State of the Union: What you didn't see on TV
The annual State of the Union speech, with its ritual standing ovations and cheering by politicians from both parties, is one of the great set-pieces of American politics. But the camera only catches so much--relatively little, actually, of what goes on in the chamber.
For the most part, the lens is zeroing in on the president, with side shots of the VP and the House speaker, and at certain moments, members of the audience, made up of hundreds of senators and congressmen, cabinet members, Supreme Court justices and other notables.
Seldom, though, do voters get to see their member of Congress in action (or inaction). So here is a selective guide to what you didn't see if you happened to watch President Barack Obama on television.
First the good news. If any Marylanders dozed off, they did it surreptiously.
Yes, Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski snuck a peek at her smart phone, before the speech began, something that would be against the rules in the Senate, where electronic communications devices are banned. But the House, where the event is held, does permit the use of “unobtrusive handheld electronic devices” such as a BlackBerry.
You probably missed seeing Mikulski, a staunch Obama supporter, on one of the rare occasions when she didn't join other Democrats in jumping to her feet at an applause line.
That was when she sat stonily, with arms folded, as the president called on the House and Senate to put limits on one of their most treasured perquisites: the power to spend money on congressionally directed projects (more popularly known as earmarks).
Or freshman Democratic Rep. Frank Kratovil of the Eastern Shore, as he stood and clapped when Obama extolled the virtues of the Democratic stimulus program--which Kratovil voted for (after he initially voted against it).
Kratovil laughed heartily when Obama said that "it should be fairly obvious that I didn't take on health care because it was good politics." Kratovil, the most endangered Marylander in Congress this year, knows the politics of health care intimately: he voted against the sweeping Democratic measure, even though he supported its objectives.
Another peculiarity of State of the Union night: a handful of congressmen arrive hours early, hoping to stake out a seat on the aisle, so that they can shake hands with every dignitary that enters the chamber, from the President on down, and be seen on TV.
Rep. Elijah Cummings of Baltimore snagged one of those prize seats Wednesday, two rows from the rear of the House chamber. He also joined a small group of Democrats that chanted "We're number one!" after Obama said that he would "not accept second place for the United States of America."
Rep. Donna Edwards of Prince George's County was among the more enthusiastic members of the audience, repeatedly rising to applaud the president's words. A notable exception: when he called for building a new generation of nuclear power plants. (Kratovil, Cummings and House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland were among those who thought that idea was worthy of a standing ovation, but Edwards is a longtime skeptic of nuclear power.)
Rep. Roscoe Bartlett of Frederick, the state's only Republican in Congress, generally sat or stood along with his Republican colleagues. A leading promoter of the theory of "peak oil," which holds that a majority of the Earth's petroleum has already been found, Bartlett joined in the applause when Obama called for America to become the world's leading clean-energy economy, though he got up from his seat rather belatedly to join the bipartisan ovation.
Obama made a point of noting that the Senate had blocked action this week on a measure that would have created a budget commission to tackle the problem of skyrocketing costs for mandatory benefit programs like Social Security and Medicare. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin was among those who voted to block the measure, and he didn't join most of his Democratic colleagues in applauding when the president promoted the idea.
Cardin said later that he favors Obama's solution--an executive-created budget panel--since it would not surrender Congress's taxing and spending power to others, as opponents like Cardin argue that the original commission would have done.
Rep. C. A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger didn't leap to his feet like most in the hall. That's because he was already standing for the bulk of the president's lengthy, hour-plus speech. The Baltimore County Democrat said he had been working out at the House gym, and by the time he arrived in the chamber, at about 8:45 p.m., every seat was already taken.
And apologies to Rep. John Sarbanes of Baltimore. If he was present, he wasn't visible from the press gallery.
UPDATE: Sarbanes' staff says that he was there. He was seated directly below the press gallery, which made it difficult to see him.
The most memorable audience spectacle of the evening came when Obama chose to take a whack at the justices of the Supreme Court, most of whom were sitting directly in front of him. By custom, they don't join in the applause game (they are, after all, the branch of government that is often called upon to adjudicate disputes involving the president or Congress).
Then, too, presidents don't usually unleash an in-your-face attacks on a major Court decision, as Obama did last night. He said that last week the justices had reversed "a century of law, to open the floodgates for special interests" when they ruled that corporations could spend "without limit" in political campaigns.
In response, Justice Samuel Alito, a Republican nominee who joined the 5-4 majority in the case, scowled, shook his head and stared daggers back at the president.
Some believe Alito also muttered the words "not true" when Obama claimed the ruling would allow foreign corporations to put money into American campaigns. Judge for yourself. It was one for the history books, a YouTube moment that, unlike many others last night, did manage to get captured onscreen.
Comments
Interesting you should say that "presidents don't usually deplore recent Court decision(s)." Media Matters lists several instances of presidents criticizing the Court in their State of the Union address. May be they have a bigger research staff than you.
Posted by: Gerry L | January 28, 2010 12:35 AM
President Obama was right about one thing: WE NEED MORE NUCLEAR ENERGY PLANTS.
It's a win-win.
Posted by: Sean O'Donnell, Baltimore Republican Examiner | January 28, 2010 12:52 AM
Alito is a traitor.
Posted by: Hilary | January 28, 2010 2:51 AM
I thought Obama gave an impassioned speech, reaching out to the right and left for unity. He presented a broad agenda (wishlist) but also gave a nod to fiscal responsibility. He seemed to recapture the "Yes we can", I hope at the next state of the union he can say "Yes we did".
Posted by: Les Wall | January 28, 2010 7:58 AM
Pretty pathetic Sarbanes didn't even show up.
Posted by: Janice | January 28, 2010 8:34 AM
I thought it was an OK speech, but way too long. Why do they always try to throw everything but the kitchen sink out there? But talk is cheap, in this election year, action could be very expensive.
Posted by: BlueDawg | January 28, 2010 9:47 AM
The President was out of line criticizing the Supreme Court justices during a State of the Union address. There is a time in place for that, and it wasn't last night. To me it was almost as pathethic as Rep. Wilson yelling "Liar" last year.
I applaud and support the McCain-Feingold bill, but you really have to read the case: Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission to understand the context in which the decision was rendered.
Posted by: sturmy | January 28, 2010 9:52 AM
As a 30 year registered Democrat & now a registered Republican, I am another lifelong Maryland who is so disgusted with our Maryland politicians who suck up to and support all these stupid policies now being forced on us in Washington. I now support all the efforts of the American Tea Party and most certainly agree with their views to protect our country from all these third world political views. I supported and voted for Mikulski throughout her political carreer, but now find I her to be nothing but a lap-dog for anything the present administration in Washington wants, right or wrong. At the age of seventy-three, maybe its her age. If she gets re-elected for six years I don't what she will do to provide good common sense for Marylanders' in congress.
Posted by: Bill Mohler | January 28, 2010 9:53 AM
sHillary was also MIA!
It was nothing more than another campaign teleprompter reading.
When someone lies so damn easily how do you believe anything he says?
Posted by: Hilary Alito is a traitor.
Can you explain why you say that?
Posted by: Voters Ignorance | January 28, 2010 10:35 AM
Maybe we should get a new Congressman since Sarbanes has more important things to do.
Posted by: Anita | January 28, 2010 10:38 AM
Great speech....The Supreme Court had that coming.
Posted by: Ray Barcia | January 28, 2010 10:47 AM
Hilary is in London attending a meeting with other Foreign Ministers about Afghnaistan's future.
Posted by: Artee | January 28, 2010 11:55 AM
Secretary Clinton was the person designated to be absent in case of an attack on the Capitol.
Posted by: Again Voters Ignorance is Ignorant | January 28, 2010 1:14 PM
I hope all Delegates were paying attention, because soon they will find themselves trying to come up with excuses on why they are not fully adhering to the Constitution of the United States, including the 2ND Amendment.
Posted by: JohnQ4Public | January 28, 2010 1:41 PM
I have the same opinion as Bill Mohler's post, yet I am independent. I am grateful for reading the blogs as I fell asleep to Obama's speech. Need I say any more in regards to this "President".
Posted by: Dawn Cousins-Hensley | January 28, 2010 3:02 PM
Actually, Sec Clinton was in the UK chairing discussions on Afganistan. The member of the cabinet designated to be absent cannot be out of the country during the SOTU address. HUD Sec Shaun Donovan was the one sequestered away from the Capital.
Posted by: sturmy | January 28, 2010 5:33 PM
Obama is just mad because democracy doesnt give him the power to make all the decisions.Say goodbye in 2012!
Posted by: mike | May 22, 2010 3:48 PM