How Marjorie Helped Joe Get His Mojo Back
President Joe Biden appeared to enjoy sparring with his Republican opponents during Tuesday night’s State of the Union address.
President Joe Biden reportedly was astonished that Republicans fell so readily into the trap he set during Tuesday night’s State of the Union address. But, fall they did, and as they tumbled, they gave the octogenarian president new energy — renewing his mojo — as he gears up for an expected reelection bid. The trap allowed Biden to erase all the stumbles earlier in the speech and convince his supporters, despite losing a step or two (how many 80 year olds have not?), he is ready for the rigors of his next campaign and the next six years of his presidency, if he wins a second term.
The trap came when Biden accused some Republicans — not all, he stressed — of threatening Social Security and Medicare, two programs for seniors associated with Democratic presidents yet revered by most, if not all, Americans. “Liar,” screamed Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, with hands cupped at her mouth to create a bullhorn effect. Dressed all in white with fur-collared coat, the notorious conspiracist, who has been known to hang out with White Supremacists, reminded more than one observer of Cruella De Vil. Pictures of Greene’s antics — she postured and shouted with frequency during the speech — will grace many Democratic campaign ads between now and the November 2024 election.
Greene was by no means alone in heckling the president. Other Republicans expressed rage at Biden’s accurate description of Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott’s 2022 campaign agenda. As chair of the GOP Senate campaign arm, Scott proposed “sunsetting” Social Security and Medicare, meaning the programs would expire every five years unless Congress renewed them. Other Republicans — including Greene — have toyed with suggestions to trim spending on the popular social safety net programs for seniors.
Biden clearly enjoyed his ripostes with congressional Republicans. When the GOP side of the aisle objected to his comments on the proposed “sunsetting” of Social Security and Medicare, Biden simply replied, “Contact my office” for a copy of Scott’s proposal. Then, the president, relishing the moment, allowed that he “enjoys conversions,” a reference to his Catholic faith. And, finally, Biden delivered the coup de grâce: “So, folks, as we all apparently agree, Social Security and Medicare is off the books now, right?… We’ve got unanimity.” He followed with a call for all to “stand up for seniors,” and the entire audience, Republicans as well as Democrats, jumped to its feet and applauded.
Biden accomplished four things, at least, with this exchange. First, he removed Social Security and Medicare from the chopping block as he prepares to confront Republicans over the looming debt ceiling deadline and future budget negotiations. Second, he demonstrated not only vigor but quickness on his feet, a trait he will need during the upcoming campaign (I am assuming he is running for reelection). Third, he showed that Republicans, for all their claim to be “populists,” have nothing in their economic toolbox to aid working-class Americans. And, fourth, he gave himself potent campaign material. He can take to the stump and claim he is an effective protector of the interests of “ordinary” Americans, in general, and senior citizens, in particular. (Biden already trotted out some of these themes in his Thursday trip to Florida.
Biden’s speech — and Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ dystopian response — highlighted the differences between Democrats and Republicans. Biden reminded viewers of how their lives have improved during his presidency. He bragged about the record low unemployment rate and the creation of 12-million new jobs in just his two years as president. He touted his many achievements, including legislation protecting women against violence, a bill reforming how electors are counted, and a measure guaranteeing that all Americans can marry the person they love. Most importantly, Biden pointed to legislation creating jobs while rebuilding the nation’s crumbling infrastructure. To Republicans who voted against money for infrastructure, the president said, “I’ll see you at the groundbreaking.” Biden conceded much remains to be done, a concession that provided, perhaps, his 2024 campaign slogan: “Finish the job.” He repeated it at least a dozen times.
Biden and his fellow Democrats have failed to sell their accomplishments. According to a recent survey by The Washington Post, 62 percent of Americans think the president has accomplished “not very much” or “little or nothing at all” during his two years in the White House. Biden’s job in the next two years is to convince voters that he has done much and will continue to work on their behalf. The irony here is that Republicans have made major electoral inroads among blue-collar voters and voters without college degrees (often overlapping categories) while doing little to advance the economic needs of these groups.
Instead, Republicans passed massive tax cuts for the wealthy and pushed the so-called “culture wars,” stoking fears and anger centering on educational inclusiveness, gender and racial diversity, and changing demographics. The GOP playbook was on display when Arkansas Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders delivered the Republican response. Sanders portrayed Biden as a tool of the “radical left” who is pushing “a left-wing culture war.” According to Sanders, the Democrats are responsible for high gas prices and empty grocery shelves while teaching children to “hate one another on account of their race.” None of that is true, of course. Biden has the bully pulpit, which he needs to use to convince Americans that his programs are improving their lives while Republicans are only fueling their discontent.
Republicans did more than provide Biden with a big win Tuesday night. In their back-and-forth with the president, Republicans revealed how churlish and uncivil they are. The repeated heckling of the president, I would guess, will not sit well with many Americans. (Speaker Kevin McCarthy reportedly warned members of his caucus not to misbehave, and he visibly and audibly tried to shush them during the speech.) The nation has come a long way since being shocked when Representative Joe Wilson, a South Carolina Republican, yelled “you lie” at President Barack Obama in 2009. The rowdiness of Republicans — someone even shouted “bullshit” — was reminiscent of the British House of Commons where contentious debate and catcalls during “question time” are common. But, interestingly, while all kinds of rude comments are tolerated during Parliamentary sessions, accusations of lying are strictly forbidden. Members are escorted from the chamber if they break that taboo.
The Constitution decrees that the president “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union.” The address is the president’s obligation (through for most of American history presidents submitted written reports). Most Americans also believe the president deserves respect because of the office. I suspect Republican misbehavior will not play well with the public.
The State of the Union allowed Biden to showcase his accomplishments while putting Republicans — bereft of concrete policy initiatives — in a box. All in all, it was a great night for the president. Thanks, Marjorie and all your boorish colleagues. Biden clearly enjoyed your distress.
Joe does, indeed, have his mojo back.
Posted February 10, 2023