Biden Shatters Narratives About His Age And Acuity In Powerful SOTU Address
Biden Shatters Narratives About His Age And Acuity In Powerful SOTU Address
In the State of the Union address, Biden benefitted from being underestimated. He blew away expectations and shattered right-wing claims about his age and acuity by projecting wisdom and vitality.
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“My purpose tonight is to both wake up this Congress and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment...” President Joe Biden proclaimed in the House chamber.
While he called on the country to wake up to the stakes of this moment, it was President Biden who was wide awake and rising to the occasion, defying those who call him “Sleepy Joe.” This was Biden at his absolute best.
In moments like this State of the Union address, President Biden thrives and benefits from being underestimated. He has faced years of right-wing and, at times, mainstream ridicule for being allegedly “old and senile.” Biden’s critics set the bar incredibly low, and in his speech on Thursday night, he somersaulted over it.
Biden forcefully projected vitality in his style and comprehensiveness in his substance. He was energetic, fiery, funny, and didn’t shy away from taking on Republicans and Trump directly. He put forward his vision for the future while showcasing what he’s accomplished in the present.
The risk of Republicans basing their case against Biden on the claim that he’s senile and old is that whenever he shows any vigor, it crumbles their entire narrative. Giving an hour-long, wide-ranging, late-evening speech with forceful bravado would be a challenge for someone of any age. But at 81 years old, Biden crushed it.
Republicans setting low expectations that Biden outperforms isn’t a new phenomenon.
Republicans depicted Biden as senile in 2020 ahead of his first debate with Trump. When Biden appeared strong and sharp at the debate, Trump was caught off guard and delivered an erratic performance. Compounding that debate failure, Trump was hospitalized for COVID days later after exposing his staff to the virus.
Biden has consistently performed at a high level when his back is against the wall, and it matters most. The 2020 Democratic National Convention speech was another example of this. But this State of the Union was especially important, as it came amid a political reality where concerns about Biden’s age have become dominant.
Biden didn’t just implicitly dispell concerns about his age with his performance, he also did so with his words.
The substance of Biden’s speech was noteworthy. He covered all bases and successfully drew necessary contrasts with his rival, Donald Trump, referring to him not by name but as “my predecessor” 13 times during the speech. Biden targeted some of the Trump weaknesses I outlined in my coverage of the GOP primaries.
Right out of the gate, Biden called out Trump for encouraging Russian President Vladimir Putin to attack NATO allies if they don't pay up, starting the speech heavy on foreign policy and the need to support Ukraine.
Biden then immediately talked about the January 6 insurrection, calling out Trump and his allies’ attempts to “bury the truth” about the attack. He discussed the attack, then forcefully said a memorable line: "You can't love your country only when you win"
Pairing Trump’s appeasement of Putin with Trump’s incitement of the January 6 insurrection was a savvy way to depict him as a threat to democracy at home and abroad.
Abortion was also front and center. Biden discussed the Alabama IVF ruling and directly pointed out how it was allowed to happen due to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. Biden said Trump is the reason Roe was overturned and highlighted the fact Republicans want a national abortion ban.
Biden then reminded Americans about where we were during the pandemic and how far we've come. This was a really important moment, especially given polling indicating Americans have collective amnesia about how terrible Donald Trump’s presidency was. Biden didn’t mince words:
“Four years ago next week, before I came to office, our country was hit by the worst pandemic and the worst economic crisis in a century. Remember the fear. Record job losses. Remember the spike in crime. And the murder rate.
A raging virus that would take more than 1 million American lives and leave millions of loved ones behind. A mental health crisis of isolation and loneliness. A president, my predecessor, who failed the most basic duty. Any President owes the American people the duty to care. That is unforgivable. I came to office determined to get us through one of the toughest periods in our nation’s history. And we have.
It doesn’t make the news but in thousands of cities and towns the American people are writing the greatest comeback story never told.”
Biden then went on to list his administration’s accomplishments, noting that the US has created 15 million new jobs in just three years, unemployment is at 50-year lows, a record 16 million Americans are starting small businesses, there are 800,000 new manufacturing jobs, the racial wealth gap is the smallest it’s been in 20 years, and inflation has dropped from 9% to 3% - the lowest in the world.
Looks like Biden has learned how to brag.
When Biden turned his attention to the issue of immigration, things got interesting. Biden broached the bipartisan border bill that Republicans demanded, negotiated, and sabotaged after Trump told them to. Biden said it contained “the toughest set of border security reforms we’ve ever seen in this country.”
As Republicans in the chamber began to boo and groan, Biden went off script and retorted, "Oh, you don't like that bill, huh? That conservatives got together and said was a good bill? I'll be darned. That’s amazing.”
Biden then went back on script, proclaiming, “That bipartisan deal would hire 1,500 more border security agents and officers. 100 more immigration judges to help tackle a backload of 2 million cases. 4,300 more asylum officers and new policies so they can resolve cases in 6 months instead of 6 years.”
In a made-for-TV moment Biden’s team could only dream of, the camera panned to Senator James Lankford (R-OK), who was seen nodding and mouthing, “That’s true,” as Biden listed off the border bill measures. Senator Lankford, ranked the second most conservative Senator in the country, led negotiations on the bill and was frustrated by Trump’s move to kill it.
As Republicans continued to groan, Biden said, “Look at the facts. I know you know how to read.”
This was a combative Biden, contesting Republicans to their faces, showcasing the kind of fight that Democrats want to see.
Biden also touched on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, mentioning the 30,000 Palestinian lives lost and the administration’s push for a 6-week ceasefire. He also outlined a new measure the US is taking:
“Tonight, I’m directing the U.S. military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelters.”
While the speech overall was good, the absolute best part was how Biden ended it.
In the build-up to a powerful closing that triggered a massive standing ovation from Democrats, Biden jokingly took on the issue of his age before flipping it on its head, showing that age brings wisdom:
“I know I may not look like it, but I’ve been around a while. And when you get to my age certain things become clearer than ever before. I know the American story. Again and again I’ve seen the contest between competing forces in the battle for the soul of our nation. Between those who want to pull America back to the past and those who want to move America into the future. My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy.”
Biden then leaned into an optimistic vision for the future, including a line that we’re likely going to be hearing for the next 8 months:
“In my career I’ve been told I’m too young and I’m too old. Whether young or old, I’ve always known what endures. Our North Star. The very idea of America, that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. We’ve never fully lived up to that idea, but we’ve never walked away from it either. And I won’t walk away from it now.
My fellow Americans, the issue facing our nation isn’t how old we are, it’s how old our ideas are. Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are among the oldest of ideas. But you can’t lead America with ancient ideas that only take us back.
To lead America, the land of possibilities, you need a vision for the future of what America can and should be. Tonight you’ve heard mine.”
This closing captured the essence of what this election is really about. We are faced with two completely contrasting visions of who America is and what America should aspire to be.
This State of the Union address made me a bit more optimistic than I already was that America will choose the right vision.
If you haven’t watched the speech yet, I highly recommend you watch it in full and share.
