Editorial: Biden's State of the Union sets priorities and tone for the campaign

CBC Editorial: Wednesday, March 13, 2024; #8914

The following is the opinion of Capitol Broadcasting Company

A week ago President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address was pivotal. It shifted priorities and the debate in this presidential election year.

Biden dramatically moved the discussion toward the nation’s global leadership in defending democracy, securing peace and standing up to brutal dictators -- and away from isolationism, xenophobia and coddling despots.

He embraced domestic responsibility, promoted the betterment of all in the nation, respect for institutions and honoring the nation’s diversity in the face of selfish efforts to dismantle the national foundations of liberty, ignore the most basic needs of all in our communities and diminish individual freedoms.

Most vividly, he separated himself from former President Donald Trump, whom he defeated in the 2020 election and faces in a rematch for 2024.

It was a speech where Biden expressed his unwavering admiration, affection and duty toward the United States, its legacy of liberty and its obligation to lift all those within its border and support global peace and freedom. He reaffirmed his devotion to honesty.

And he unequivocally illustrated the contrast:

“Jan. 6 lies about the 2020 election and the plots to steal the election, posed a great, gravest threat to U.S. democracy since the Civil War. But they failed. America stood. America stood strong and democracy prevailed,” Biden said. He continued: “This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies.  Here’s the simple truth: You can’t love your country only when you win.”

Those who seek to lead cannot avert their focus from the realities around them – suffering of the victims of gun violence, deteriorating infrastructure, disease – most vividly seen in the recent COVID pandemic.

“My predecessor failed the most basic presidential duty that he owes to American people: The duty to care.”

Since 2021 the nation and state’s health has rebounded. The Affordable Care Act has given access to health care for more people than ever – even in North Carolina despite the destructive decade-long obstruction and obstinance of the state legislative leadership. The debate is about increasing access to life-sustaining care and medications – not selfishness and lack of concern for the health and safety of our neighbors, children and the elderly.

Expanding tutoring opportunities for school children and increasing access to pre-school for 3-and 4-year-olds so they are ready to learn when they head to school. That’s the priority and debate Biden stressed.

Biden called on congress to be more responsive to the needs of the world and the American people – enacting his bipartisan border security legislation that passed the Senate – instead of bending to the demands of Donald Trump to block the bills so to have a campaign issue. “We can fight about fixing the border, or we can fix it. I’m ready to fix it. Send me the border bill now,” Biden said.

The terms of the debate for the next eight months were clearly set out in Biden’s State of the Union.

Instead of divisive rhetoric seeking to pit Americans against each other, Biden moved the debate to one where embracing freedom and democracy is the foundation for discussion. “The American story of resentment, revenge and retribution — that’s not me,” he said.

“A future based on core values that have defined America -- honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor.”

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