The State of Our Union is "Strong and Getting Stronger"
President Biden gave his State of the Union address to Congress last night and I have compiled video clips of my favorite moments, so you can quickly revisit the historical event.
Vice President Kamala Harris entered the floor of the House fairly early on and made a point to greet a lot of people on her way up to the podium. She ultimately had to stand at the front of the room with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), making small talk for quite a while. I like this clip of the Justices of the Supreme Court standing in the front row (with Kagan and Sotomayor making quips) that leads into Harris and Johnson standing there silently, like the dutiful teachers waiting to begin the assembly. If ever there were a time to have thought bubbles, it would be with those two in that moment.
Before President Biden entered the House Chamber, everyone was socializing on the floor. One of my favorite moments was when the camera caught a close-up of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) smiling and holding hands with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
They look genuinely happy to see each other and I wish we had them on a hot mic so we could tell what was being said. I imagine when Pelosi starts pointing that she is telling Schumer: “Yeah, that’s the guy…I told you. He still owes me $20 bucks from when we had to eat out of the vending machines on the 6th…”
This next clip is fairly long, but it needs to be. President Biden enters the House of Representatives as someone shouts “JOE! JOE! JOE!” and takes the time to great everyone, even Marjorie Taylor Green who brazenly broke the House rules by wearing a MAGA hat on the floor. Biden takes selfies, greets friends and colleagues, and refers enthusiastically to Joe Manchin (D-WV) as “Joe, Joe!”
The chamber erupts into a chant of “Four more years! Four more years!” as the president stops to greet the Justices of the Supreme Court, telling Chief Justice Roberts “God, love you.” Biden also looks right through Brett Kavanaugh as if he weren’t there. At the podium, President Biden begins the night with a light joke and then quickly gets serious with his speech. For anyone who calls President Biden too old, or too slow, I say this clip shows him in his true form — methodical, deliberate, earnest and disciplined.
“This [is] no ordinary time. Freedom and democracy are under assault in the world…my purpose tonight is to wake up the Congress and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment, either.” President Biden emphasizes the need to continue to support Ukraine to fight Putin saying, “Freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and overseas at the very same time — history is watching.”
Biden directly references the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, calling out Trump directly, but referring to him only as “my predecessor” and accusing him and others in that room of seeking to bury the truth about Jan. 6: “I will not do that.” Biden continues, “This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Here’s a simple truth. You can’t love your country only when you win.”
President Biden describes his administration’s plans for a pier off the coast of Gaza to help with humanitarian aid. “Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and ensure that humanitarian workers aren’t caught in the crossfire,” Biden says, delivering a warning that Israel should not use aid as a “bargaining chip” with Hamas, even as he reaffirms Israel’s right to defend itself from attacks by the militant group.
Biden delivers strong remarks stressing the need to guarantee access to abortion and declaring that the conservative majority of the US Supreme Court got it wrong by striking down Roe. v. Wade. Quoting the Dobbs decision, Biden repeats the words of the conservative majority saying, “Women are not without electoral or political power." He goes on to tell the Supreme Court personally, “You’re about to realize just how much you were right about that…”
“To my friends across the aisle, don’t keep families waiting any longer,” Biden says, recognizing Latorya Beasley, a guest of first lady Jill Biden’s whose IVF treatments were cancelled after the Alabama ruling. “Guarantee the right to IVF nationwide!”
Biden to Republicans on border issue saying, “HELP ME.” He also points out all of the aspects of the bill Democrats passed, with Republican support, and then asks those who are booing, “what are you against?”
Marjorie Taylor Greene looks like a fool once again when she opens her mouth to interrupt the president with a new Republican slogan that was stolen from Breonna Taylor’s death. President Biden speaks directly to the family of the girl who died, shows compassion for the issue at the border and makes Taylor-Greene look like the opportunistic chump she is.
Biden decides to close his speech by addressing his age…beautifully.
If you are interested in watching President Biden’s entire State of the Union Address, you can do so here:
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Amee Vanderpool writes the SHERO Newsletter, is an attorney, published author, contributor to newspapers and magazines, and an analyst for BBC radio. She can be reached at avanderpool@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter @girlsreallyrule.
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He took on the age issue head-on, which is what he needs to do. As for the execrable MTG, she managed to debase herself and the position she holds even more, something which I really didn't think was possible.
Ms. Vanderpool: We are rejoicing in the right side of history! Everyone please give of you time, talents and money against the dark money autocrats. WE ARE THE MAJORITY, AND WE NEED TO OVERWHELMING SUPPORT THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES AND VOTE TO SAVE DEMOCRACY.