WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address framed the upcoming presidential election as a battle for democracy for the United States and abroad.
Throughout his speech, Biden invoked conflicts abroad in Ukraine to frame the United States' upcoming election.
“Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault here at home as they are today,” Biden said. “What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and overseas at the very same time.”
Biden drew a stark contrast between himself and his presumed opponent, former President Donald Trump, particularly on the matter of foreign policy. Biden condemned Trump’s approach to the global stage, directly quoting his comments that he would let Russia “Do whatever the hell they want” in Europe. Biden called the comment “outrageous.”
“History is watching, just like history watched three years ago on Jan. 6,” Biden said, drawing a direct parallel between Trump and Putin.
Biden never named Trump, referring to him only as “my predecessor,” but he remained unflinchingly critical of Trump. Biden touted his support for Ukraine and international collations like NATO as a contrast to Trump. “The free world is at risk. We will not walk away,” Biden said.
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet invited Marina Dubrova, president of Ukrainians of Colorado, as his guest for the speech. Ukrainians of Colorado is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness for Ukraine and organizes resources for those in the war zone and settling in Colorado.
“We must not walk away from Ukraine,” Bennet said in a news release shortly after the State of the Union speech.
The speech comes at a critical point as Biden seeks a second term despite facing widespread concerns about his age. Seventy-three percent of registered voters indicated they thought he was too old to effectively lead as president, according to a recent New York Times/Siena College poll. The State of the Union provided Biden a large stage to try to dispel those concerns.
“When I came in I was told I was too young,” Biden said, making light of his age.
Biden engaged in several exchanges with Republican hecklers, allowing him to show off some nimble off-the-cuff remarks and often earning chuckles from Democrats.
Boebert, who has heckled Biden at past State of the Union addresses, remained quiet throughout the speech. She put a thumb’s down to express her disapproval of Biden’s proposal of a ban on assault rifles and tweeted throughout the speech, responding to Biden’s points in real time.
Biden touted his administration's support of the middle class, emphasizing his administration's tax policies and plans for addressing ballooning housing costs.
A majority of Americans, 73% of those surveyed by the Pew Research Center, said the economy should be a top priority for the White House and Congress. Sixty-four percent said housing prices in particular were of greatest concern.
Biden announced new housing policies that his administration predicts could save Americans $1,000 when refinancing their home. Biden also promised to crack down on “big landlords that break antitrust laws by price-fixing and driving rents.”
Biden announced his support for providing access to preschool for 3-4 year olds across the country. About 51% of Coloradans currently live in a child care desert, according to research by the Center for American Progress. Most of La Plata County is categorized as a child care desert, a condition in which there are three children for every one available slot in a licensed child care facility.
“To remain the strongest economy in the world we have to have the best education system in the world,” Biden said.
He closed by framing himself as a president for “all Americans” and calling for action in Congress.
“We are the United States of America,” Biden told the crowd. Cheers and applause erupted from one side of the room, but few if any Republicans stood to applaud the final message.
Eliza DuBose, a senior at American University, is an intern for The Durango Herald and the Journal in Cortez. She can be reached at the edubose@durangoherald.com.
