It’s done. It’s over. But the lingering after-effects of a chilly State of the Union address can still be felt. This year’s speech was boycotted by some and slammed by many, illustrating a deep divide in Washington.
The State of the Union address has long been the most significant public moment of any President’s year. It’s an opportunity for the President to outline his vision. Once, the State of the Union was a quiet, almost somber event with partisan members of Congress restraining themselves.
Now, the gloves are off. At least 11 Democrats skipped the address all-together, an unprecedented number. Republicans, meanwhile, jumped to their feet at every major sound bite. Democrats often sat stone-faced, even when President Trump said things that they might have quietly liked. For example, when President Trump rightly noted that African American employment rates have reached their lowest point in history, the black caucus had nary a hand clap to provide. When President Trump urged unity and common solutions, many Democrats frowned — perhaps at the words, perhaps at the thought of cross-aisle cooperation.
Isn’t improving employment something we can all cheer about? Even if it’s just a quiet handclap?
Surely, many people could take issue with the exact nature of the President’s words, and perhaps more pointedly, his underlying intent. A cynic can wonder if President Trump really cares about the plight of African Americans. An economist might note that economies are never shaped over the course of a single year. Does President Trump deserve any credit for the hot labor market? Isn’t improving employment something we can all cheer about? Even if it’s just a quiet handclap?
Meanwhile, there are the several Democrats who skipped the speech. A few politicians have boycotted the State of the Union address over the years. Infamously, Ted Cruz sat out of Obama’s last State of the Union address, condemning the President’s speech before he ever spoke a word. Instead, Cruz campaigned in New Hampshire, hoping to lock up the GOP nomination before ultimately being steam-rolled by now President Donald Trump.
Cruz drew a lot of publicity for skipping Obama’s speech. Much of it was rightly negative. Whatever our disagreements, the State of the Union address has always been about taking a deep breath and hearing the President out — even if you generally oppose him. So, what about the 11 democrats that skipped Trump’s address? It’s unprecedented and up until recently, unfathomable.
Before Trump, Obama was the most polarizing President in modern American history. Even so, President Obama managed to garner the support of 14% of Republicans.
Why did Democrats skip the State of the Union address? There are specific grievances, such as Trump’s comments over “s**thole countries.” However, at the heart of it, Democrats simply don’t like President Trump. In the week running up to the address, Trump’s approval rating among Democrats, in general, weighed in at just 7 percent. This marked an uptick from just 5 percent from a week earlier. Among members of Congress? It would likely be even lower.
Before Trump, Obama was the most polarizing President in modern American history. Even so, President Obama managed to garner the support of 14 percent of Republicans. On the whole, however, countless studies have found that Congress is becoming far more partisan. An example of this is the double-digit Democrat boycott at the State of the Union address.
Given the partisan nature of Congress, President Obama was able to push through relatively few legislative bills. Instead, Obama relied on executive orders. Meanwhile, President Trump may go down as the most unproductive President in history, at least as far as major legislation goes. Trump has struggled to squeeze even a single vote out of Democrats and has failed to unite the internally disparate Republican party.
Interestingly, American voters themselves are not necessarily becoming more polarized. The percent of Americans who classify themselves as moderates still outweigh those who classify themselves as liberal or conservative. Even when drilling down to hot-button issues, such as abortion, moderation holds sway. And yet the politicians who represent America in Congress are only becoming more and more polarized.
Regardless, 86 percent of Americans believe that the partisan differences between Republicans and Democrats are ‘strong’ or ‘very strong’, according to Pew Research. Perhaps some of the conflict and difference of opinion is exaggerated. Regardless, with Congress so divided and partisan approval for the President so starkly polarized, it’s unlikely that the American people will be united anytime soon.
