End This Spectacle
It's long past time to cancel State of the Union Speeches and return to the Thomas Jefferson precedent. The Constitution doesn't require speeches before a Joint Session of Congress.
“The Constitution requires that the president ‘shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union,’ The Washington Examiner began its editorial this morning following one of the most forgettable “State of the Union” (SOTU) speeches in modern times. “From President Thomas Jefferson to President William Taft, this communication was delivered by letter, not by speech.
“President Joe Biden would have benefited from a return to that tradition Tuesday night.”
And if this turns out to be the last such SOTU address before Congress, it may qualify as Joe Biden’s most outstanding achievement and contribution to American society. But don’t count on that. The temptation for a national stage and roadblocked live coverage on broadcast media is too tempting for large egos and political operatives.
It was that bad. The speech construct was poor, with a lack of transitions or any inspiring language we often hear in such speeches.
As a former college thespian and a US Senate and Cabinet-level speechwriter, I watched the event as I would watch a Shakesperean drama (tragedy?), with the US House of Representatives serving as a stage full of actors. I was instantly reminded of Paul Begala’s cliche that “Washington is Hollywood for ugly people.”
The theatrics began well before House members assembled in their chamber, the early-arrivers shuttling to seats along the center aisle for their photo ops with Senators, Supreme Court justices, Ambassadors, the President’s Cabinet, and then the President himself cascading towards the well.
Noteworthy was the lack of masks - the House’s attending physician recommended lifting mask requirements but required a negative COVID test to participate in the spectacle. Also noteworthy was the smallest crowd I’ve ever seen for a SOTU, with vacant seats in abundance. And also a first - assigned seats. I’ve never seen that before and can’t believe that it went over well. Many members, especially Republicans, boycotted the event.
Except for Democratic US Senator Joe Manchin, who sat with Republicans. Did someone assign him to sit there? Just curious.
It was a speech of lost opportunities but plenty of feel-good moments. Recognizing the Ukrainian Ambassador was rightly applauded. Some Members of Congress were waving and sporting Ukrainian flags, others with Ukrainian flag pins and ribbons. It might have been nice if President Biden had recognized US Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN), a Ukrainian immigrant and first-term House member. Perhaps she wasn’t in attendance. But Spartz made her views passionately known of Russia’s invasion, which she calls genocide. She would know.
Recognizing 13-year-old Josh Davis, who has diabetes and the high cost of prescription drugs was touching. And credit the President for calling to “fund the police.” But the line, "You think the deer are wearing Kevlar vests?" in support of gun control was cringe-worthy and insulting.
But as it is with so many political speeches these days, what Biden didn’t say - what he missed - was more noteworthy than what he said.
Sure, he followed what Europe and Canada have already done and banned Russian flights over US airspace, but blew a chance to impose one very painful sanction on Russian oil and gas. Even Canada, which like the US, has been importing Russian oil, banned Russian energy. Good for them. Honk honk!
He also failed to speak directly to the Ukrainian people and the Russian people who are not on board with Vladimir Putin’s invasion and war crimes, either.
As predicted, he tried to take credit for European and NATO unity. But as others have noted, Europe and even Canada and Germany have acted first and faster than the United States.
Biden’s isn’t “leading from behind.” He’s just behind.
Biden did a good thing by recognizing Intel’s CEO for massive computer chip manufacturing investments in the United States. He also cited Ford and General Motors for job-creating investments in electric vehicles, coupled with a vision of 500,000 new EV charging stations across the country. He forgot to mention the one person most responsible for the EV vehicle revolution.
Then there was Speaker Pelosi and her bizarre theatrics, sitting behind President Biden.
The New York Post described it best:
So the State of Biden’s Union is delusional because he’s not going to be able to lower prices, he’s not going to be able to pass BBB, he’s not going to be able to keep companies in America. Won’t get an immigration deal, certainly not when he’s thrown open the border to millions. No amount of lecturing will change that. Meanwhile, nothing on energy independence, which would help our economy and strengthen our foreign relations.
Meanwhile, old, doddering Joe said he stood with the “Iranian,” not “Ukrainian” people, and assured everyone we wouldn’t be fighting Ukraine, not Russia. All while Pelosi rubbed her hands together behind him like she was Cruella de Vil eyeing a puppy (emphasis added).
The Constitution is clear. The President is only required to give “information” on the State of the Union “from time to time.” It doesn’t have to be spoken, and it need not be annual.
And sadly, it doesn’t have to be rooted in reality or remotely accurate. And this one wasn’t, from the senseless and inaccurate assault on state voter integrity laws to a gross mischaracterization of the Trump-era Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the benefits of which reached 65 percent of all Americans.