Real Men Cry: Crying Politicians

VIDEO: The president shows rare emotion while thanking young campaign troops.

Real men cry and so do politicians. Though it's rare to catch a politician shedding a tear on the job, sometimes their emotions just seem to get the best of them.

Check out some sobbing American politicians.


Obama's Re-Election Roller Coaster of Emotion

The day after his re-election, President Barack Obama showed rare emotion when addressing his young campaign staff. Obama, who visibly choked up, said, "What you guys have accomplished will go on in the annals of history, and they will read about it and they'll marvel about it." With tears streaming down his face, Obama told his troops inside the Chicago campaign headquarters, "The most important thing you need to know is that your journey's just beginning. You're just starting. And whatever good we do over the next four years will pale in comparison to whatever you guys end up accomplishing in the years and years to come."

The president, who has said that he refuses to fake emotion, has been on a rollercoaster of feelings recently, as he also shed a tear during an emotional appeal to voters in the swing state of Iowa at his final rally, ending the 2012 election cycle.

VIDEO: Beau Biden nominates father for vice president in Charlotte.
Laughing Joe Sheds a Tear

Often-joking Vice President Joe Biden shed a few tears in September when his son Beau Biden nominated his father for vice president at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.

"It's my great honor to place into nomination for the office of vice president of the United States," Beau Biden said, "my father, my hero, Joe Biden." After Beau's declaration, the camera panned to Joe Biden wiping a tear from his right eye.

VIDEO: Speaker John Boehner gets emotional during swear in on House floor.
ABC News
The Sentimental Speaker

Speaker of the House John Boehner is clearly not afraid to show emotion, as he has been seen multiple times crying in public. But it was at his swearing-in on the House floor in 2011 that the Speaker could not contain them.

Boehner choked up numerous times as his predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, sang his praises before handing over her seat as Speaker of the House.

Boehner also admitted to shedding some tears during Ann Romney's speech this year at the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

"You should've seen me last night watching Ann Romney give the speech. I was a mess. I was a mess. She did a great job," Boehner gushed.

VIDEO: Paul Ryan's Speech at Republican National Convention
Paul Ryan's Mom Pulls at His Heartstrings

Paul Ryan, the Republican vice presidential nominee, spent much of his acceptance speech attacking President Obama for his shortcomings, but he showed a softer side, bringing himself as well as some members of the audience at the Republican's convention in Tampa to tears as he talked about his mother.

Ryan's wife, Janna, also looked to be close to tears during the address. And not even 10 minutes into Ryan's speech, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was seen with a big tear running down his cheek as well. Walker appeared to react when Ryan talked about his father, who died when he was a teen.

VIDEO: Senate minority leader emotional during tribute to long-time aide Kyle Simmons.
Mitch McConnell's Emotional Tribute

Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell got sentimental on the Senate floor when paying tribute to his long-time aide, Kyle Simmons, who was leaving the office. McConnell could be seen trying to hold himself together.

McConnell made an unintelligible tribute."When I think of what Kyle has meant to me over the past 15 years, I can't help but think that's exactly what he's been to me," McConnell said before pausing to wipe his tears and adjust his quivering lip.

"He's been that steady presence in the midst of it all. As long as he was there, the team was confident things would turn out well and they always did."

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