In a fiery address that belied his recent political fortunes, President Biden succeeded in his State of the Union speech on Thursday by coming off as decisive and firm.
That was the day-after reaction from several political experts and leaders who told NJ Spotlight News that the speech was an effective start to the president’s reelection campaign.
“When he got passionate about whatever issue — when he engaged directly with the Republicans who were trying to heckle him — those were the moments where I think you saw the strength or at least that freshness and energy,” said Rutgers political science professor Kelly Dittmar.
Several in New Jersey’s Democratic delegation also applauded the speech.
U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11th) said it felt “electric” to be in the Capitol. “It was really exciting and when he laid out a vision to our country, that quite frankly reminded us of who we are as a nation,” she said.
Added Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12): “I just said, ‘Oh, well, he’s really on his game tonight.’ So I thought it was a great speech.”
An animated Biden came out swinging in the pointedly political speech that doubled as a launch for his re-election campaign. The president declared freedom and democracy under attack, both at home and abroad, asking Congress to send desperately needed aid to Ukraine. Without saying Donald Trump’s name, Biden called him out for engaging with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Biden said at one point: “A former Republican president told [Putin] — and this is a quote — ‘do whatever the hell you want.’ A former president bowing down to a Russian leader. It’s outrageous, dangerous and unacceptable.”
“We will not bow down,” Biden said. “I will not bow down.”
Biden referred to the Republican presumptive presidential nominee as “my predecessor” more than a dozen times. And he called the Jan. 6 insurrection “a dagger to the throat of American democracy.”
Facing loud boos from Republicans in the audience, he added, “Here’s the simple truth: You can’t love your country only when you win.”
New Jersey’s Republican members didn’t respond to NJ Spotlight News’ requests for comment.
The president listed several economic priorities, including a $2,000 cap on prescription drugs, $400-a-month in mortgage assistance for first-time homebuyers, and a 25% tax on America’s wealthiest. Not all of New Jersey’s Democratic delegation agreed with the last one.
“Jersey is, in my opinion, taxed enough,” said Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5th). “I think we should do everything we can to fight for lower taxes and more affordability. I think a lot of it is the tax credits that are key — as he talked about.”
Addressing the divisive Israel-Hamas war, Biden promised to build a seaport in Gaza to expedite humanitarian aid, to work for a six-week ceasefire and bring hostages home. It was a message welcomed by Gottheimer, who hosted a Tenafly family whose son’s still held captive by Hamas.
“It’s very important that we get aid in there, as well as crush Hamas, right?” Gottheimer said. “I mean, this is a very complicated mission.”
Watson-Coleman wanted to hear more. “I think we have a responsibility to hold Israel more accountable now to what seems to be an overreaction to what happened on October the 7th,” she said. “You’re devastating a whole city. That’s wrong.”
On other issues, the President called for a ban on assault weapons and called on Congress to safeguard IVF and abortion rights. And he warned the Supreme Court justices sitting before him that they’ll soon find out how much electoral power women wield after the court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Sherrill agreed: “As long as Republicans continue to attack the freedoms of women across the nation, it’s going continue to be front and center, because I think so many of us feel incredibly threatened by that.”
Republican members often heckled the President, especially U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. Immigration was among the hottest topics drawing the boos.
Biden noted that a bipartisan bill to beef up border protections had been scuttled by Trump. But in the GOP response, Alabama Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) put the blame on the President.
“We know that President Biden didn’t just create this border crisis — he invited it with 94 executive actions,” she said in a highly emotional speech from her own kitchen.
Britt — a Trump supporter — called Biden a “permanent politician…who has actually been in office longer than I’ve been alive. One thing is clear, though. President Biden just doesn’t get it. He’s out of touch.”
