The comparison arose from a comment that Biden made to the Republicans, accusing them of wanting to challenge the social security of Americans. “While in reality it was only a republican who really wanted it,” explains US correspondent Jan Postma. Biden says so too. He says “some of you” and “I’m not saying it’s the majority”. Those Republicans react very violently to that.”
And he was happy about it, he said in a rhetorical statement. Postma: ‘He said he was happy to see that the Republicans had changed their minds. Then he put all the Republicans on the block, stating that nothing more would be done about it ».
Unusual
The way the State of the Union has unfolded, however, is what Postma would call highly unusual. Normally the presidential speech during the State of the Union is quite detached, but according to Postma it almost seemed like a discussion. “Obviously it’s a big promotional speech for the president, and the only response that usually follows is a big round of applause. But now it was a one-two punch.’
The mannerisms during the speech were also unusual, adds BNR foreign commentator Bernard Hammelburg Postma. “You clearly see things change during the State of the Union,” he says. In 2009, a South Carolina congressman called then-President Obama a liar. Later he was officially punished by the House, which was not allowed at the time. But apparently now it’s allowed.’
Cheerful
Still, Biden fought bravely, Hammelburg says. ‘In front of an audience of around 35 million viewers, he cheerfully entered the debate. I thought it was funny. It was really like ‘come on guys’.
Hammelburg therefore suspects that there has been a lot of practice for situations like this. “I have the courage to put my hand on fire for this,” he says. “Of course it’s happened before, even if it wasn’t allowed in the past. But now the disruptions presented opportunities. He’s not seen as the loudest speaker—and certainly not in unexpected situations. Now he had to deviate from the hunchback.”