
highplainsdem
Aug 2019
#25
Biden's gaffes don't bother me, and I understand there are good reasons why he makes them.
Politicub
Aug 2019
#26
The thing that stands out about all your numbers is that HRC lost both times.
redstateblues
Aug 2019
#42
He is, as is reflected in his front runner status, the most specifically qualified, knowledgeable,
emmaverybo
Aug 2019
#61
Of course it's related - having to focus on not stuttering can cause a stutterer to lose focus
Skya Rhen
Aug 2019
#44
Better a gaffe than outright freaking lies and willful ignorance like trump n/t
mtngirl47
Aug 2019
#50
Thank you so much for this, I'm glad that he is just the way he is, I had never heard of this before
secondwind
Aug 2019
#56