Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union address yesterday. In it, Biden desperately tried to paint an optimistic picture of where America currently stands and where it is going. In doing so, Biden alienated many Americans, showed a lack of empathy and came across as an opportunist with little regard for American intellectualism.
The State of the Union address, which is constitutionally required, allows the president to speak to the American people. According to Article II, Section 3, Clause 1, the president “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.”
Biden’s Many Omissions
During his speech, Biden spoke to the American people. However, his remarks seemed to describe a country other than the United States.
Speaking to Sean Hannity last night, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, summed it up perfectly through the following observations.
Biden spoke of the incredibly high inflation rates yet failed to explain that his exorbitant spending caused this. He talked about high gas prices yet could not acknowledge the war on domestic energy production that his administration led. Biden spoke about the need to protect the borders but didn’t discuss his administration’s failures to enforce the immigration laws resulting in the highest rate of illegal immigration in 61 years. He acknowledged the invasion of Ukraine but failed to discuss his administration’s weakness, including the tragic withdrawal from Afghanistan and the decision to waive sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
The Reality of the Situation
Biden’s speech was an insult to most Americans. Not only did Biden refuse to take responsibility for the nation’s many problems, but he also came across as unsympathetic and entirely out of touch with the reality on the ground, which includes but is not limited to:
- Oil prices at $106 per barrel,
- Inflation at its highest level in 40 years (7.5% in January),
- A 1.7 percent decrease in real average hourly earnings because of inflation,
- Rising healthcare costs, where seniors are seeing the largest ever Medicare Part B premium increase in 2022,
- A dramatic increase in crime. At least 16 U.S. cities set new homicide records in 2021, according to local police departments,
- Supply chain shortages.
Covid and the Mask Mandates
Biden would have been better off taking accountability for the nation’s many problems and offering potential and realistic solutions instead of more spending. Rather, he spoke to Americans like they were clueless little children with no sense of what is happening.
Nowhere was this more evident than when Biden spoke about Covid.
“We’ve reached a new moment in the fight against COVID-19, with severe cases down to a level not seen since last July. Just a few days ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—the CDC—issued new mask guidelines. Under these new guidelines, most Americans in most of the country can now be mask free. And based on the projections, more of the country will reach that point across the next couple of weeks. Thanks to the progress we have made this past year, COVID-19 need no longer control our lives.”
Did Biden seriously expect Americans to believe that the timing of the “new” CDC guidelines had nothing to do with Biden’s failures in handling Covid?
As reported by the Daily Mail, “Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe the US is ‘doing badly’ on managing Covid, with Joe Biden’s pandemic handling at the lowest point of his presidency, a poll has revealed.”
How convenient it is for the CDC to “revise” its mask guidelines right before Biden’s big speech to allow him to “take credit” for the changes and Americans’ newly found freedom that the administration was more than happy to limit up until just recently.
“Funding” the Police
Regarding the nation’s police officers, Biden stated:
“That’s why the American Rescue Plan provided $350 Billion that cities, states, and counties can use to hire more police and invest in proven strategies like community violence interruption—trusted messengers breaking the cycle of violence and trauma and giving young people hope.
We should all agree: The answer is not to Defund the police. The answer is to FUND the police with the resources and training they need to protect our communities.”
Really? How nice.
For starters, as reported by National Review, the American Rescue Plan continues to reveal itself as the most damaging spending bill enacted in decades.”
Furthermore, while “funding” the police with resources and training is a nice gesture, what does Biden plan to do about the high crime rates that endanger law enforcement officers around the country? What does he plan to do about the open borders or the mass amnesty given to people illegally residing here? Does he have a solution for the prosecutors who refuse to charge those who commit certain types of crimes in various cities and states around the country? The Democrats’ policies have significantly jeopardized the nation’s police officers and law enforcement.
Americans Know Better
Americans know better. They know that Biden pushed for mandatory vaccines nationwide until the Supreme Court stepped in. They know that the CDC promoted mask-wearing until its most recent and “timely” change of heart. They also know an opportunist when they hear one.
Americans also know that many are struggling to pay their bills. They know that inflation is high, prices are unaffordable, crime is way up, taxes are too high, the borders are too porous, America is less safe, and America is no longer respected worldwide.
They don’t want puffery and false theories. They want accountability and solutions.
Biden failed on all fronts. He spoke to Americans like they were ignorant. In doing so, Biden alienated many Americans, showed a lack of empathy and came across as an opportunist with little regard for American intellectualism.
Mr. Hakim is an attorney and columnist. His articles have been published in The Washington Examiner, The Daily Caller, The Federalist, American Thinker, and other online publications. He is also a regular guest on OANN’s Tipping Point.