Stand up, sit down
It’s always telling when lawmakers sit on their hands while their peers around them cheer during the State of the Union, or when they clap and shout while those around them remain silent.
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So it was for Sen. Edward Kennedy Monday night when President Bush argued for strengthening the No Child Left Behind Act. Kennedy was a cosponsor of the original bill, yet he sat silently as Bush said “we owe it to America’s children, their parents, and their teachers to strengthen this good law.”
As Bush declared the need for new environmental policies, there was the dean of the House and friend to the auto industry, Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., neither standing or applauding with his Democratic colleagues.
Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., the top House Republican appropriator, provided an interesting act when Bush brought up curtailing earmarks. As his follow GOPers stood and cheered, Lewis clapped halfheartedly while shaking his head, until finally looking up at his colleagues and rising with them.
Bush’s remarks about Iraq demonstrated the rift between the Democratic candidates for president. As he proclaimed, “Al Qaeda is on the run in Iraq, and this enemy will be defeated,” Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden stood up to cheer, while Barack Obama and Kennedy stayed seated, staring at their copies of the speech.
