# Joe Biden's son Beau has died of brain cancer **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 31, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233 "2015-05-31T02:00:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/1 "2015-05-31T02:00:43Z")
[Damn](http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2015/05/30/e1ac5a2a-0731-11e5-a428-c984eb077d4e_story.html). Rest in peace, and best wishes to Joe and his family. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/2 "2015-05-31T02:28:26Z")
That stinks. Only 46, and with young kids. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/3 "2015-05-31T02:47:24Z")
I hate to think of the nasty comments the trolls are making all over the Internet tonight. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/4 "2015-05-31T02:51:35Z")
I just read that. How sad! A father should never bury a child. This is the second child he’s buried. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/5 "2015-05-31T03:28:40Z")
Terrible news. Joe lost his wife in the mid 70’s and now 2 kids. Lot of tragedy for one guy to bear. Sending my best wishes to Joe and his extended family. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/6 "2015-05-31T03:42:18Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I hate to think of the nasty comments the trolls are making all over the Internet tonight. I haven’t seen any so far, not even on one website where I really did expect them. ☹ I also wonder if Biden will finish his term. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/7 "2015-05-31T03:45:35Z")
quite amazing how much Beau looked like Joe when he was younger. [http://static3.nydailynews.com/polopoly\_fs/1.2241464.1433037807!/img/httpImage/image.jpg\_gen/derivatives/index\_635\_390/390-biden-0530.jpg](http://static3.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2241464.1433037807!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/index_635_390/390-biden-0530.jpg) I [checked wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden) and Joe has 2 remaining children. Hunter and a daughter, Ashley from his 2nd marriage. Neither is in politics. Hunter and Beau were only a year apart in age and survived the car accident that killed their mother and sister. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/8 "2015-05-31T04:04:06Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I hate to think of the nasty comments the trolls are making all over the Internet tonight. No concern for dad or son, just your acting the Thought Police. Very touching in this sad hour. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/9 "2015-05-31T04:10:11Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I haven’t seen any so far, not even on one website where I really did expect them. I just came from the Fox News story about his death; trust me when I say you don’t want to go there. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/10 "2015-05-31T04:17:18Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > No concern for dad or son, just your acting the Thought Police. Very touching in this sad hour. What policing did I do? Just expecting the horrible comments that are sure to come. I didn’t say from here. 😕 Yeah, I just went to another site (don’t ask me why) and read “Best news I heard all day.” ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/11 "2015-05-31T09:45:53Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Yeah, I just went to another site (don’t ask me why) and read “Best news I heard all day.” Lovely. If this person really thinks the announcement of the third child a father has to schedule a funeral for is the best news they hear all day, what is the worst news they could hear all day? ---
**Author:** ![davida03801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/12 "2015-05-31T10:31:52Z")
Condolences to Joe and his family. Don’t agree with him politically but my sympathy is with him and his family. I too observe the vitriol on the net when political figures pass on and think it is disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/13 "2015-05-31T13:12:45Z")
Very sad for his family. RIP Beau. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/14 "2015-05-31T13:35:31Z")
I guess there are people who think Joe Biden commuting home 4 hours a day as a Senator was a gimmick. But I think missing all of the Washington D.C. networking that happens after-hours was a big sacrifice by a young Senator for the sake of his family. He could have gotten the same PR in easier ways. He once said: “I came to realize that a child can hold an important thought, something they want to say to their mom and dad, maybe for 12 or 24 hours, and then it’s gone. And when it’s gone, it’s gone. And it all adds up.” I think he genuinely was willing to sacrifice greater political success because of that idea. I makes me sad that a man so dedicated to his family lost yet another family member tragically. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/15 "2015-05-31T19:33:38Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > I guess there are people who think Joe Biden commuting home 4 hours a day as a Senator was a gimmick. But I think missing all of the Washington D.C. networking that happens after-hours was a big sacrifice by a young Senator for the sake of his family. He could have gotten the same PR in easier ways. He once said: “I came to realize that a child can hold an important thought, something they want to say to their mom and dad, maybe for 12 or 24 hours, and then it’s gone. And when it’s gone, it’s gone. And it all adds up.” I think he genuinely was willing to sacrifice greater political success because of that idea. > > I makes me sad that a man so dedicated to his family lost yet another family member tragically. Well said. This is a tragedy of simply unreal proportions – if I had encountered it in a work of fiction, I would have chastised the author for unrealistically milking the audience’s sympathy. In real life, I don’t know what words to say except that I pray for Beau’s dad, wife, children, and extended family, that they may find comfort in this hour of sorrow. Eternal rest grant unto him, oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/16 "2015-05-31T19:35:09Z")
I didn’t even know he was sick. Best wishes to his family. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/17 "2015-05-31T20:07:24Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > I just came from the Fox News story about his death; trust me when I say you don’t want to go there. [Why not?](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/05/31/beau-biden-son-vice-president-joe-biden-dies-brain-cancer/) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/18 "2015-05-31T22:24:55Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > [Why not?](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/05/31/beau-biden-son-vice-president-joe-biden-dies-brain-cancer/) It’s actually quite a decent article. This is very sad. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2015, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/19 "2015-05-31T22:30:00Z")
Anti-vaxxers weight in their usual lack of tact, brains and science: > [@](#): > > My heartfelt condolences to Vice-President Joe Biden on the loss of his 46 year old son Beau to brain cancer. No parent should ever have to bury a child. > > Joe Biden isn’t the first parent to do so and he will definitely not be the last. People die every day. Some because of accidents, some because of violence, and some due to illness. > > Some illnesses are due to lifestyle choices, some are due to chronic exposure to environmental toxins and some…some are due to medically induced iatrogenic disease. > > Iatrogenic disease could be called accidental or coincidental but I wonder. Given the ongoing incidents of manipulation of research data, payoffs to university scientists, pharmaceutical industry insiders at the CDC, NIH, And FDA who make policy that benefits their corporate benefactors and punishes competitors who offer a more natural/vitalistic approach, I truly wonder if Iatrogenic disease and subsequent death caused by that disease is not in reality a pre-meditated act of maleficence. > > Websters defines maleficence as: > 1 > a : the act of committing harm or evil > b : a harmful or evil act > 2 : the quality or state of being maleficent > > If a pharmaceutical company manufactures and markets a product they know to be ineffective and dangerous because the chemical constituents of that product are known to be carcinogenic- > > If the researchers who allow their names to be used on a scientific paper whose data was knowingly falsified or on a paper they didn’t even write– > > If a regulatory agency gave blanket approval for the manufacture, sale, distribution, and administration of a product knowing full well the evidence did not support the claims made by the manufacturer and the approval was in exchange for financial benefit and the wide spread application of such products would cause harm to it’s recipients– > > Are these entities not guilty of conspiracy to comit maleficence? > Are some accessories after the fact? > > Beau Biden died of brain cancer. Many people of My generation are being diagnosed with brain cancer. In 1999 there were approximately 19,000 new cases of brain cancer with 13,000 deaths each year. In 2014-15 those numbers have increased to 22,850 and 15,320 respectively. > > Beau Biden, like me and millions of kids born in the 50s, 60s & 70s received the Sabin live-virus polio vaccine. This vaccine was cultured on brain and kidney tissue from Simian monkeys which contained a virus known as SV-40 (Simian Virus 40). This is the same virus found in the DNA of those brain tumors when biopsied. > > I have no idea if Beau Biden’s brain cancer contains the SV-40 virus. I wonder if an autopsy will be performed and if it is and the virus is found within the DNA of his cancer if that information will ever be released to the public. I seriously doubt it. > No parent should ever experience the heartache of watching a child suffer with an incurable illness. No parent should ever have to bury a child. Sadly there’s not a day that goes in which parents aren’t watching their children suffer from vaccine injury. Sadly there’s not a day that goes by that parents aren’t burying a child who died because a research study was falsified, or a Washington D.C. bureaucrat or an elected official stuffed their pockets to look the other way. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233/20 "2015-06-07T01:30:49Z")
Funeral. The President gave quite a heartfelt eulogy. Beau died far too young and had so much more to do in life. > **[Obama gives eulogy at packed funeral service for Beau Biden: ‘He made you...](https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/obama-eulogy-funeral-service-beau-biden-article-1.2248951)** > > President Obama hailed Beau Biden as a consummate family man and natural leader who accomplished so much in his tragically short life. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-bidens-son-beau-has-died-of-brain-cancer/721233.md?page=2)