Rep. Kennedy slams ‘bullies’ in response to Trump’s State of the Union -By Brooke Singman (foxnews.com) / Jan 31 2018
Rep. Joe Kennedy III slammed “bullies” in his response to President Trump’s first State of the Union address Tuesday night, and offered a Democratic “answer” to the “chaos” of the past year.
Shortly after the president addressed the nation, promising unity and touting his administration’s accomplishments to “Make America Great Again,” the 37-year-old congressman and member of one of America’s most prominent political dynasties gave the official Democratic rebuttal to his speech.
Kennedy followed in one great uncle’s footsteps Tuesday. Ted Kennedy delivered the Democratic response to former President Ronald Reagan’s address in 1982.
Joe Kennedy began his rebuttal by characterizing the country as “fractured,” offering an “answer” from Democrats, noting that they choose “a better deal for all who call this country home.”
“Because the strongest, richest, greatest nation in the world shouldn’t leave anyone behind,” Kennedy said, criticizing the Trump administration’s plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare, its infrastructure plans and plan for paid leave and affordable childcare. His speech did not offer a clear “answer” from Democrats, but instead listed affordable education and health care as important policies.
During his speech, Twitter was buzzing with questions over an apparent moisture in the corner of Kennedy’s mouth, that appeared to be drool, or some sort of water.
Marco Rubio had dry-mouth during his #SOTU response in 2013.
Joe Kennedy has drool-mouth. pic.twitter.com/7DUVnfcIJJ
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) January 31, 2018
“Rubio had his water. Kennedy has his drool,” American Conservative Union Chair Matt Schlapp tweeted, pointing to Sen. Marco Rubio’s now-infamous mid-rebuttal pause for a drink of water.
Rubio had his water
Kennedy has his drool— Matt Schlapp (@mschlapp) January 31, 2018
Kennedy slammed the president and his actions throughout the entireity of his rebuttal.
“Bullies may land a punch. They might leave a mark. But they have never, not once, in the history of our United States, managed to match the strength and spirit of a people united in defense of their future,” Kennedy said. “Politicians can be cheered for the promises they make. Our country will be judged by the promises we keep.”
Kennedy spoke at a technical school in Fall River, Mass., and stood in front of a Ford Mustang and three flags –the American flag, the Massachusetts state flag and the school flag.
“We see an economy that makes stocks soar, investor portfolios bulge and corporate profits climb but fails to give workers their fair share of the reward,” Kennedy said, listing other complaints on behalf of the Democrats.
“A government that struggles to keep itself open. Russia knee-deep in our democracy. An all-out war on environmental protection. A Justice Department rolling back civil rights by the day. Hatred and supremacy proudly marching in our streets. Bullets tearing through our classrooms, concerts, and congregations. Targeting our safest, sacred places,” Kennedy said.
“And that nagging, sinking feeling, no matter your political beliefs: This is not right. This is not who we are.”
The congressman is the son of six-term Massachusetts Rep. Joe Kennedy II and the grandson of Sen. Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968. His two great uncles are former President John F. Kennedy and former Sen. Edward “Ted” Kennedy.
Joe Kennedy, an up and coming lawmaker in the Democratic party, typically votes in line with House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
In the past, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla, and former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, gave Republican responses. Both ran for president in 2016.
Kennedy’s rebuttal is the official Democratic response, with Virginia state Del. Elizabeth Guzman giving a Democratic response in Spanish.
Kennedy, though, addressed “Dreamers,” and spoke a message to them in Spanish, followed by an English translation.
“And to all the Dreamers watching tonight, let me be clear: You are a part of our story. We will fight for you. We will not walk away.”
Kennedy was referring to the hundreds of thousands of immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
Those immigrants were protected by the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which was eliminated by the Trump administration in September. The administration, however, offered Congress a six-month window to create legislation to protect dreamers.
During Trump’s State of the Union address, he noted that “Americans are dreamers too,” and said that he has a “four-pillar” plan on immigration. Trump did not go into full detail on the plan that would replace DACA, but rather noted that “those who meet education and work requirements, and show good moral character, will be able to become full citizens of the United States.”
PB/TK – Just like Rubio, Kennedy’s words are lost due to mishap. I never mocked Rubio for his dry mouth issue, I did mock him for his teleprompter stare and blindly reaching for the bottle. These rebuttals are just a way for the Parties to try and push their upstarts into the national arena, it’s really gotta stop. Yet I’m not sure which is worse; having a Kennedy drooling on my tv or having people bully/mock Kennedy on social media after he went after bullies
