Biden's Military Medical Deferment a Big Question

Professor Peabody · #1 (**permalink**) 09-15-2008, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Biden's way with words now seems to be a liability

[CITY Edition]
St. Petersburg Times - St. Petersburg, Fla.
Author: JOHN HARWOOD
Date: Sep 20, 1987

At the University of Delaware, he was a mediocre student - 506 out of 688 in the class of 1965. He was ``trying to be the complete Joe College,`` wrote a history professor, ranking Biden average in ``intellectual achievement`` but high in ``command of English language.`` The professor nonetheless recommended the former football and baseball jock for admission to law school ``on grounds of personality and general promise.``

Another law dean later told a prospective employer that Biden, who finished 76th in a class of 85, had been an academic ``disappointment.`` But the dean said Biden's ``confidence,`` ``general physical appearance`` and ``general speaking ability`` would help make him a natural trial lawyer.

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/...be+a+liability

I guess he knew he wasn't going to get many educational deferments with those grades. Once the TET offensive started in '68, he could forget about it.

Quote:

Sen. Joseph R. Biden, Jr., from the class of 1961, was named the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee by Sen. Barack Obama on Saturday, August 23, 2008. Sen. Biden attended Archmere from 1957 through 1961. As a student, he played football and basketball; served as president of his class junior and senior years; and was a member of the varsity Club, whose purpose was to promote school spirit. As an alumnus, he maintained strong ties with Archmere and was an active member of the community. He was elected to his first of six Senate terms in 1972. In February 1973, he arranged to bring astronauts from Apollo XVII to speak at Archmere.

http://www.archmereacademy.com/Default.aspx?tabid=3023

Looks like he was a real Jock in High School.

Quote:

Candidate Biden ardent Delaware football fan

Sept. 5, 2008----Joe Biden once said he came to the University of Delaware in 1961 as a “half-baked halfback,” playing on the freshman football team that year under the late Scotty Duncan, and the Democratic vice presidential candidate remains a big fan of the Fightin' Blue Hens.

http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2009/sep/champs090508.html

Heres an excerpt from Biden's book.

Quote:

Joe Impedimenta. My classmates hung that nickname on me our first semester of high school when we were doing two periods of Latin a day. It was one of the first big words we learned. Impedimenta—the baggage that impedes one’s progress. So I was Joe Impedimenta. Or Dash. A lot of people thought they called me Dash because of football. I was fast, and I scored my share of touchdowns.

http://www.booksonboard.com/index.ph...0761&v=excerpt

Biden was born in 1942 which would make him 15 when he entered the Archmere Academy (1957, how many times was he left back in grade school to start high school at age 15?) where he played football to 1961 when he graduated, then a year for the UD Blue Hens. How could he have such bad asmtha during his youth that in 1968 he couldn't serve in the Army? Especially after he suddenly recalling that he had asthma as a teenager and conveniently claimed medical disqualification. He never mentioned his asthma in his book, but did recall the Football exploits.

If he was claiming that story today, it might fly. The advances in asthma medications over the last ten years are simply amazing, technology that most assuredly did NOT exist in the 1960's. I went to school during that time frame, any kid that had an asthma attack on the playing field was immediately pulled from the team.

Biden's claim of asthma was probably backed up by a long time family doctor just don't appear to coincide with the facts of his youth. So did Joe Lie, give a false statement or a misstatement? Remember to lie there has to be a willful intent to deceive. In my opinion, based on the many factors of his teen years, the asthma thing just doesn't fit, so I believe it was a lie to get out of going to Vietnam and serve his country like so many of his peers did. Seriously, who can blame him if he was to scared to serve. During the course of the Vietnam war our armed forces (all branches) lost 58,217 men and women with 153,452 wounded and 1,947 MIA. It takes a man with courage, confidence and intestinal fortitude to face going into combat and handling all that comes your way as a result. The very types of character attributes of a leader, a President. Obama was young enough to still crapping in his pants during that time so it lets him out, but remember Biden is just another Obama cigarette away from being President! Of course Obama could have joined and served in Gulf War One at the age of 30. Do we really need either one these guys with their character attributes as Commander and Chief?

Spare · #2 (**permalink**) 09-15-2008, 12:26 AM

So, we got a druggie and a coward, is that what you are saying?

Professor Peabody · #3 (**permalink**) 09-15-2008, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spare

So, we got a druggie and a coward, is that what you are saying?

All I'm saying is Biden's asmtha deferment simply doesn't make sense considering his athletic youth with out the benefit of modern medications. How can he run in a football uniform but not be able to march in a military one?

Radio Refugee · #4 (**permalink**) 09-15-2008, 12:53 AM

C'mon, be fair. Everybody tried to dodge Vietnam, didn't they?

Well, almost everyboby.

Taomon · #5 (**permalink**) 09-15-2008, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Professor Peabody

I guess he knew he wasn't going to get many educational deferments with those grades. Once the TET offensive started in '68, he could forget about it.

Looks like he was a real Jock in High School.

Heres an excerpt from Biden's book.

Biden was born in 1942 which would make him 15 when he entered the Archmere Academy (1957, how many times was he left back in grade school to start high school at age 15?) where he played football to 1961 when he graduated, then a year for the UD Blue Hens. How could he have such bad asmtha during his youth that in 1968 he couldn't serve in the Army? Especially after he suddenly recalling that he had asthma as a teenager and conveniently claimed medical disqualification. He never mentioned his asthma in his book, but did recall the Football exploits.

If he was claiming that story today, it might fly. The advances in asthma medications over the last ten years are simply amazing, technology that most assuredly did NOT exist in the 1960's. I went to school during that time frame, any kid that had an asthma attack on the playing field was immediately pulled from the team.

Biden's claim of asthma was probably backed up by a long time family doctor just don't appear to coincide with the facts of his youth. So did Joe Lie, give a false statement or a misstatement? Remember to lie there has to be a willful intent to deceive. In my opinion, based on the many factors of his teen years, the asthma thing just doesn't fit, so I believe it was a lie to get out of going to Vietnam and serve his country like so many of his peers did. Seriously, who can blame him if he was to scared to serve. During the course of the Vietnam war our armed forces (all branches) lost 58,217 men and women with 153,452 wounded and 1,947 MIA. It takes a man with courage, confidence and intestinal fortitude to face going into combat and handling all that comes your way as a result. The very types of character attributes of a leader, a President. Obama was young enough to still crapping in his pants during that time so it lets him out, but remember Biden is just another Obama cigarette away from being President! Of course Obama could have joined and served in Gulf War One at the age of 30. Do we really need either one these guys with their character attributes as Commander and Chief?

So Bush, Cheney's and Clinton's deferments were not an issue, but Biden's is?
Boy are you reaching on this one. Talk about desperation.

Spare · #6 (**permalink**) 09-15-2008, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taomon

So Bush, Cheney's and Clinton's deferments were not an issue, but Biden's is?
Boy are you reaching on this one. Talk about desperation.

I think his point is --- it ain't the deferment --- it's the lie.

Professor Peabody · #7 (**permalink**) 09-15-2008, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taomon

So Bush, Cheney's and Clinton's deferments were not an issue, but Biden's is?
Boy are you reaching on this one. Talk about desperation.

Bush was in the Air National Guard. In the 2004 Bush's time in the Air National Guard was a big issue. Ask Dan Rather about that.

I am un-aware of the circumstances of Cheney's deferments, why don't you enlighten me as to how they weren't legitimate like Biden's appears to be?

As for Clinton, his own words speak for them selves:

Quote:

"Dear Colonel Holmes,

I am sorry to be so long in writing. I know I promised to let you hear from me at least once a month, and from now on you will, but I have had to have some time to think about this first letter. Almost daily since my return to England I have thought about writing, about what I want to and ought to say. First, I want to thank you, not just for saving me from the draft, but for being so kind and decent to me last summer, when I was as low as I have ever been......

Sincerely,

Bill Clinton

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontl...aftletter.html

Taomon · #8 (**permalink**) 09-15-2008, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spare

I think his point is --- it ain't the deferment --- it's the lie.

Bush lied about his military record and played the part of the hawk during the 2004 election. It was especially stinging since he served zero combat time while Kerry, a combat veteran who could have gotten a rich boy deferment, was painted as a coward...even though he commanded a swift boat.

Spare · #9 (**permalink**) 09-15-2008, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taomon

Bush lied about his military record and played the part of the hawk during the 2004 election. It was especially stinging since he served zero combat time while Kerry, a combat veteran who could have gotten a rich boy deferment, was painted as a coward...even though he commanded a swift boat.

Biden, my boy -- Biden.

He's the point of discussion ... try to stay on track.

Professor Peabody · #10 (**permalink**) 09-15-2008, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taomon

Bush lied about his military record and played the part of the hawk during the 2004 election.

Can I have a link to the proof he lied please, I'd like to read it for my self.

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