Why Republican heckling of Biden's State of the Union mattered

[LetMyPeopleVote]

MTG, Boebert, Gaetz and company ignored McCarthy's instructions and attempted to heckle President Biden. This tactic failed in that President Biden ignored the heckling.

Link to tweet

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/republican-heckling-bidens-state-union-mattered-rcna69664?cid=sm_npd_ms_tw_ma&taid=63e3bb5969067d0001ca85c0&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Nevertheless, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reminded his members yesterday to be on their best behavior and conduct themselves in a respectful manner. Several of them, apparently unable to help themselves, ignored the good advice. It was a reminder that as coarse as GOP politics was in 2009, it’s even more toxic now.

But there was another dimension to this that shouldn’t go overlooked amidst the disappointment with the Republicans’ childish antics: Biden didn’t seem to mind.

“Instead of making the wealthy pay their fair share, some Republicans, some Republicans, want Medicare and Social Security to sunset,” the president said, referring to Florida Sen. Rick Scott’s far-right plan. When GOP lawmakers responded with boos, Biden departed from his prepared remarks, apparently pleased with the partisan jeers.

After some additional exchanges — the president said with a smile that he enjoys “conversion” — the Democrat concluded, “So folks, as we all apparently agree, Social Security and Medicare is off the books now, right? We’ve got unanimity.”

A Politico report added this morning, “West Wing aides cheered and high-fived each other as Biden engaged Republicans who were triggered by his accusation that some in the GOP want to cut Medicare and Social Security. When Biden returned to the White House and met with his staff, Ron Klain hailed the clash over entitlements as one of the all-time great State of the Union moments that people would look back on for years.”

I understand that one West Wing staffer told reporters that President Biden is the POTUS and the hecklers are in effect beneath him

[Zambero]

1. Very worthy of a SNL cold open skit

Dark Brandon gets the menacing MAGATs mucked up majorly! It would be a bit of a challenge for the show's writers, since the gap between satire and reality has narrowed in recent years.