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November 1, 2009

Biden a key part of Obama's inner circle

Posted: 08:53 PM ET

Watch American Morning all this week for more of our special series, The Presidential Brain Trust.

President Obama values Joe Biden's advice as truth teller, officials say.
President Obama values Joe Biden's advice as truth teller, officials say.

By Ed Henry
CNN Senior White House Correspondent

Washington (CNN) – Apparently you can take the vice president out of the Senate, but you just can't take the Senate out of the vice president, and that might be the secret to Joe Biden's influence in President Obama's inner circle.

As I waited Friday in the ornate rooms of the old Department of War near Biden's office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House, I kept wondering which Biden was going to show up for our exclusive interview.

Would it be the old Joe that I used to cover as the Senate correspondent for Roll Call newspaper many years ago, who would throw an arm around me in a Capitol hallway and be happy to give a - let's face it - fairly long answer about any subject I'd throw at him?

Biden had this habit of dropping flattery as well as a reporter's name into the answers for familiarity in his gosh-darn-it manner: "Look Ed, I'm literally not just blowing smoke, but you know as much about the Bush tax cuts as I do. ..."

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Sherman Blosser   November 2nd, 2009 7:12 am ET

imagine U.S. supporting a corrupt Govmnt aka Karzai hard to believe that U.S. supports the number 1 exporter of heroin

gil   November 2nd, 2009 9:08 am ET

Biden said he didn't have a boss when he was senator and had to make some adjustment when he became VP. Hello!! didn't he work for the people of the USA? who paid his salary. I guess the people don't count that much for Biden

gil   November 2nd, 2009 9:14 am ET

Biden said he wasn't used to having a boss when he was a senator! Hello! Wasn't he working for the people of the USA who by the way paid his salary and great benefits!! I guess the peope of the USA are not that important for MR. Biden

HB Adamson   November 2nd, 2009 9:37 am ET

Biden says he never had a boss. Who did he think he was working for all his years in the Senate. Typical long ten politician. We need a change, right.

Charles   November 2nd, 2009 9:42 am ET

"I havent had a boss."
Maybe that is the problem with all senators and represenatives they forgot that "WE THE PEOPLE" are their boss. Wake up and start working for your boss or you wont have a job the next election!!!

Howard F. Cox   November 2nd, 2009 10:05 am ET

The reason most Americans listen to Joe Biden when he talks is because of the reputation he has created WHEN he talks....Not cover-up or evasive answers but strong, straight talk....Usually delivered with a winning, assuring smile that convinces us he believes his answers are honest and truethful. He is truely Unique in the world of Politics!!

HB Adamson   November 2nd, 2009 10:47 am ET

Howard you must like used car salesmen.

Mitchell   November 2nd, 2009 4:16 pm ET

A true tax and spend liberal's liberal.

sparkysacramento   November 3rd, 2009 6:26 am ET

Good article, especially following Newsweek's outstanding cover story on VP Biden. Biden offers intelligence, passion, and a strategic and analytical mind, and finally MSM is beginning to cut out the inconsequential "gaffe meme." No one cares. Biden would be an excellent president, but I also agree with him in that roles are filled as they should be. He is known for honesty and loyalty, and both serve Obama well. I want Biden nearest our president; Joe will never waver, blink or surrender...trust me. This nation has been unduly harsh at times on Biden for no decent reason. Ignored are his successes: numerous trips abroad and meetings with foreign leaders (Munich, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, The Balkans, Georgia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, to name a few); lead on ARRA, healthcare, and clean energy; lead on Iraq (portfolio); and myriad speeches, appearances, fundraisers, campaign rallies, and special events where he spoke eloquently and negotiated brilliantly. Biden is indeed top foreign policy advisor to President Obama, it's simply the area he's known for brilliance. He has been correct on strategy, his warnings of Pakistan are just finally acknowledged; he is correct on Afghanistan. It is worth viewing Biden on videos associated with this article to appreciate the wealth of knowledge he brought to the office of VP, but also his articulation and breadth of new information he has absorbed and utilizes daily. A rare, honest, patriot, true family man, and advocate for middle class America and the underserved, Always a poor Senator, he made no agreements in office for financial or personal gain. It was always for his state and this nation. It continues.

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