Biden Hits Back at Kyl, DeMint Over Christmas

Vice President Joe Biden and Republican Sens. Jon Kyl, Ariz., and Jim DeMint, S.C., are squabbling over how long to keep Congress in session in an effort to pass the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia. On Tuesday, Kyl said pushing START through the Senate would "disrespect" senators, staffers and their families by forcing them to work until Christmas. DeMint told Politico Wednesday that a vote on Christmas Eve would be "sacrilegious."

In an interview on NBC Thursday, Biden hit back, urging senators to approve START this month. "Don't tell me about Christmas," Biden says. "I understand Christmas. I have been a senator for a long time. I hope I don't get in the way of your Christmas shopping, but this is the nation's business. This is the national security that's at stake: act."