People from across the political spectrum react to Biden’s State of the Union

President Joe Biden’s discussed major policy issues and urged the world to stand up to Russia during his first State of the Union address.  There were many different perspectives on the speech and the significance of the oration itself.

“We need to have people that understand and have empathy of the importance of childcare, of the importance of the child tax credit and so much more,” says Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, pushing the president to pass major legislation that changes the lives of average Americans.

Listen: What a variety of politicos thought of the first State of the Union address.

Guests

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib is a Democrat from Detroit representing Michigan’s 13th District. She gave the Working Families Party response to last night’s State of the Union address. Talib says she wanted to speak to average Americans who have been struggling during the pandemic, and hopes to help elect more progressives to alleviate that suffering.

“We need to have people that understand and have empathy of the importance of childcare, of the importance of the child tax credit and so much more,” says Tlaib.

U.S. Senator Gary Peters is a Democrat from Michigan. Peters says the president did a good job, particularly with his support of economic sanctions against Russia.

“They are going to be significant,” says Peters. “The people of Russia are going to feel the cost of these sanctions and hopefully that can put pressure on Mr. Putin.”

John Truscott is the CEO of the Truscott Rossman PR firm and worked on George W. Bush’s presidential transition team in 2000. Truscott says Biden’s speech was disappointing.

“I think the bottom line,” says Truscott, “for him and for Democrats heading into a midterm — there was nothing in his speech that is going to move the needle.”