CBS is billing it as "Sarah Palin explains a facetious comment she made about Joe Biden's years in the Senate."
Palin explains to Couric "I've been hearing about his Senate speeches since I was in second grade", and goes on to date that time - 1972.
The date Palin referenced bothered me. Here's why.
In 1972 Palin was in the second grade. But in 1972 Joe Biden was running for the Senate. Doubtful that any of his campaign speeches would have made it to Alaska. But 1972 is also a year that will be forever engraved in the menmory of Joe Biden and his family. Because that was the year his first wife Neilia, and 13 month old daughter Naomi, were killed in a terrible automobile accident. His two sons were injured, but survived.
The cruelty of Palin's rehearsed laugh line has not been discussed. Some campaign speech writer obviously thought it would be cute. I find it to be horrific.
Surely Joe, and his children, friends and family will never forget that year. And the speech writers for Palin could hardly be unaware of the significance.
Biden first looked death in the face during the heady period after his 1972 election to the Senate at age 29. His wife and three children were returning from buying a Christmas tree in Wilmington when a truck hit them. His wife and infant daughter died; his two sons were critically injured. He considered giving up his seat, but his family rallied around him. His sister moved into the Wilmington house to take care of the boys, and he began his daily three- hour round-trip commute to the Capitol.
http://www.time.com/...
I was very moved when Joe spoke of his eventual remarriage to Jill - but the pain is evident when he speaks of the family tragedy:
Biden did not become well known nationally for speech making until much later.
Biden became a nationally-recognized face while chairing the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1987 to 1995, when presiding over televised hearings on controversial Supreme Court nominations of Robert Bork--a lone triumphant moment from liberal Democrats--and Clarence Thomas.
http://www.ontheissues.org/...
By that time Palin would have been in out of High School (she graduated in 1982), finished with her college(s) and working as a sports reporter (1988).
Though she has shown no evidence that she has a grasp of national or international affairs, it is possible that she watched Joe Biden then.
The Palin speech writers could have easily referenced her time as a young broadcaster to poke fun at Joe Biden.
But they chose not to - and went to 1972. To score points. Dirty points.
Sarah Palin likes blood sport. We know she hunts and shoots. But what mother would make off-handed fun of the year of the death of a mother and a small child, a grieving husband and two injured sons?
Shame on you Sarah Palin. You and your speech writers disgust me.