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Congratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
Democratic Primaries
In reply to the discussion: Boston Globe: Biden was the Admiral Stockdale of this debate [View all]Gothmog
(145,129 posts)65. 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.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
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It IS kinda sad Joe... I think what we saw was the beginning of the end of the Biden campaign.
InAbLuEsTaTe
Nov 2019
#29
You said that a couple of weeks ago, then Biden surged. Please keep saying it! Thanks.
George II
Nov 2019
#81
It is the first debate I mostly watched (laptop, WA Post website) - I thought Biden
NRaleighLiberal
Nov 2019
#3
sorry - tired! - I edited to add Warren in with the larger group. I didn't think she stood out
NRaleighLiberal
Nov 2019
#6
Love Elizabeth too!! Currently my #2... but I could easily see voting for her
InAbLuEsTaTe
Nov 2019
#30
That comment Joe made about coming out of the black community was stunning!!
InAbLuEsTaTe
Nov 2019
#33
More Warren supporters in the media...they obviously didn't watch the same debate I did...I thought
Demsrule86
Nov 2019
#43
Sliming the probable nominee is a bad idea unless you want four more years of Trump.
Demsrule86
Nov 2019
#44
Most polls show Trump above 40%. He has to win three states...WI, MI and PA.
Demsrule86
Nov 2019
#54
I agree...we have great candidates...and in any other election, I would not worry so much. But
Demsrule86
Nov 2019
#58
Obama's father was born in Africa...Apparently which I didn't know as I could care a less...
Demsrule86
Nov 2019
#45
Telling a black woman how she should identify herself is beneath Democrats. Leave the whitesplaining
StarfishSaver
Nov 2019
#94
You're mighty confrontational for one here only 4 days and just eeking past a single-digit postcount
StarfishSaver
Nov 2019
#107
+1. Not to mention that she didn't become Senator until 2016, after Obama/Biden
R B Garr
Nov 2019
#40
No, not a big deal... but it is an indication that Joe has trouble expressing his thoughts.
InAbLuEsTaTe
Nov 2019
#37
Again...perhaps you need to read up on Stockdale...as a Navy Brat, I know the man is a hero...so
Demsrule86
Nov 2019
#52
I agree... it's way past time to jettison the second and third tier candidates from the debate stage
InAbLuEsTaTe
Nov 2019
#38
I would also add that no matter what...party or no party...Admiral Stockdale was a war hero who was
Demsrule86
Nov 2019
#47
Fuck you Boston Globe and I am sure Biden will be proud to be compared to an American hero like
Demsrule86
Nov 2019
#49
Every navy brat has heard of Admiral Stockdale...and the person who wrote this article
Demsrule86
Nov 2019
#73
Thank you for taking the time to read about this American hero...he deserves better than to
Demsrule86
Nov 2019
#77
It just sucks being the front runner and all...oh well I guess those in the single digits are the
Demsrule86
Nov 2019
#74
Every time I read the title of this thread, it makes me sick. Again He was a hero...just horrible.
Demsrule86
Nov 2019
#57
I think you are talking about my post...and I said posting multiple nasty articles about Biden was
Demsrule86
Nov 2019
#76
Sorry he's not losing as much support as you would like but I saw his town hall and he kicked
UniteFightBack
Nov 2019
#66
Eugene Robinson-"sounded authoritative in a way that showed his experience and his stature as Vice P
Gothmog
Nov 2019
#68
"Stuttering can feel like a series of betrayals. Your body betrays you when it refuses to work in co
Gothmog
Nov 2019
#82
I assume Joe had this problem in 2012 when he positively annihilated Paul Ryan in a debate
BeyondGeography
Nov 2019
#83