Opinion: SOTU's Democratic Response Hits Republicans Hard

PHOTO: Rep. Joe Kennedy (Democrat).

From Fall River, Massachusetts, Dem Rep. Joe Kennedy the 3rd absolutely slammed and potentially abolished Trump's State of the Union address. It came only moments after Trump's speech wrapped up, and didn't last long.

Kennedy began with praising the Fall River city he was in, saying it was a beautiful city built by immigrats - a common Democratic praised statement.

"Many have spent the past year anxious, angry, afraid. We all feel the fault lines of a fractured country. We hear the voices of Americans who feel forgotten and forsaken. It would be easy to dismiss the past year as chaos. Partisanship. Politics. But it's far bigger than that" - a quote that made headlines nation-wide.

Kennedy didn't forget to attack Trump's prime-possession, one of the only things he's able to claim as his own, the economy. "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."

He also attacked Trump discretely in regards to Russia, hidden in between his paragraph-long attack on America's union state:

"A government that struggles to keep itself opened. 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 spoke passionately.

Here's one of my favorite moments of Kennedy's speech, and something that may help Democrats succeed as the midterms come close:

"This administration isn't just targeting the laws that protect us, they are targeting the very idea that we are all worthy of protection. For them, dignity isn't something you're born with but something you measure. By your net worth, your celebrity, your headlines, your crowd size. Not to mention, the gender of your spouse. The country of your birth. The color of your skin. The God of your prayers."

It's a portrayal of what many have described as the GOP's show of close-minded politics in corelation with Trump's denied thoughts of Islamophobia, homophobia, racism, and so much more.

Something many Democrats have spoke out about is Trump's character and response to many of America's most vulnerable situations. For example his response to the Charlottesville attack, or his stance on the LGTBQ being in the US military.

Here's Kennedy's take on the 'American promise':

"Their record is a rebuke of our highest American ideal: the belief that we are all worthy, we are all equal and we all count. In the eyes of our law and our leaders, our God and our government. That is the American promise. But today that promise is being broken by an administration that callously appraises our worthiness and decides who makes the cut and who can be bargained away."

Kennedy entered a field that, yet again, Democrats like myself really did enjoy and feel. He spoke about how the Trump government always feels the need to sacrifice one thing, to get another:

"They are turning American life into a zero-sum game. Where, in order to win, another must lose. Where we can guarantee America's safety if we slash our safety net. We can extend healthcare in Mississippi if we gut it in Massachusetts. We can cut taxes for corporations today if we raise them for families tomorrow. We can take care of sick kids if we sacrifice Dreamers."

It's yet another move for Democrats to make as they begin their campaign efforts in order to, for them, take back the House and Senate next November. The thought that Trump's government is favoring their policies and politics over what the US wants.

"We are bombarded with one false choice after another: Coal miners or single moms. Rural communities or inner cities. The coast or the heartland. As if the mechanic in Pittsburgh and the teacher in Tulsa and the daycare worker in Birmingham are somehow bitter rivals, rather than mutual casualties of a system forcefully rigged for those at the top."

Kennedy continued with his very heartfelt speech, though was seen as a much more political and partisan speech than Trump's SOTU, which I'd criticise as also being somewhat favorable for himself. But both of these are usually expected.

"As if the parent who lies awake terrified that their transgender son will be beaten and bullied at school is any more or less legitimate than the parent whose heart is shattered by a daughter in the grips of opiod addiction."

"So here is the answer Democrats offer tonight: we choose both. We fight for both. Because the strongest, richest, greatest nation in the world shouldn't have to leave anyone behind. We choose a better deal for all who call this country home."

Maybe one of the most effective and political quotes of Kennedy's speech was seen as a direct campaign method for Dems in November.

"We choose the living wage, paid leave and affordable child care your family needs to survive. We choose pensions that are solvent, trade pacts that are fair, roads and bridges that won't rust away, and good education you can afford. We choose a health care system that offers mercy, whether you suffer from cancer or depression or addiction. We choose an economy strong enough to boast record stock prices and brave enough to admit that top CEOs making 300 times the average worker is not right."

"We choose the thousands of American communities whose roads aren't paved with power or privilege, but with honest effort, good faith, and the resolve to build something better for their kids."

The quotes are nonstop, for his quite long speech.

"And to all the Dreamers watching tonight, let me be clear: Ustedes son parte de nuestra historia. Vamos a luchar por ustedes y no vamos alejar. You are a part of our story. We will fight for you. We will not walk away. America, we carry that story on our shouldiers."

Kennedy's statement in regards to the DACA recipients and Dreamers made headlines. As he began speaking Spanish, immense applausal drew from the entire crowd. The Democrats also had an all-Spanish version of this speech by another member.

"You swarmed Washington last year to make sure no parent has to worry if they can afford to save their child's life. You proudly marched together last weekend - thousands deep - in the streets of Las Vegas and Philadelphia and Nashville. You sat high atop your mom's shoulders and held a sign that read: "Build a wall and my generation will tear it down."

Kennedy began also attacking the Trump-proposed border wall, referencing the Women's March (of which also drew many DACA and anti-Trump protests) across the United States on January 20th and 21st in 2017 and 2018.

"You bravely say, me too. You steadfastly say, black lives matter. You wade through flood waters, battle hurricanes, and brave wildfires and mudslides to save a stranger. You fight your own, quiet battles every single day. You drag your weary bodies to that exyta shift so your families won't feel the string of scarcity. You leave lovedones at home to defend our countries overseas, or patrol our neighborhoods overnight. You serve. You rescue. You help. You heal."

That long quote gave many people chills, as he spoke about the legality and proper things that comes alongside immigrants and Americans that aren't generally perceived as 'American' for having a different culture in their past.

Here's a quote that also made nation-wide headlines:

"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. Politicians can be cheered for the promises that they make. Our country will be judged by the promises we keep."

He then concluded his speech, of which, in my personal opinion, was definitely more effective and heartfelt than Trump's was. As the President's SOTU speech was more of a self-praise, saying his government has done so much well, the Democratic response can be seen as more of a blistering attack and campaign rally.

And that's where I think Trump failed in his SOTU speech. However, in Kennedy's crowd, there was no retaliation to fear. Only Democrats should've been in attendance. For Trump, it's clear, both sides were there.

In fact, for a relatively dull self-appraisal speech delivered by the President in the House Chamber, he even got booed by the opposing side at one point. Something even I'd admit was relatively childish for some Democrats to do.

However, nobody can blame them. It wasn't their time to cheer. Kennedy's speech was well delivered, and definitely the right moment.

#KennedyIII #Democrats #SOTU