Joe Biden update: He has wounded warriors over for early Thanksgiving

Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, had about 10 wounded veterans and their families over for an early Thanksgiving dinner Monday night, as they did last year.

In unusually brief remarks for the former senator, Biden said he was both "humbled" and "flattered" that the families had joined them in the VP's official residence at the Naval Observatory. "There's no way of really thanking you all," he added.

Mrs. Biden recalled their son Beau had served in Iraq. "I know what it means," she said, "to all those thousands of families who gather at tables this Thanksgiving, and someone they love is missing."

"It's really a joy for us to have you here tonight," she added.

The menu: turkey, of course. Also pumpkin and pecan pies.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images (Father Kevin O'Brien offers the blessing).

Comments

[Murgatroyd]

This is a classy and praiseworthy thing for the Bidens to do. I dislike Mr. Biden's politics, but it's important to give credit when it's deserved.

[Lorem Ipsum]

I agree with Muratroyd--Biden is a self-important dufus, but he's still a decent man who is capable of decent, even admirable behavior.

[Brian]

Very good gesture by the Vice president and his family...very classy. Please Mr and Mrs Vice President...stop suggesting your son Beau's tour in Iraq is an equal sacrifice however. His service is to be commended, but he served as a lawyer (JAG Corps) and never left the Green Zone Embassy. It is an important job (wills, powers of attorney), but stop equating it to that of these wounded warriors. And Mr Vice President...please stop referring to your wife as the "doctor in the family" when medical issues are discussed. She has a doctorate in education (Ed.D.)...not a medical degree. Regardless, this was a classy gesture by the second family.

[jack thompson]

IT SURE IS GRATE that we have the lord to go to in time of truble like this WE ALL NEED TO PREEAY FOR GOD TO BLESS OUR COUNTRY AND KEEP IT STRONG AND STRONG ANS BE WITRH OUR MEN AND WOMAN OVER THERE PUT AN ARMER AROUND THEM GOD PLEASE KEEP THEM SAFE FOR US AND THEIR FAMLEYS I HOPE THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME WE HAVE TO GO OVER THEIR AGAIN WE WERE THEIR ABOUT IN THER 50S I TRHINK I HOPE THET FLATEN NORTH KOREAN FLAT

[Bally Vaughan]

It is nice that conservatives see the kindness in the Vice President and his wife for hosting this dinner. But like all conservatives, while bestowing praise on them, they must take a whack at them for their politics. Why, oh why, can't you either just comment on their kindness or leave it alone. I'm glad I am a Liberal.

[Biden the wind bag !]

Under the pretense of a good gesture the verbal diarhea afflicted A.H. of a VP
is always looking for a captive audience. It is a shame that he was not the one to
get 12 stitches on the mouth.Biden's arrogance is well known among heads of
states and prime minister Netenyahu adroitly put Biden in his place when he
tried to intimidate the Israelis about housing projects in Jerusalem.Obama's
top advisers are pleading with him to dump Biden as a running mate if he wants
any chance of reelection in 2012,some have gone as far as saying that kucinich
would be a better choice after Hillary C. said she was not interested.

[Staunch Liberal]

Baldy vaughan does not have a point. Biden is the one responsable for the failure of card check and cap and trade becoming law.Biden was able to
convince Obama that theese 2 main 2008 firm promises could not be put
into effect if the dems wanted sen. Specter to join the dem. caucus.our best
liberal agenda items are beeing sabotaged on the alter of questionable short
term scoring of political points largely because of the unjustified influence
of a second rate VP.

[Biden's navel observatory]

Insisting on anonymity ,political operatives close to Biden marvel at the VP's
hability to capitalise on emotional issues,some even underline how adept
Biden is compared to the distant and aloof attitude of pres. Obama. In private,
Biden likes to bragg about how much better than Obama he can exploit just
about any subject and project the appearance of true empathy.Emanuel often took umbrage to Biden's cockiness and is rumored to have resigned
because Obama refused to replace the self congratulating Biden.

[Autumn of calamitous defeat after summer of non-recovery]

To quote a famous LAT blogger,Obama's & Biden's stimulus only stimulated
thel deficit and national debt.Biden was given the task of overseeing stimulus
spending to make sure tax payer $ were spent wisely. Biden failed miserably.
Then came Biden's proclamation of the summer of recovery. As we are now
just 3 weeks away from winter and way past the end of summer,we must
chalk up another flopsicle on Biden's performance review.The point beeing
that a yearly meal with our bravest warriors does not mask the total incompetence of both top executives.

[Appalled]

To Brian: You have, with one absurd comment, swiped all of us who volunteered to serve as JAG officers as well as every man and woman service member who has given or is giving service to our great nation as medical personnel...nurses, doctors, technicians...as advisors, as computer programers, electricians, food service. Well, you get the picture, right? How dare you put down ANY member of our military, who in every right would rather be at home with friends and family, because he or she does not fit your ideal of military. Does one have to simply strap on a gun and go out with the intent to kill or maim others in order for you to consider he or she worthy of respect. You make me, and the family and loved ones of all who make sacrifice, ill. Which begs the question, what are you sacrificing for your country?

[Robert W. Goodfellow]

Joe biden true Americian HBero God Bless you for doing this.

[JEAN]

GOD BLESS THE BIDENS FOR THIS.THEY ARE AND HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD PEOPLE .IF YOU ARE POSTING NEGATIVE .YOU DON'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT THIS FAMILY .ITS JUST YOUR STYLE TO DO,AND HAVE NEVER LEARNED RESPECT FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS.