Members of the WSCFF arrived in Seattle early on the morning of February 12 to welcome Vice President of the United States Joe Biden to Washington State and to show our support for long-time ally, Senator Patty Murray.

VP Biden spoke for about 40 minutes during the breakfast fundraiser for Sen. Patty Murray at the Westin Hotel in Seattle.

Biden said Murray is an especially effective senator, and he also praised her “absolute unvarnished integrity.”  The Vice President made note of the fact that Senator Murray travels home to Washington every weekend.  “I can tell you literally, not figuratively, you have the rarest of senators, the rarest of people representing you.  It’s an incredible blessing,” he said.

After the speech, members of the WSCFF were among a host of persons who came forward to the “rope line” to personally greet VP Biden.  WSCFF Secretary-Treasurer Greg Markley worked his way to the front of the line and convinced the VP to invite all of the WSCFF members to come backstage for a short visit and a picture.

“Fire fighters have a special place in my heart,” said Biden, “I love you all.  And I thank you on behalf of our government.  I thank you on behalf of our President.”  Fire fighters have come to the personal aid of the Vice President on more than one occasion.  “Your guys used the jaws of life to save my two boys; you saved my life; you saved my home…Come to think of it,” joked the VP, “maybe you guys are bad luck!”

Senator Murray is trying to win a fourth term in the Senate and currently is the fourth-ranking Senator in the Democratic leadership.