What Biden didn’t say at the State of the Union – Communist Party USA
The following is based on a report given by Joe Sims at the National Board meeting on March 2, 2022.
Perhaps the most suprizing thing about Bidens State of the Union address the other night is that nary a word was said about the storming of the Capitol. How could that be? A scant few weeks after the coups first anniversary and no mention? What manner of political calculus led Washingtons top Democratic strategists to conclude that it was either impolitic or impolite to mention the most important event in this countrys history? Was it a focus group, a poll, a gut-felt hunch, plain old stupidity, or what?
Gus Hall used to say that the essence of being president was in offending the least number of people, but after January 6th, this is ridiculous!
The answer might lie in the content of a speech pitched smack dab in the middle of center field. After almost 20 minutes of casting fire and brimstone at Putin for invading Ukraine, Mr. Biden called for increased police funding and securing the U.S.s southern border, calls that received standing ovations from both sides of the aisle.
So how are you going to win the midterms by appealing mainly to independents and soccer moms? Hmm.
Four noncontroversial unity proposals were premiered at the joint session of Congress: combating opioid addiction, outlawing ads targeted at children, providing aid to veterans, and renewing the war on cancer. Could these, along with repackaged parts of Build Back Better, be the main planks in this years Democratic legislative agenda?
Hey, Mr. Biden, better call Manchin and Sinema and be ready with some big bucks. You can forget about Mitch McConnell supporting anything you do now or, if you dont change course, in what appears to be your exceedingly short-lived political future.
Now, dont get me wrong: there were some good things in the speech. The president did stress that today, the countrys in a better place. But hell, this was true the second after Trump left office. Unemployment is lower, COVID is receding, and infrastructure legislation has passed.
And the speech did bring attention to voting rights, the PRO-ACT, and trans rights, even though theres zero chance of passage of House-approved legislation on these or any other front in the near term.
In addition, there were strong appeals in the State of the Union to working-class issues like tax fairness, womens equality, and child care. With respect to tax fairness Biden said, Just last year, 55 Fortune 500 corporations earned $40 billion in profits and paid zero dollars in federal income tax. He called for a 15% tax on global corporations in response. Good.
But, while working-class issues were mentioned, they seemed rather muted. By way of comparison, Rashida Tlaib gave a reply to Biden on behalf of the Working Families Party that called for electing a working-class majority to Congress around issues like canceling student debt, raising the minimum wage, recalculating the poverty index, and turning the Rust Belt into a Green Belt. She also took aim at the military budget.
Now thats an agenda one can relate to instead of the other days repositioning. Come on guys! Average is not going to win the midterms! Enough with projecting Bidens sometimes under, sometimes overstated Im-the-normal-guy image and its either me or tbe President of Krazyland.
Indeed, Biden on Tuesday night chose to largely stay away from the sharper issues that have divided the country. This stood in sharp contrast to the GOP reply given by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. Reynolds centered her remarks on inflation, mandates, childrens education (read critical race theory), immigration, and government overreach. The Republicans have no fear of feeding red meat to their base.
Thus, the state of the union remains uncertain and unstable, despite the beginnings of a return to normal. But with inflation and now war in Europe, normal may not be enough. People are fearful and nervous, and one has a very strong feeling that the election is going to turn on the price of gas.
Yes, Russias invasion of Ukraine looms large: it was wrong and in violation of international law. In the words of the CPUSAs National Board, War between states is never an acceptable solution and must be rejected in the strongest terms.
The working class of both countries deserves support and solidarity, as does the growing peace movements there. One million signed a petition for peace in Russia recently. Thats huge!
But look: lets get our priorities straight: The main task has to be to work to develop a peace movement and to change the Biden administrations policy. Thats the best way and only way to support the workers of Russia and Ukraine.
The context set by U.S. imperialisms role over the past months cannot be ignored, including Cold War rhetoric, saber rattling, and what might be called a de facto NATOization of Ukraine. By NATOization is meant the arming of the country beginning with Trump and continued by Biden, and the building of infrastructure with potential military uses along with provocative Western military exercises by U.S. and U.K. armed forces.
In this regard, the building of the peace movement must be considered within the context of fighting the fascist danger. In other words, its imperative that a broad movement be built around the key issues today: a cease fire, withdrawal of troops and setting a date for such, ending sanctions, bringing in the UN. These actions could set the stage for additional future steps for peaceful coexistence, arranging regional security, including ending the supply of arms. Here we should be careful not to substitute anti-imperialist positions for what the broader forces in the peace movement may be ready to endorse.
Strong stances will have to be taken and unity among broad forces fought for. All-peoples unity is necessary. As for an election strategy that soft peddles the January 6th insurrection suggested by its absence from mention in the state of the union, as truckers used to say, The only thing in the middle of the road are white lines and dead jack rabbits.
Wake up yall before its too late: whats going to win this election is a mass movement organized around the issues the movement has to adapt to and meet the political moment. The point here is that the issues cant be determined by elites; they have to be constructed and fought for from the ground up by the broad masses of our class and people.
Images: White House (Facebook); Green jobs, Lihn Do (CC BY 2.0); Peace sign, Dyniss Rainer (CC BY-SA 2.0).
See the rest here:
What Biden didn't say at the State of the Union - Communist Party USA
- North Korea pledges to 'unconditionally support' Russia's war in Ukraine - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Senators tout Russia sanctions bill as sledgehammer for Trump to end war in Ukraine - CNN - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
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- Archbishop Gudziak: Walking the Way of the Cross with Ukraine - Vatican News - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Trump says US will send Patriot missiles to Ukraine - The Kyiv Independent - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
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- Russia attacks west Ukraine with drones and missiles, kills two - Reuters - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
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- Russia Intensifies Its Air War in Ukraine - NPR - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Trump expected to deliver weapons to Ukraine through Nato allies - The Guardian - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- 2 dead as Russia attacks Ukraine overnight with almost 600 drones, Kyiv says - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Senate Backs Ukraine Aid In Draft Military Spending Bill Ahead Of Trump's Statement On Russia - Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Trump Says NATO Countries Will Buy Weapons to Give to Ukraine - The New York Times - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Senators want safeguards on Hegseth meddling with Ukraine aid in new defense bill - USA Today - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- How do Russians think the war in Ukraine will end? - BBC - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Russia-Ukraine war: What are frustrated Trumps next options with Putin? - Al Jazeera - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Rubio slams Russia over 'lack of progress' toward peace in Ukraine - Politico - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- U.S. weapons flowing again to Ukraine, but not fast enough to stop Russia's drone and missile strikes - CBS News - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Putins war in Ukraine may cost him control of the south Caucasus - The Economist - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Trump says he struck deal to send US weapons to Ukraine through NATO - CNN - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Putin Escalates His War Against Ukraine, Undeterred by Trumps Words - The New York Times - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- 'Russia's tactic is obvious' Shahed drone 'terror' now reaches all of Ukraine - The Kyiv Independent - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Conference commits over 10 bln euros to Ukraine rebuilding, Italy says - Reuters - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Russian drone and cruise missile attacks kill at least 2 in Ukraine - AP News - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Rubio says US and Russia have exchanged new ideas for Ukraine peace talks - AP News - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Leonardo may offer drone tech but has no plans for plant in Ukraine, CEO tells paper - Reuters - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Trump resumes weapons deliveries to Ukraine - politico.eu - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Russia batters Ukraine with more than 700 drones, the largest barrage of the war, officials say - AP News - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Unhappy with Putin, Trump and Congress move closer to Ukraine - The Washington Post - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Trump unloads on Putin after promising more military aid to Ukraine - NBC News - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Chinese father and son detained in Ukraine, accused of trying to smuggle out info on guided missile system - CBS News - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Ukraine's Zelenskiy to hold more meetings with US officials in Rome - Reuters - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Largest Russian Long-Range Drone Onslaught Of The War Rains Down On Ukraine - The War Zone - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Italy opens Ukraine rebuilding conference as doubts of US defense help remain - AP News - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Russia launches largest drone attack on Ukraine as Kyiv pushes US for air defense aid - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Trump Asked About Not Knowing Who Paused Ukraine Weapons: 'I Would Know' - Newsweek - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- 'Trump should fire him': Jeffries reacts to Hegseth reportedly pausing Ukraine weapons - CNN - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Trump says U.S. will resume sending weapons to Ukraine after pausing last week - NPR - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- How Ukraine is Adapting, Enduring, and Striking Back - War on the Rocks - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Trumps sudden shift on weapons for Ukraine takes the war back to square one - CNN - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Trumps Frustration With Putin Preceded Resumption of U.S. Weapons to Ukraine - The New York Times - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- How I Changed My Mind About the War in Ukraine - learnliberty.org - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- 2 killed, 16 injured as Kyiv slammed with drones, ballistic missiles in Russian mass attack against Ukraine for 2nd night in row - The Kyiv... - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Europe's top rights court finds Russia responsible for downing of MH17, rights abuses in Ukraine - Reuters - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Russian Minister Who Had Led Region Later Invaded by Ukraine Is Found Dead - The New York Times - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- In Sumy, Ukraine, the front line is drawing near but we refuse to leave - Al Jazeera - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Ukraine war briefing: US to resume shipments of weapons for Ukrainian defence - The Guardian - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Trump embarrasses the Pentagon with a U-turn on Ukraine - The Economist - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Trump says U.S. will send more weapons to Ukraine - The Washington Post - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Trump says US will send more weapons to Ukraine - Reuters - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Trump to Resume Sending Weapons to Ukraine - WSJ - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
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- US to send more weapons to Ukraine, Trump says - Al Jazeera - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- 'We have to': Trump sending weapons to Ukraine after expressing disappointment with Putin - USA Today - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- US backs Natos latest pledge of support for Ukraine, but in reality seems to have abandoned its European partners - The Conversation - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Trump says US will send more weapons to Ukraine: They have to be able to defend themselves - New York Post - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Macrons U.K. State Visit: Migrants and the War in Ukraine Are on the Agenda - The New York Times - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- What Is Trump Trying to Do With Russia and Ukraine Now? - Slate - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Trump says US will resume weapon shipments to Ukraine days after pause - The Independent - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- US to resume delivery of 'defensive weapons' to Ukraine, says Trump - France 24 - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Trump says he'll send Ukraine more weapons: "They have to be able to defend themselves" - Axios - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- The doctor fighting for women's health on Ukraine's front line - BBC - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- US envoy Kellogg to attend Ukraine aid conference in Rome - Reuters - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Donald Trump says US will send Ukraine more arms - Financial Times - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Russia and Ukraine trade drone strikes as Kyiv signs deals to boost drone production - AP News - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- As Ukraine awaits stalled US weapons, Trump says he's 'helping a lot' in war with Russia - The Kyiv Independent - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Opinion | Trump Is Disappointed With Putin on Ukraine - WSJ - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]