V.P. Joe Biden's latest violent rhetoric ("take him [Trump] behind the gym") is fascinating on a number of different levels.

One, there have been constant assertions that Trump and his rhetoric lead people to violence.  Yet Biden's use of this rhetoric is viewed as righteous anger.  This is certainly not the first time he has invoked physical violence and probably won't be the last.  One of his earlier outbursts is particularly poignant, yet no one in the mainstream media or anywhere else has mentioned it.

During his ramp up for a possible run for the presidency in 2008, Biden was ardent about protecting his Catholic faith.  In this case, he mentioned he was tired of the Republican assertions that Democrats cannot be good Catholics.  He retorted, again with violent rhetoric, that he would "shove my rosary beads down their throat."

Two things stand out.  First, why is he constantly invoking violence, with nowhere near the opprobrium others without a D next to their name incur?  Second, where was the ardent defense of his religion (that he held so dear in 2008) when senior staffers of the Clinton campaign were so derisive of the Catholic faith?

Many on the left have lionized this man.  But it looks as though Biden is the type of man who becomes vocally principled when his politics are questioned – yet he seems to punt when more important measures are at stake.