State of the Union 2022 - Boebert doubles down on heckle as veteran’s widow calls for her removal
As it happened: Joe Biden delivers his first State of the Union address to Congress
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Your support makes all the difference.Joe Biden has woken up an encouraging reception for his first State of the Union address, which snap polling says met with the approval of more than two-thirds of Americans – a rare bit of good news for a president whose ratings remain underwater.
Mr Biden at times received bipartisan standing applause in the House chamber last night, especially during his remarks on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Putin’s war was premeditated and unprovoked,” the president said. “He rejected efforts at diplomacy. He thought the West and Nato wouldn’t respond. And, he thought he could divide us here at home. Putin was wrong. We were ready.”
However, progressives have given a lukewarm reception to the domestic elements of Mr Biden’s speech, in which he promised to “fund the police” while declining to go as far as some wanted on key issues like immigration.
Speaking on MSNBC, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said that “there’s some themes that are left a little bit to be desired for key constituencies in the Democratic base, but the president’s goal was very clear on really projecting a theme of unity and I think he’s still stuck to that.”
Meanwhile, the White House has hit back at heckling from far-right Congresswomen Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, with Press Secretary Jen Psaki remarking that their shouting at the president “says a lot more about them” than it does about the substance of his speech.
“The Ukrainians are fighting back with pure courage, but the next few days, weeks, months, will be hard on them. Putin has unleashed violence and chaos. While he may make gains on the battlefield, he will pay a continuing high price over the long run.”
“I want you to know, we are going to be OK, we are going to be OK. When the history of this era is written Putin’s war on Ukraine will have left Russia weaker and the rest of the world stronger.”
“Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he will never gain the hearts and souls of the Ukrainian people.He will never extinguish their love of freedom. He will never weaken the resolve of the free world.”
Slight gaffe there:
“Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he will never gain the hearts and souls of the Iranian people.”
Speaking about the economy, Biden begins: “And unlike the $2 trillion tax cut passed in the previous administration...”
There are loud boos from Republicans.
Then Democrats cheer louder to his mention of the American Rescue Plan.
Thanking lawmakers for the bipartisan infrastucture law, Biden says: “We’re done talking about infrastructure weeks. We’re going to have an infrastructure decade.”
“Tonight I’m announcing that this year we will start fixing over 65,000 miles of highway and 1,500 bridges in disrepair.”
Biden calls on Congress to pass the Bipartisan Innovation Act, saying “ to compete for the best jobs of the future, we also need to level the playing field with China and other competitors.”
Biden: “We need to level the playing field with China and other competitors. That’s why it’s so important to pass the Bipartisan Innovation Act. It will make record investments in emerging technologies, American manufacturing, and innovation. Send it to my desk. I’ll sign it.”
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