March 8, 2024 1:01 a.m. ET
Democrats breathe a sigh of relief, say tonight will prove Biden has 'gas left in the tank'
From CNN's Lauren Fox, Morgan Rimmer, Sam Fossum, Manu Raju, Eileen Greif and Kit Maher
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (left) speaks with Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthy before President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address.
Sean Hsu/Pool/AP
Some Democrats praised President Joe Biden's State of the Union address, but others said he could have gone further on certain issues.
Here are their reactions to this speech:
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer He praised Biden's speech, which set out a “bold vision” for the future.
“What the American people heard tonight was a voice that spoke directly to the American people, recognized their needs, shared their hope for the future, and reminded them why America is a beacon of hope for the world and the work that needs to be done. “I am a leader who gave me the best of both worlds. To maintain that status,” he said in a statement. “President Biden has presented Americans with a bold vision that shows the Democratic Party is committed to a safe, stable, and strong America that prioritizes the needs of working families and leaves no one behind.”
senator joe manchin He praised Biden's speech and said he had no problem with it being a political attack on Republicans.
“This is political season,” Manchin said. “What do you expect?”
Manchin called the Republican outrage “disgraceful,” adding: “The whole world is watching.” we can do more than that. ” But Manchin said he was glad Biden could show voters tonight that he is committed to another four years in office.
Manchin said Biden “still has a little gas left in the tank.”
senator mark warner also praised him, saying, “I thought he was a very energetic person.''
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez The address was also free.
“I think he had a lot of energy, he was focused, and I think he gave a very solid message to the American people,” Ocasio-Cortez told CNN.
“He reset the narrative. This speech will energize Democrats and reassure Democrats who were nervous,” Connolly said. “There will be political repercussions, but it's all good. The long-term issues are fine, but whether this is sustained or not, the cause is gone.”
Congressman Jamal Bowman He told CNN's Manu Raju that he wished the president had called for an immediate cease-fire more directly during his speech as the Gaza conflict continues, but praised the president's criticism of Israel.
“I'm glad he's so critical of Israel. I don't think I've ever seen a president be this critical,” Bowman said.
Congresswoman Delia Ramirez She told CNN she was shocked and immediately started receiving notifications on her phone.
“I was really disappointed,” Coach Ramirez said. “Listen, I'm the daughter of immigrants. My husband is in the country illegally. When you say illegal, you're talking about what Marjorie Taylor Greene has said over and over again at the Department of Homeland Security. You can't use words like that because words matter. It was really unfortunate. Sure he panicked, but words like that would never come from a president. You shouldn’t.”
Congressman Chuy Garcia He said he was “very disappointed” that President Biden used the word “illegal” in his speech.
Ben Cardin, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee He said he hopes Biden's focus on Ukraine will lead to passage of additional funding for Kiev.
“When he brought it up in the opening, I was sitting in front of the chamber where the senators were sitting, and I saw a lot of Republican senators stand up and say, 'Yes, let's do this.' ,” Cardan said. . “This was one of the areas where there was a strong bipartisan response from members of Congress.”
“We believe that if Speaker Johnson only allows additional legislation to come to a vote, we will find support,” Cardin said.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin pushed back against criticism of Biden's physical strength and age.
“He became stronger. He not only strengthened his voice, but also strengthened his ideas,” he added.
The post has been updated with more Democratic responses to Biden's speech.
