Women's Leadership Forum: Dr. and Senator Biden Wow the Crowd

One of the highlights of the first day of the Women's Leadership Forum in Chicago was hearing from Jill and Joe Biden.  Even following the star power and sheer magnificence that is Oprah, Jill and Joe Biden were a treat.  There is a palpable affection and admiration between the two of them that seems all too rare in public figures, where the marriage seems more for show than substance.  Some political couples seem oddly matched or indifferent to each other.  Jill and Joe Biden, though, seem like the real deal.

Jill (or Dr. Jill) came out to introduce her husband, and did so with a mixture of admiration and good-natured ribbing.  She told the story of how she came home after receiving her PhD to signs on the front of their house saying, "Home of DR. Jill Biden."  It was the kind of thoughtful gesture that Joe was prone to do.

Joe Biden immediately told the story of one of his constituents, an elderly, straight-shooting woman named Mabel who told him after meeting Jill, "Boy, you are marrying up." 

He spent the next few minutes talking about what a smart, wonderful woman he is married to.  He said that when Jill decided to pursue her Ph.D, after getting two masters degrees while working and raising kids, she told him, "I'm tired of getting mail addressed to 'Senator and Mrs. Biden'.  I'd like to get mail to 'Senator and Dr. Biden'."  He cautioned us that if we ever send letters to their house to be sure to address it to "Senator and Dr. Biden".

Biden said that both he and Barack were influenced by very strong women growing up, and were blessed to have strong women in their lives now.  He said Barack could be measured by the fact that he's married to Michelle, a woman who is nothing short of amazing, someone beautiful, talented, and smart, and who has what his mother would call "a heart of gold."

He said that years ago, Senator Dianne Feinstein remarked to him that "All you guys who do well in the Senate have really strong mothers."

Biden told a story about his own mother, who for years would not give interviews or talk to the press.  She finally decided to give an interview to David Frost, who insisted on calling him "Joey."  He asked Biden's mom, "What was the most difficult age to raise Joey?"

She replied, "Well, I guess after 40."

Biden said that he has had some glimpse of the challenges faced by women, and the role that government can play in making their lives better or worse.

He said, "During the debate with Governor Palin...Well, at least I think it was a debate..."

This line grew great laughter and applause from the audience, all well-aware of Palin's performance (or non-performance) in the VP debate.

Biden went on to say that he admired Palin, and any woman who could balance work and family, but noted that "being a woman is not the same as being there for women.  Barack Obama and I will be there for women." 

He went on to say that the first people to suffer in an economic downturn are women, because millions of women make minimum wage.  He said that John McCain voted 19 against raising the minimum wage.  "If John McCain had his way, those women making minimum wage would still be earning $3.35 an hour."

He talked about McCain's support of privatization of social security, and wondered where elderly, retired women would be now had Bush and McCain been able to push that plan through.

He spoke eloquently about his work on the Violence Against Women Act, which helped set up the National Battered Women's Hotline.  He said that McCain didn't think the Violence Against Women Act mattered much, but to the 1.5 million women who called the hotline last year, it meant a great deal.  I used to volunteer on one of these hotlines, and I know exactly what he was talking about.  For some women, it could mean the difference between life and death.

John McCain voted against the Equal Pay Act, which was to rectify the Supreme Court decision authored by Scalia and Alito in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire.  He noted that the appointments that the next President make to the Supreme Court will last a generation, and so this is vitally important to women.

Biden got fired up when he talked about Republicans talking about "values."  He said, "I've had it up to hear with them talking about values.  Well, here's what we value:  We value the right of women to be protected in their own homes.  We value a fair and decent minimum wage.  We value the right to privacy.  We value families enough to allow paid family leave and flex time so that people can actually care for sick family members."

He noted that Jill's mother passed away last week, and that Jill was able to spend her last days with her.  To do this, many women would risk losing their jobs or at a minimum, not be able to take paid time off.

One thing that he said which I plan to send on to my parents is that under the Obama Tax Plan, retired men and women who make under $50,000 a year would not be taxed on their income.  This is something that irritates my mom to no end, the fact that she paid taxes her whole life, and now is getting taxed on what little she gets from social security.

On healthcare, he said that what he and Obama want most on healthcare "all add up to dignity and respect."  He noted that no one in this country wants anything for free, but just an even shot.

Biden said that the country needs to do better by women, and our country will be much, much better off.  The needs of women, he said, our central to Barack Obama's agenda.

He closed by saying that in 1931, Hattie Caraway was the first woman to serve in the Senate, after her husband passed away and she finished out his term.  She was later elected in her own right, but was known on Capitol Hill as someone who didn't say much.  She was so quiet that the other Congressmen called her "Silent Hattie."  Now, he noted, there are 16 women in the Senate.  In the last 77 years he said, "We've gone from Silent Hattie to Speaker Pelosi!  Now, that's progress!"

The more I see of Joe Biden, the more I like him.  He's charming, but not glib, and doesn't seem to take himself too seriously.  Joe Biden wowed the women in the crowd with his knowledge, his great sense of humor, and his obvious respect and admiration for his wife.  Joe Biden will make a great Vice President.

The MOMocrats want to express our condolences to Dr. Jill Biden and the Biden family on the passing of her mother, Bonny Jean Jacobs, on Sunday, October 5, 2008.  Our thoughts are with you.

Comments

[Laura]

So we women are on a roll, and are appreciated for our resilience. Is that going to be reflected in elected office or as the supportive women of the elected?

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