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Biden Chokes Up in Steeler Country
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ShareSeptember 25, 2008 12:46 PM
ABC News' Matthew Jaffe reports: The story about the car accident that killed Sen. Joe Biden's first wife and daughter in 1972 is well-known, but in his speech today in Greensburg, PA, an emotional Biden described a gesture by the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers that left a lasting impression on him and his two injured sons.
Last month in Pittsburgh in an impromptu run-in with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and just last week in a stop at Canton's Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee mentioned how former Steeler Rocky Bleier brought an autographed football to his two hospitalized boys, Beau and Hunter, in Wilmington, but today, an introduction by Steelers owner Dan Rooney caused the memories to once again come flooding back.
"I'm sorry to take your time, but Mr. Rooney reminded of this, Dan reminded my by just seeing him," Biden said. "They wouldn't let me bring a Christmas tree in, understandably, into the hospital, because of concern about fire, so I went to K-Mart to get a synthetic tree that would, you know, so I’d be able to bring it in and have something there at Christmas for my kids."
"I don't remember precisely, it was either the 23rd or Christmas Eve Day, I’m not sure, I think it was the 23rd, while I was, one of the few times I was away from their bed for a couple hours," the Delaware lawmaker recalled. "I came back and they, they looked like they had lighted up like Christmas trees. My one little boy was in traction and the other little boy had a seriously fractured skull and they were happy, and they each had separately, they had a football in their beds…"
At that point, Biden paused, with the whole high-school gymnasium silent as the senator choked up behind the podium.
"Excuse me," he said, as the audience then filled the silence with applause.
"Anyway," Biden continued. "I said, 'Guys, where'd you get the ball?' and they said 'Daddy, Rocky Bleier gave it to us.'"
Art Rooney Sr., Dan's father, had sent Bleier, the Steelers fullback, to Wilmington to present the young Biden boys with a get-well gift.
"Mr. Rooney Sr., Dan's dad, had, without any fanfare, without, without any announcement, without anything other than his incredible decency…," said Biden, trying to continue but stopping again to wipe away his tears.
"I really apologize, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I shouldn’t have tried to do this, but anyway…"
More supportive cheers came from the crowd as the senator caught his tears with his handkerchief.
"It's a helluva family, it's a helluva family," Biden stated.
"And as I said when Dan introduced me to his son, I said an expression my dad used to have, I looked at Dan's son and I said, 'If my dad were here, he'd say, 'kid, you got good blood, you got good blood.'" And they're good blood. The Rooneys are the finest family in American football and we're lucky to have them here in southwest Pennsylvania."
September 25, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (134)
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Seriously - how can you not love the guy?
Posted by: Mary | Sep 25, 2008 12:54:23 PM
What does his family's accident or football in SW Pennsylvania have to do with the Presidential campaign? Sounds like Biden needs people to feel sorry for him-----
STICK TO THE SUBJECT BIDEN. Do you remember what that is?
Posted by: Keeshawna | Sep 25, 2008 12:54:35 PM
HEY! I don't like this Biden story. I am going to suspend my campaign.
Maybe if I hold things up long enough they'll cancel that Palin debate which is really buggy the heck out of me.
Suspend! Suspend!
Posted by: suspendnow | Sep 25, 2008 12:55:05 PM
and those boys grew up to be corrupt lawyers.
Posted by: geevill | Sep 25, 2008 12:56:46 PM
im suspending this blog!
Posted by: Bhrandon | Sep 25, 2008 12:57:45 PM
You got good blood too, Biden. Good man.
Posted by: Kevin | Sep 25, 2008 12:57:56 PM
GREAT Story.
Posted by: pt | Sep 25, 2008 12:58:34 PM
It is nice to see the personal side of a candidate ince in a while.
Posted by: formerhillary | Sep 25, 2008 1:00:24 PM
Oh, I don't know Keeshawna... maybe it has something to do with illustrating the decency of mankind? The fact that the Steeler's owner introduced him?
I think that would certainly remind me of that noble gesture, and I would want people to know how much such a gesture was appreciated.
Your assertion that this has no place in the debates is no different than the McCain camp bringing up his POW stint. Yes, we all respect him and are thankful to him for serving our country.
But being a POW does NOT qualify you to be President.
Posted by: Chris | Sep 25, 2008 1:01:16 PM
Kees...I suppose McCain sticks to the story when he keeps bringing up his war experience....
Posted by: thetruth | Sep 25, 2008 1:01:24 PM
geevil...you're a jerk! One of his sons works for the disadvantaged the other is in Iraq....
Posted by: formerhillary | Sep 25, 2008 1:03:05 PM
"At the height of the Vietnam War, Bleier was thrust into combat early and was seriously wounded when his platoon ran into an ambush. Receiving wounds from both rifle fire and grenade fragments in his legs, he was barely able to walk and his professional football career seemed to have ended before it began."
Joe Biden should be ashamed of himself for allowing his team's supporter to trash someone with a story similar to Rocky Bleier's.
For more than two years, he drove himself. Little by little he overcame obstacles and fought his way back. He not only made the Pittsburgh Steelers, but also eventually became a starting running back on a team that won four Super Bowls and became the greatest football team of the 20th century."
Posted by: geevill | Sep 25, 2008 1:04:30 PM
geevil..you must be a VERY angry and unhappy person. I have seen nothing but negative thinking and talking on these blogs, from you.
Do you have any positive input?
Posted by: life201 | Sep 25, 2008 1:04:44 PM
geevill, one of them is serving with the Oxycotin hockey kid in Iraq. Show some respect.
Posted by: ricky | Sep 25, 2008 1:05:25 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/23/AR2008082302200.html
Sunday, August 24, 2008; Page A09
A son and a brother of Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) are accused in two lawsuits of defrauding a former business partner and an investor of millions of dollars in a hedge fund deal that went sour, court records show
Posted by: geevill | Sep 25, 2008 1:06:16 PM
geevil...I have not seen anyone "trashing" McCain service. I only see people saying he is using it to leverage in this campaign, which is a scum ball thing to so.
Posted by: thetruth | Sep 25, 2008 1:07:15 PM
geevil...what does his brother have to due with this?
You are VERY angry...get counceling
Posted by: life201 | Sep 25, 2008 1:08:36 PM
I'm sorry to take your time, but Mr. Rooney reminded of this, Dan reminded my by just seeing him," Biden said.
What a liar. As mentioned Biden has been milking this story for weeks.
Posted by: geevill | Sep 25, 2008 1:10:33 PM
geevil..
I think I an going to cry....:-(
get over yourself!!! Everyone has had hard times in their lives and many have gone through hell...
But most don't use it as a lever.
Posted by: thoughtful | Sep 25, 2008 1:11:05 PM
and using a car accident is what? noble?
Posted by: geevill | Sep 25, 2008 1:11:16 PM
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