News and Politics | September 08, 2008 | 2 comments

Biden took five draft deferments used asthma as reason while lifeguard and football star

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vincius
OK... can we now see...Obama should have picked Hillary

DOVER, Del. (AP) - Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden received five student draft deferments during the Vietnam War, the same number of deferments received by Vice President Dick Cheney, and later was disqualified from service because of asthma as a teenager.

Officials with Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's campaign released Biden's Selective Service records at the request of The Associated Press.

Less detailed records were available from a National Archives facility in Philadelphia.

According to the documents, Biden, 65, received several deferments while he was an undergraduate at the University of Delaware and later as a law student at Syracuse University.

A month after undergoing a physical exam in April 1968, Biden received a Selective Service classification of 1-Y, meaning he was available for service only in the event of national emergency.

"As a result of a physical exam on April 5, 1968, Joe Biden was classified 1-Y and disqualified from service because of asthma as a teenager," said David Wade, a campaign spokesman.

In "Promises to Keep," a memoir that was published last year and became an instant best-seller after he was tapped as Obama's running mate, Biden never mentions his asthma, recounting an active childhood, work as a lifeguard and football exploits in high school.
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2 comments // Biden took five draft deferments used asthma as reason while lifeguard and football star

  • vincius
    • 0
      vincius  
    • We know for fact Cheney was and is attacked for his deferments so I am pointing out Obama should be prepared for same attack from the right. Thus pointing out why Biden inretrospect was a very poor pick... Obama should right now drop him.... draft Hillary and give Biden another deferment!

    • 3 years ago
  • kennymotown
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