I'm with the GOP on this one. - Hissing & outburst do not fit my image of America's appropriate decorum in Washington.
Some Republicans say Democrats crossed a line of decorum when they grumbled and hissed during President Bush's State of the Union speech Wednesday night.
The hisses erupted when Bush said Social Security was "headed toward bankruptcy."
The hissing made the House resemble the more unruly British House of Commons.
When Bush warned that inaction might result in high taxes and new borrowing, Democrats could be heard chanting, "No, no, no."
We all understand that the outburst and hissing -- which occurred in a speech where Democrats were otherwise respectful and frequently applauded the president -- is no doubt a sign of Democratic frustration. But still, the office of the president of the greatest country in the world demands respect. Maybe not applause, but not hissing and such outbursts.
God Bless America and our form of government.
The hisses erupted when Bush said Social Security was "headed toward bankruptcy."
The hissing made the House resemble the more unruly British House of Commons.
When Bush warned that inaction might result in high taxes and new borrowing, Democrats could be heard chanting, "No, no, no."
We all understand that the outburst and hissing -- which occurred in a speech where Democrats were otherwise respectful and frequently applauded the president -- is no doubt a sign of Democratic frustration. But still, the office of the president of the greatest country in the world demands respect. Maybe not applause, but not hissing and such outbursts.
God Bless America and our form of government.
posted by Sid Cottingham | 8:50 PM
7 Comments:
Good call Sid, it was petty. The State of the Union is one of the only times when I would say "Silence is enough." The imagery of half the room sitting on their hands is plenty to get the point across in that situation.
Sid, I totally disagree. While you may think the reaction was disrespectful, it was a heck of a lot more respectful then what the GOP has done in past State of the Unions. They did not Boo, or yell out any other negative phrases, all they said was "NO". Which I personnally think is okay, especially when the President was lying at the time about when SS would be bankrupt. And just for your information here are times when the GOP actually boo'ed at the SOTU.
1999: Republicans Booed Clinton's Entrance
Many Republican lawmakers gave him a cool, though not impolite, reception. There were a smattering of boos when Clinton first entered the House chamber, but they were quickly drowned out by applause. Some Republicans barely applauded, or refused at all to clap. House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) and U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) were conspicuously silent. [Boston Herald, 1/20/99]
1998: Republicans Booed Clinton's Medicare Proposal
Clinton's health-care initiatives, chiefly in the form of a medical bill of rights, found support on both sides, especially his attack on managed-care health-care plans. ... Clinton's proposal to expand Medicare to allow Americans as young as 55 to buy into the system drew shouts of "no" and some boos from Republicans during his speech. [Chicago Tribune, 1/28/98]
1997: Republican's Booed Clinton's Opposition to the Balanced Budget Amendment
The Republican response was far warmer than perhaps any of Clinton's previous four State of the Union speeches. Time after time, Republicans jumped to their feet to join Democrats in applauding the president. Only once did they unmistakably and collectively show their disapproval--when Clinton spoke disparagingly of a GOP-sponsored constitutional amendment to balance the budget. Many Republicans hissed and some booed. [LA Times, 2/5/97]
1995: Republicans Booed Clinton and Walked Out During Speech
The upheaval wrought by the Republican election landslide was visible throughout the president's State of the Union address - from the moment Speaker Newt Gingrich took the gavel to the striking silence that often greeted Clinton from the GOP. At one point, Republicans even booed. About 20 of them left as Clinton went on and on for an hour and 20 minutes. [AP, 1/24/95]
My feelings would have been the same had it been Democrats booing. And just because it was Republicans, I just have to fall back on what my Mom used to tell me that two wrongs don't make a right.
Some great research and informtion, and thanks. feelings.
Sid, I think you and I disagree on the right of the members of congress to show their disapproval of SOTUs, and that is great and that is great because we are democrats and are allowed to have differing opinions. But, I think what is important here, and did not get that accross in my last post as well as i should have, is that the Dems did not BOO, they said NO. There is a big differnce between a BOO and and a NO and as democrats I think that should be one of our points. While I think it is okay for self criticism like you post, I think it is important to show that Dems did not start this, and never came even close to what the GOP has done in the past.
Stephanie Mills
Stephanie: Thanks, and for the record, I did say issing, not booing.
Sid, I apologize. When i read your post this morning it was right after I had read a lot of stuff on other blogs about people talking about boos and such. Sorry! You rock.
Stephanie
I rock, you roll. Now let's get all the Democrats to rock and roll with us now, getting ready for 2006 way before the end of 2005, and then the party can rock and roll with us on election eve Nov. '06. Sound like a plan?
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