| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| | [[Image:06 biden.gif|thumb|right|200px|Joseph Biden]] | | [[Image:06 biden.gif|thumb|right|200px|Joseph Biden]] |
| − | '''Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr.''' (born 20 November 1942) is the senior U.S. Senator from [[Delaware]] (representing the state in the [[United States Senate]] since 1972), and a member of the [[Democratic]] Party. He currently serves as the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in the 110th Congress. | + | '''Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr.''' (born 20 November 1942) is the senior U.S. Senator from [[Delaware]] (representing the state in the [[United States Senate]] since 1972), and a member of the [[Democratic]] Party. He currently serves as the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in the 110th Congress. On August 23rd, Joe Biden was named Senator Obama's Vice Presidential running mate. |
| | | | |
| − | Biden declared his candidacy for [[President]] on January 31, 2007 after months of prior discussions, but later withdrew after the [[Iowa Caucus]].<ref> http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/04/chris-dodd-abandons-presidential-campaign-after-poor-showing-in-iowa/</ref> He is a self-described northeast [[liberal]]. | + | In August 2005 Biden said "John McCain is a personal friend, a great friend, and I would be honored to run with or against John McCain, because I think the country would be better off." |
| | | | |
| − | On August 23, 2008, presidential candidate [[Barack Obama]] named Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware as his vice presidential running mate.
| + | Obama hopes Biden will help the ticket in three ways: |
| | + | |
| | + | <blockquote> |
| | + | * Biden is [[Catholic]], and Obama is weak with that key voting bloc; however, the [[Catholic Church]] may take offense at Biden's pro-[[abortion]] positions. |
| | + | * Biden was born in [[Pennsylvania]], a must-win state for Obama where he is weak;<ref>Hillary Clinton defeated Obama by a wide margin in the primary; in August polls show Obama leading McCain by an average of only 5.8% [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/pa/pennsylvania_mccain_vs_obama-244.html RealClearPolitics Pennsylvania Tracking]</ref> however, Biden's roots are in the rural northeastern part of the state. |
| | + | * Biden's son is going to [[Iraq]], which helps rehabilitate Obama's image as anti-military; however, Biden himself never served. |
| | + | </blockquote> |
| | + | |
| | + | Almost immediately after his selection, the conflict between his pro-[[abortion]] position and that of his church surfaced:<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS29316+23-Aug-2008+PRN20080823</ref> |
| | + | |
| | + | <blockquote> |
| | + | :Biden has said: "I am a long-standing supporter of ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' and a woman's right to choose." But Biden's own bishop, Bishop Michael Saltarelli of Wilmington, Del., has ... denounced the notion that politicians can 'personally oppose' abortion, but refuse to pass laws protecting the unborn. He made clear that pro-abortion Catholic politicians should refrain from receiving the Eucharist: |
| | + | |
| | + | ::"The promotion of abortion by any Catholic is a grave and serious matter. Objectively, according to the constant teaching of the Scriptures and the Church, it would be more spiritually beneficial for such a person to refrain from receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. I ask Catholics in this position to have the integrity to respect the Eucharist, Catholic teaching and the Catholic faithful." |
| | + | </blockquote> |
| | | | |
| | ==Early Life and Education== | | ==Early Life and Education== |