Biden To Iraq War Protester: My Son Died, Too

Vice President Joe Biden stopped a heckler by reminding the interrupter of his own family tragedy.

“My friends died, my American friends!” the heckler shouted, according to The Guardian, possibly referring to one of the many conflicts the U.S. military is engaged in abroad.

But the crowd of supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Hilary Clinton chanted “Hillary! Hillary!” in response. The heckler continued his effort, shouting back: “My friend died!”

“I’ll tell you what. By the way, if you’re serious, let me ask you a question: Come back here and talk to me about this. You have my permission,” Biden said.

Biden’s older son, Joseph R. Biden III, also known as “Beau,” died of brain cancer in May, reported The New York Times.

“It is with broken hearts that Hallie, Hunter, Ashley, Jill and I announce the passing of our husband, brother and son, Beau, after he battled brain cancer with the same integrity, courage and strength he demonstrated every day of his life.”

The statement went on to say, “In the words of the Biden family: Beau Biden was, quite simply, the finest man any of us have ever known.”

The total number of civilian deaths in Iraq, a war that Biden voted for as a Senator of Delaware in 2002, lies between 163,000 and 182,000, according to Iraq Body Count.org.

Sources: The Guardian, The New York Times, Iraq Body Count / Photo credit: Marc Nozell/Flickr