Tag: Vice President Joe Biden

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Vice-President Biden At Freedom To Marry Celebration: Same-Sex Marriage Decision Was “Inevitable”

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden made a special appearance at a Freedom to Marry event in New York City last night, applauding those in attendance for their efforts to win the freedom to marry in the U.S., following the historic Supreme Court ruling.

Biden spoke of a moment when he was 17 and he and his father saw two men kissing. “He said ‘Joey, they love each other. It’s simple,’” he said, quoting his father. “That’s what it’s been about from the beginning. It’s never been that complicated for me.”

Biden went on to say he always knew the Supreme Court’s decision on marriage equality was “inevitable.”

Recounting the journey so far in the fight for LGBT rights, Biden added, “I want you younger people here to understand the shoulders you are standing on.”

Biden also made note that much work remains to be done in the LGBT arena for equality: while same-sex couples are now eligible for federal marriage benefits nationwide, 32 states don’t have anti-discrimination employment laws protecting sexual orientation.

Forward.

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President Obama Delivers Moving Eulogy At Funeral Of Beau Biden

President Obama hugs Vice-President Joe Biden after eulogizing Biden’s son, Beau

President Barack Obama eulogized Beau Biden Saturday as a good man of character “who loved deeply and was loved in return,” hailing the compassion and public service of his family in a moving funeral oration to grief-stricken Vice President Joe Biden’s son.

Obama said that the former Delaware Attorney General and Iraq War veteran, who died a week ago from brain cancer at 46, was a fine man who was full of integrity and refused to trade on his family name. He did his duty to his country and “did not have a mean bone in his body,” Obama said.

“Beau Biden brought to his work a mighty hearty, he brought to his family a mighty heart,” Obama said in his eulogy, during which he appeared on the verge of being overcome several times.

“Beau Biden was an original. He was a good man, a man of character, a man who loved deeply and was loved in return.” Obama said.

When he had concluded his eulogy, Obama stepped down from the pulpit of the St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington, Delaware, and folded Biden in his arms, placing a kiss on his vice president’s cheek.

(from CNN)

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Beau Biden, Son Of Vice-President Joe Biden, Passes Away From Brain Cancer At 46

From Huffington Post:

Beau Biden, the son of Vice President Joe Biden, has died from brain cancer, the White House announced Saturday evening. He was 46.

Biden served as Delaware’s attorney general for eight years between 2007 to 2015. In 2010, he suffered a mild stroke but recovered and went back to work.

“Michelle and I are grieving tonight,” President Obama said in a statement.

From the Biden Family:

It is with broken hearts that Hallie, Hunter, Ashley, Jill and I announce the passing of our husband, brother and son, Beau, after he battled brain cancer with the same integrity, courage and strength he demonstrated every day of his life.

The entire Biden family is saddened beyond words. We know that Beau’s spirit will live on in all of us—especially through his brave wife, Hallie, and two remarkable children, Natalie and Hunter.

Beau’s life was defined by service to others. As a young lawyer, he worked to establish the rule of law in war-torn Kosovo. A major in the Delaware National Guard, he was an Iraq War veteran and was awarded the Bronze Star. As Delaware’s Attorney General, he fought for the powerless and made it his mission to protect children from abuse.

More than his professional accomplishments, Beau measured himself as a husband, father, son and brother. His absolute honor made him a role model for our family. Beau embodied my father’s saying that a parent knows success when his child turns out better than he did.

In the words of the Biden family: Beau Biden was, quite simply, the finest man any of us have ever known.

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Vice-President Joe Biden Says He’ll Decide On 2016 Candidacy By Mid-2015

At an event hosted by Politico, Vice-president Joe Biden says he will make an announcement about a possible run for prez by late Spring/Early Summer 2015.

From The Hill:

“I honest to God haven’t made up my mind,” Biden said at a ‘Women Rule’ event hosted by Politico. “I’m confident I’d be in a position to be competitive.”

“The one thing that moves me — I think that I have the ability to bring the sides together,” he added.

Every major poll shows Biden trailing former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination by a huge margin.

A recent CNN poll showed Clinton at 65% among Democrats in the poll; Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) trailed at 10%, and Biden third at 9%.

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VP Biden on Islamic State: “We will follow them to the gates of hell”

Vice President Joe Biden had strong language today for the Islamic State regarding the killing of American journalist Steven Sotloff.

Speaking at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, Biden repeatedly used the term “barbarians” in describing ISIL, and promised that the United States will retaliate.

Via Buzzfeed:

“The American people are so much stronger, so much more resolved than any enemy can fully understand,” Biden said.

“As a nation we are united and when people harm Americans we don’t retreat, we don’t forget. We take care of those who are grieving and when that’s finished, they should know we will follow them to the gates of hell until they are brought to justice because hell is where they will reside.”

Watch below courtesy of CNN:

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Two years ago today: VP Joe Biden on marriage equality

Two years ago today, Vice-President Joe Biden gave this statement on Meet The Press regarding marriage equality:

“The good news is that as more and more Americans become to understand what this is all about is a simple proposition. Who do you love? Who do you love? And will you be loyal to the person you love?

“And that’s what people are finding out is what — what all marriages, at their root, are about. Whether they’re marriages of lesbians or gay men or heterosexuals.

“I am vice president of the United States of America. The president sets the policy. I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties.

“And quite frankly, I don’t see much of a distinction beyond that.” 

(h/t JMG)

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Vice-President Biden doesn’t see a “downside” to executive order banning anti-LGBT discrimination in workplace

Vice President Joe Biden says he sees no disadvantage to a presidential executive order banning anti-LGBT discrimination by federal contractors.

Could this be a prologue to the President issuing such an executive order?

Asked by The Huffington Post this week about his feelings on such an order, Biden said, “I don’t see any downside.” Activists have urged the president to issue such an order, saying it would provide protection to a large population of LGBT workers — all those working for companies doing business with the federal government — while antidiscrimination legislation remains pending in Congress. Obama has resisted so far, saying the legislative route is the better way to go.

Biden agreed that legislation is preferable, as it would cover a larger number of workers, but in saying there’s nothing to lose with an executive order, he may be dropping hints that the president is about to sign one — or perhaps providing the catalyst for him to do so.

Remember it was Biden’s statement of support for marriage equality two years ago that preceded Obama’s by just a few days.

Things that make you go “hmm…”

(source)

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Vice President Joe Biden at HRC gala: “Pass ENDA Now!”

Vice President Joe Biden speaking last night at the HRC gala in Los Angeles:

“My grandkids, my children, and their kids are going to be shocked, it shocks the conscious that this very moment in American history, in some states, an employer can fire you just because of who you are, or who you love. It’s close to barbaric.

“I mean think about this, a man, no I really mean this. Imagine, imagine, 20 years from now, as America look back and say how in the hell could that have ever been allowed?

“The country’s moved on. The American people have moved on, it’s time for the Congress to move on, and pass ENDA.

“Pass ENDA now. Not tomorrow, now!”

You can watch his full remarks below:

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Vice-president Joe Biden: I couldn’t remain silent on the issue of gay marriage

At Tom Harkin’s steak fry in Iowa yesterday, Vice-President Joe Biden said “I could not remain silent anymore. It’s time we start talking. It’s the civil rights of our day. It’s the issue of our day. It’s the reason why the President eliminated DADT and DOMA.”

Watch the video for more.