Profile of Senator Joe Biden

Senator Biden has been in the news a bit over the past year, mostly due to some rather unsavory comments made about Sen. Barack Obama, as well as a now famous incident referencing Indian convenience store employees. All controversy aside, Sen. Biden is a hardcore liberal (according to VoteMatch) who has served six terms as Delaware's Senator, the longest serving Senator in Delaware's History.

Currently his serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, which most would surely agree is a post which should only add to the long and esteemed list of qualifications for a US Presidential Candidate.

Right now Sen. Biden is out and about plugging the Biden-Gelb Plan for Iraq, a highly controversial plan that is touted as one of the few acceptable alternatives to the current *Stay The Course vs. Bring Them Home* Iraq solutions. Essentially the plan boils down to seperating the three Tribal factions of Iraqi citizens into their own *States*. The Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds would have control over the areas in which they reside, all answering to a Federalized Iraqi centralized government. The idea is that the current sectarian violence would slow if the tribes were not forced to interact under one Theocratic rule. Also, this plan would allow the Sunnis to recieve an allocated share of monies from Oil Sales in the region, which, due to the fact that Sunnis have no oil, would redistribute oil wealth to a group that needs it the most.

His stances on social issues are somewhat predictable for a liberal lawmaker. Aside from support of the ban on partial-birth abortions, he seems to have a decent grasp on women's reproductive rights. Currently, abortions are banned on military bases, he voted No on maintaining that ban in June 2000. Also, Sen. Biden voted No on on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions in July 2006.

Senator Biden's voting record on Public Education has been steadfast and consistent, including several votes in favor of shifting corporate and citizen tax dollars to what he refers to as the *fundamentally flawed* Public Education System. Currently Public Schools in low-income urban areas are shockingly lacking in internet access, which surely contributes to unfair and biased standardized testing statistics. Senator Biden has shown strong interest in rectifying this situation.

Right now the Senator's main platforms are Iraq Solutions, and a strong desire to deploy Ground Troops to Sudan, a move that 40% of American respondents in a Zogby Poll felt was necessary. The genocide in Darfur has moved to grotesque and chilling heights, and as more of the world has become aware of this situation, many have shown anger that America has too many Troops deployed to Iraq to spare any to stop this murderous rampage from the Janjaweeb on the citizens of Darfur.

Overall, as a liberal Democratic Candidate, Joe Biden has shown more than sufficient qualifications and knowledge of the US Political System. Time served on the Senate Committees on the Judiciary and Foreign Relations are about as relevant as you can get to the current table issues needed to be an effective President during this time of turmoil and confusion amongst US citizens.