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Joe Biden goes full Joe Biden at senatorial swearing-in ceremony

If he's not having a blast, he's great at faking it.

 

Eric Geller

Tech

Posted on Jan 6, 2015   Updated on May 29, 2021, 8:14 pm CDT

Very few things in Washington, D.C., inspire hope or joy, least of all the proceedings of our esteemed United States Congress. Yet there is one politician who never fails to brighten our days whenever he opens his mouth. On Tuesday, as he swore in senators on the first day of the 114th Congress, Vice President Joe Biden did not disappoint.

Biden’s touchy-feely, close-talking, intimate moments with new and returning senators and their family members are among political reporters’ favorite moments from the start of a new congressional term. Congress itself may be hopelessly broken, but in his capacity as ex-officio President of the Senate, the vice president took it upon himself to bring some mirth to the hallowed upper chamber.

Before the swearing-in ceremony even began, Biden was on fire.

Once he arrived, he seemed to want to bring everyone in on the action.

Then, it was time to get started. For better or worse, Biden’s charm seems to know no limits. He’ll target senators’ children…

Vice President Biden with the daughter of Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.)

Vice President Biden with the daughter of Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.)

NYMag

https://twitter.com/BrettLoGiurato/status/552535241165115395

…their parents…

Vice President Biden hugs Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.)'s mother

Vice President Biden hugs Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.)’s mother

Screengrab via C-SPAN

…their grandparents…

…their spouses…

…anyone he considered attractive…

…and, of course, his longtime former colleagues.

He took selfies.

Screengrab via C-SPAN

Vice President Biden poses for a selfie with the daughters of Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.)

Vice President Biden poses for a selfie with the daughters of Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.)

Screengrab via C-SPAN

He posed with dogs.

If today’s ceremony emphasized anything, it’s that political reporters love nothing more than the Biden mythos.


https://twitter.com/AnnieLowrey/status/552534727450984450

Photo via Senator Stabenow/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

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*First Published: Jan 6, 2015, 5:26 pm CST