The Associated Press asked the Obama campaign for more information regarding Senator Biden’s Selective Service records. The answer:
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.
And from his autobiography:
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.
The Obama campaign pointed to media interviews from 1987, when Biden was making his first bid for the presidency, that mention his asthma.
It’s 3AM. Does Joe Biden know where his inhaler is? And if we’re going to have to listen to media reports on how Gov. Palin is one heartbeat away from the presidency over the next two months, isn’t it about time to focus on Joe Biden’s multiple aneurysms?
As for Biden’s medical records, the Obama campaign will release them “at a later time.” Maybe December? And it’s good to know that asthma no longer seems to be a problem:
A Biden spokesman said the Delaware senator, 65, works out regularly and is healthy today.
“Senator Biden is in terrific health, leads a vigorous lifestyle, and looks forward to an extremely busy campaign schedule as we sprint into the fall campaign,” spokesman, David Wade said.