In his first State of the Union address to a divided Congress, the US president promoted the legislative accomplishments of his two-year term and promised a strong return to manufacturing and manufacturing in the country.
“We’re making sure the supply chain for America starts in America”said Joe Biden, in a speech in which he talked a lot about the economy, infrastructure and employment, announcing proposals and measures.
One of them related to domestic production. “I am announcing new requirements that all building materials used in federal infrastructure projects must be manufactured in America”said Biden. “Lumber, glass, drywall, fiber optic cables made in America”he said.
This was one of the transversal points of the State of the Union speech: the focus on domestic production, the return to good working-class jobs and the nod to a working class that has felt “forgotten”, as well as much of the push for health reform.
All this in a context where, despite falling inflation, economic growth and historically low unemployment, many Americans feel that the country is in bad shape economically and heading for a recession.
The State of the Union, seen by tens of millions of Americans, was Joe Biden’s chance to change the narrative and also to put Republicans against the wall in the dispute over the national debt ceiling, which must be raised so that the country can pay the accounts.
“Some of my Republican friends want to hold the economy hostage unless I accept their economic plans.”noted Biden.
“Instead of letting the rich pay their fair share, some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security to go away”he said.
Several Republican congressmen reacted with boos and boos to these statements, with extremist Marjorie Taylor Greene even shouting “liar!” called out.
The president smiled and questioned the agitators, urging them to contact his office to receive a copy of that proposal. Despite the denial from the other side of the bench, Biden said he appreciated “the conversion” of congressmen who now “see” that this shouldn’t be happening. The proposal, by Republican Senator Rick Scott, is available in the 2022 “Rescue America” plan.
The moment was one of the most analyzed moments after the speech. Former Fox News journalist Chris Wallace said Republicans “got in” on the president and CNN center Jake Tapper thought the agitators “started to look bad and gave Biden a chance to look powerful.”
These exchanges contrasted with the president’s calls for bipartisanship and cooperation with Republicans to improve the lives of Americans. Many of the proposals he talked about, from lowering insulin prices to ending hidden fees on travel bookings, are not controversial.
“Since I took office, I have signed more than 300 bipartisan bills”said Biden. “My Republican friends, if we worked together in the last session of Congress, there’s no reason why we couldn’t work together on this one.”
The president’s message and tone were popular with the public, with polls following CNN’s speech resulting in a positive assessment of 72% of voters. It was one percentage point higher than last year.
Biden’s combative energy was tempered at certain key moments, such as when he introduced the parents of Tire Nicholls, an African-American man who was beaten to death in Memphis by four police officers. The president praised the courage of Nicholls’ mother, who told him that he was “a beautiful soul and that something good would come of this.”
Also present was Brandon Tsay, a young man who struggled with the gunman who killed 11 people at a dance studio in Monterey, California. The story was the motto for talking about gun violence and the need to “ban assault weapons”.
Biden has also prevented some Republican attacks. “If you don’t agree with my comprehensive immigration reform, at least approve the plan to provide the necessary equipment and agents to secure the border.”.
On many occasions, the Democrat spoke of “finishing what was started,” something that was taken as an allusion to another run for a second term as president.
He was also optimistic and did not spare praise for the spirit and soul of America, a country emerging “stronger” from crises and characterized by “progress and resilience”.
Biden spoke of the end of the health emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the repeal of the federal right to abortion and the crisis of deaths from opiate abuse, particularly fentanyl.
The head of state also referred to China after an alleged spy balloon was shot down in US airspace. “If China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country”, he claimed. Some commentators pointed to the brevity with which the subject was treated, one of the speech’s weaknesses given the seriousness of the situation.
Also on foreign policy, Biden praised US leadership in helping Ukraine and in the transatlantic alliance against Russian invasion and tyranny, making democracies stronger. “Betting against America was never a good bet,” he said, leading the crowd to erupt in chants of “USA! USA!” The Democrat promised to continue to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes”.
“Because the soul of the nation is strong, the spine is strong, and the people of the nation are strong, the state of the Union is strong”concluded the chairman. “We are the United States of America and nothing beats our ability when we do it together”he added.
Biden’s upbeat tone was rebuffed by Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Governor of Arkansas and former White House press secretary for Donald Trump, who gave the Republican response.
Sanders portrayed an America harassed by the “radical left” and at risk of losing its freedoms, opposite a “weak” Joe Biden, unable to protect its borders and dominated by the oppression of the “awakened mob” (social progressive).
“America is great because we are free, but our freedom is under attack”he summed up, after talking about education reforms that reject “the indoctrination” of children, and about a new generation of Republicans ready to fight for the citizens.
“The choice is not between right and left, but between normal and crazy”Sanders noted, arguing that Republicans are the normal ones and the Democrats are the crazy ones.
Commentator Van Jones felt the response made her seem unnecessarily “mean” and strategist David Axelrod said it may have worked with the Republican party base, but it failed to reach general voters.
In the comments, former Vice President Mike Pence said the speech showed “it’s time for new Republican leadership” and pointed to Joe Biden’s “failed external leadership” reflected in the war in Ukraine and the “disastrous” withdrawal from Afghanistan .
Nikki Haley, the former US ambassador to the United Nations, criticized Biden’s economic plan and his border policies, saying he “for two years refused to solve the crisis he created.”
The State of the Union has traditionally been a president’s most powerful direct communication weapon. At last year’s speech, 38 million Americans watched the television broadcast.
Source: DN
