Didn't you just love hearing "Madame Speaker, the President of the United States" last night and watching Representative Nancy Pelosi stand behind Bush during the speech? I couldn't keep my eyes off of her. It was a moment. I couldn't help but think what it would be like to have the person standing in front of the mike be a woman or a person of color.
I also couldn't help but think that the President was aiming this State of the Union at people like ME rather than his usual pitch to his far right supporters. I didn't like what he said about Iraq, but I'll leave it to other bloggers to discuss that. I was more interested in what he didn't say.
He talked about the need for more funding for AIDS programs, especially in Africa. But for one of the first times at a State of the Union address, he didn't mention overturning abortion -- last year, he said the word abortion three times, last night not at all. He didn't mention abstinence and he didn't call for marriage to exclude same sex couples (as he did in 2004, 2005, and 2006.) He didn't talk about his opposition to stem cell research, just passed by the House last week.
Perhaps he got the message that this new Congress isn't with him on sexual justice issues. Perhaps he understood that he was, as Madame Speaker had said, that he was a GUEST in their House last night. Perhaps he remembered that change is happening. If not, he needed to only look over his shoulder.
I also couldn't help but think that the President was aiming this State of the Union at people like ME rather than his usual pitch to his far right supporters. I didn't like what he said about Iraq, but I'll leave it to other bloggers to discuss that. I was more interested in what he didn't say.
He talked about the need for more funding for AIDS programs, especially in Africa. But for one of the first times at a State of the Union address, he didn't mention overturning abortion -- last year, he said the word abortion three times, last night not at all. He didn't mention abstinence and he didn't call for marriage to exclude same sex couples (as he did in 2004, 2005, and 2006.) He didn't talk about his opposition to stem cell research, just passed by the House last week.
Perhaps he got the message that this new Congress isn't with him on sexual justice issues. Perhaps he understood that he was, as Madame Speaker had said, that he was a GUEST in their House last night. Perhaps he remembered that change is happening. If not, he needed to only look over his shoulder.
2 comments:
I was actually moved when I heard Bush say "Madam Speaker." And, she was just wonderful.
I am so with you on this, Debra! On the day after the speech, as that particular sound bite was replayed over and over on the radio, I choked up EVERY time he said "Madame Speaker." Never thought I would hear such a thing in my lifetime. Wonders still the world shall witness.
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