Poligots:

So, who is Joe Biden and where does stand on several key issues? How does he compare to Obama, his apparent new boss?

Joe Biden has been a senator from Delaware since 1972 (sheesh – I was in kindergarten!). His first wife and his youngest of three children, a daughter, were killed the same year in a tragic car crash. In 1977, Biden married a school teacher, Jill, and their daughter was born in 1981.

As Senator, Biden has been on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for much of his service, and has taken vocal stands against the genocide in the Balkans and now in Darfur. He’s been an innovative leader against the war in Iraq. Both Obama and Biden have been professors on Constitutional law.

Biden’s service has obviously been extensive and on a few key progressive issues, he has a fairly solid record.

On abortion:

In 2003, Joe Biden was given a 36% rating from NARAL, having voted against public funding for abortion and for the so-called “partial birth” abortion ban. Not so great, but he’s improved since then. Obama has a 100% rating on abortion rights.

On the Environment:

Both are innovative in different areas — Biden has had a solid record on issues like opposing coal, opposing several timber sales, and working avidly against the Bush Administration. Obama’s strength is in the area of promoting green technology and preventing environmental racism.

On Gay Rights:

Joe Biden and Barack Obama are essentially on the same page on gay rights – both oppose gay marriage, but both favor civil unions, the end of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and are strongly against a Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

On Iraq:

This is where Biden gets interesting, at least to me. He voted for the initial Iraq war resolution, but then pulled a renegade moved and called for its repeal after Saddam Hussein was deposed. Now, like Obama, he favors a gradual withdrawal of around 16 months in order to prevent internal Iraqi chaos.

On Health Care:

Joe Biden is nearly identical to Obama on health care. They both favor, in the big picture, universal health care, but favor a gradual implementation starting with coverage for children first. He’s also strongly opposed to perks for prescription drug companies and the GOP plan for Medicare.

Civil Rights:

Total and complete slam dunk for both of them – 100% ratings from NAACP, both in favor of reintroducing the Equal Rights Amendment and have both bucked the trend of weakening the Americans with Disability Act, among fabulous stands on a number of other issues. Mucho bueno.

On “Homeland Security” and Torture

Both Obama and Biden say no, never, under no circumstances should the United States participate in torture. See, because both favor a civilized society. Won’t it be nice? Unlike Obama, Biden opposed the extension of the Patriot Act’s jurisdiction to unwarranted wiretapping. Well, that’s good.

On Education:

Both are great, although Obama tends to focus on creating innovative college tuition programs while Biden looks at reforms of the primary school system, including the repeal of No Child Left Behind. They are both extremely strong on putting tremendous resources into early childhood education.