Uncle Joe’s Speech

03/02/2022

Lynn Murphy Mark

Last night’s State of the Union event held my attention from the beginning of my liberal MSNBC reporters’ coverage, through the ceremony and beyond into the after-speech remarks.

Ordinarily I would not have committed so firmly to watching a President deliver a report card on his, or her (someday), accomplishments. I follow politics pretty closely, so I already have an idea of what is coming. But something about the time we are in at this moment drew me to watch Joe Biden talk to the American people.

I watched as people greeted each other and talked among themselves. I recognized many of the politicians – many of whom I admire, and some of whom leave me baffled. Here came Mitch McConnell with a half smile on his mug and I know that he knows the game and how to play it. He didn’t look radiantly happy but he wasn’t his usual sourpuss as he entered the hall. Nancy Pelosi was above it all on her perch, and was soon joined by our VP, Kamala Harris. I wondered why Kamala didn’t wear Ukraine’s colors as so many people in the audience did. That was one of my many random thoughts as I watched the event unfold. Really, though, Kamala, a solid brown outfit?

Here’s the part I want to get to. I must be getting soft in my old age, but there were times when I was brought to the verge of tears. When the Ukranian ambassador was ushered in to her seat next to Jill Biden I wondered what thoughts must be going through her mind as thousands of miles away her people are under siege and are dying for love of country and freedom. When Joe Biden’s Cabinet filed in, I was absolutely emotionally touched by the diversity of those people who are running our country. This is not a cabinet of aging white men, but a group of fellow Americans who reflect the people in their care. People of color, a gay man, women and men devoted to their duties to flag and country. A handful of Supreme Court Justices entered, including a man who is retiring, whose seat is soon to be filled by an historic appointment – an African American woman, eminently qualified to join the highest court in our land.

And here came Joe Biden, an elderly man with a huge vision for our country. People stopped him on his way down the aisle to say a word, or shake his hand. As he approached the platform I silently begged him not to run up the steps – save that energy for the speech! 

He started off by talking about Ukraine, surely the topic uppermost on our minds. As he spoke, people stood and clapped. Even some Republicans stood with everyone and honored the resilience of the Ukranian people. Thank God there is one issue that can get bipartisan support in our fractious Congress.

Joe Biden isn’t the best speech giver, but considering that he has to overcome a serious speech impediment, he was able to deliver a strong address. At least I thought it was, unlike the governor of Iowa who spoke after the event as a representative of the Republican party, disputing most of what the President said. 

As I listened to President Biden I couldn’t help but compare him to the previous occupier of the position. I was pretty sure that Nancy Pelosi was not going to tear up this President’s speech. I like Joe Biden, obviously, and I am always surprised that his opponents hate him. It seems like such a strong emotion to carry toward a man doing his best to run our huge and complex country. 

And then I remember how I felt about 45, and how I spent his four years in an almost constant state of rage and tension. All I know is that for these next three years I feel like I am in competent, humanitarian, democratic hands. I can’t ask for much more than that.