Biden can’t bypass the balloon
President Biden is expected to point out alleged plans by the GOP to defund social security and abandon Ukraine — but the Chinese balloon will hover over his State of the Union as it did the country.
His speech is set for 9 p.m. Tuesday and will be before a House controlled by Republicans.
Biden will have to, whether he wants to or not, address the balloon in the room.
“There will have to be a portion of the speech devoted to a subject the president would sooner not talk about: the Chinese balloon,” Ross Baker, distinguished professor of political science at Rutgers University, told the Herald.
“If it was no big deal, why did (Secretary of State Antony) Blinken cancel his visit to China? If it was a big deal, why respond only by canceling the Blinken visit,” Baker
Biden’s second State of the Union comes following a January jobs report that showed over half-amillion additional workers added to the non-farm labor force, signs of easing inflation.
After that, Baker says, you can expect the president to emphasize the work that has been done.
“After he gets past the balloon, he will hammer home his success,” Baker said. “The real applause lines will be the vigorous growth in jobs and the moderation of inflation.”
Infrastructure will be chief among Biden’s named wins, said Ken Cosgrove, a professor of political science and legal studies at Suffolk University.
“There are some Republicans that are talking about major changes to social security,” said Cosgrove. “Not (Speaker of the House) Kevin McCarthy, but just having people say that gives Biden the chance to say ‘here they go again.’”
Ukraine will likely get plenty of attention, Baker said, if only as a means of pointing to those in the House and Senate who have resisted continued funding for the war started by Russia.
“He will call out the Freedom Caucus members for attacking US military aid, claiming that they are only helping Putin,” he said.
Cosgrove said he hopes not to see a repeat of 2020’s State of the Union, when then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tore up former President Donald Trump’s speech after he finished speaking.
“I don’t think Kevin McCarthy should rip up Biden’s speech,” he said.
According to Cosgrove, Biden likely will not use the speech to announce a further run at the White House.