(New York) The first octogenarian president to occupy the White House helped dust off the traditional State of the Union address on Tuesday evening, adopting a combative tone to respond to the less courteous Republican elected officials who made up part of his audience in the packed precincts of the United States Capitol.
A few weeks before the expected launch of his re-election campaign, the 46e President took advantage of this speech followed live on television by tens of millions of Americans to try to convince an electorate skeptical or worried about the effectiveness of his economic policies.
“Let’s look at the results”, he said after welcoming the creation of 12 million jobs during the first two years of his mandate. “An unemployment rate of 3.4%, the lowest in 50 years. A near-record unemployment rate for black and Hispanic workers.
“We have already created 800,000 well-paying jobs in the industry, the fastest growth in 40 years,” he added.
But it was in addressing the both crucial and arid issue of the debt ceiling that Joe Biden really came alive. He accused some Republicans of wanting to make raising the debt ceiling conditional on cuts to the two most popular US government programs, Social Security (pensions) and Medicare (health insurance for the elderly and disabled).
If Congress does not raise the debt ceiling by June or July, the US risks a catastrophic default for the US economy.
Some of my Republican friends want to hold the economy hostage unless I go along with their economic plans. All of you back home should know what their plans are.
Joe Biden, President of the United States
“Instead of making the rich pay their fair share, some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security cut every five years,” he added, prompting disapproving cries and boos from Republicans.
With a smirk, the president replied, “Anyone who doubts this, contact my office, I will give you a copy of their proposals. »
From her seat, Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene exclaimed, “Liar! »
PHOTO EVELYN HOCKSTEIN, REUTERS
Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican Representative from Georgia
She was not the only one to launch this word which would have caused a scandal in the same circumstances at another time. After shouting “You’re lying! to Barack Obama during a speech before Congress in September 2009, the Republican representative of South Carolina Joe Wilson had also apologized.
But Joe Biden did not seem to take offense at this stormy atmosphere which was more like question period in the House of Commons in the United Kingdom or Canada.
Certainly, the White House did not fail to let it be known that it was delighted with this moment when the Republicans repudiated on prime time television a position that they had long defended, and this, even before the real negotiations on the debt ceiling begin.
Of course, the episode seemed to contradict what Joe Biden said earlier in his speech that Democrats and Republicans are capable of working together.
“They came together to pass a once-in-a-generation infrastructure law, building bridges to bring our nation and our people together,” he said.
“In fact, I have signed more than 300 bipartisan laws since I became president,” he added, referring in particular to a plan to revive the microchip sector.
Jobs and taxes
At the start of his speech, Joe Biden also hailed the election of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“I don’t want to ruin your reputation, but I look forward to working with you,” he joked.
Insisting on his desire to create jobs for blue collar workers, Joe Biden also defended his protectionist policies.
“Tonight, I am also announcing new standards to require that all building materials used in federal infrastructure projects be made in America. Wood, glass, drywall, fiber optic cables made in America. »
The president also called on Congress to pass his proposal for a minimum tax for billionaires.
Because no billionaire should pay a lower tax rate than a teacher or a firefighter.
Joe Biden, President of the United States
The president renewed his calls for banning assault rifles and enacting police reform. He mentioned these two subjects by noting the presence among the spectators of RowVaughn Wells, mother of Tyre Nichols, this black man beaten to death by five Memphis police officers, as well as Brandon Tsay, this hero who disarmed the Monterey Park shooter , in California.
Joe Biden further vowed to veto any nationwide abortion ban laws and called on Congress to pass immigration reform to address issues on the southern border, including fentanyl trafficking.
International issues, and more specifically Ukraine and China, took up most of this State of the Union address.
“Together, we did what America always does when it gives its full potential. We led. We united NATO and built a global coalition. We opposed Putin’s aggression. We supported the Ukrainian people,” he said.
China
The president also said he was ready “to work with China when it can serve American interests and benefit the whole world”.
“But make no mistake: as we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And we did it,” he said.
New Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders offered the Republican response to Joe Biden’s speech. She took the opportunity to denounce the “woke fantasies” of the Democrats.
“Most Americans just want to live their lives in freedom and peace, but we are under attack from a leftist culture war that we didn’t start and never wanted to fight,” she said. said.