Joe, Strom and Jesse

Republicans were quick to attack Barack Obama's choice of Joe Biden as his running mate today, just as quick as Biden was to jump into his role of partisan attack dog during a speech in Springfield, Illinois.

But after three decades in the Senate, the Delaware senator learned to get along with his Republican colleagues, even those he disagreed with vehemently. That includes two conservative lions from the Carolinas, writes Jim Morrill of the Charlotte Observer.

In 2003, Biden delivered a eulogy at the Columbia funeral of longtime GOP Sen. and one-time segregationist Strom Thurmond.

"I disagreed deeply with Strom on the issue of civil rights and on many other issues, but I watched him change. We became good friends; I'm not sure exactly how or why it happened. I grew to know him. I learned from him, and I watched him change, oh so subtly.

"Like all of us, he started off as a product of his time. But he understood people; he cared for them. He knew how to read people, how to move them, how to get things done."

Last October, during Biden's own short-lived presidential campaign, I covered his appearance in Rock Hill, S.C. When his speech was done and the crowd had gone, he came up to me, the only N.C. reporter there.

"Tell me one thing," he said, putting a hand on my shoulder. "How's Jesse?"

Like Thurmond, Jesse Helms was Biden's polar opposite in so many ways. But that didn't stop the two men, both Senate veterans and colleagues on the foreign relations committee, from sharing a mutual respect.

Last month, Biden was one of just a handful of prominent Democrats at Helms' funeral in Raleigh.

Comments

[Ivanv]

Sen Biden is a rare example of someone who greatly argues his position; but he doesn't define himself by his opposition to his opponent's.

This is statesmanship. If anyone says, "It's weak" then they're either spinning, lying or ignorant.

[Michele, Belleville IL]

Joe Biden stands far above the crowd of his peers in Washington. He is the model politician every man or woman should look to when it comes to representing their constituency, on a local, state, or federal level.

His work and accomplishments in Washington have never been partisan - he represents what is best for ALL of "We, the people," as a whole. He will re-define the definition of Vice-President, and an Obama/Biden administration will be an historical presidency.

Joe Biden never forgets where he came from, and deeply cares about all who crosses his path in life, friend or foe. This is a great example of the true picture of "Who is Joe Biden". Thank you for posting.