Biden and McCarthy stoke bipartisanship hopes at St. Patrick’s Day luncheon
Christian Datoc
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President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy were all smiles Friday while attending the Friends of Ireland Caucus St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon on Capitol Hill.
Biden and McCarthy are the faces of partisan tensions involving the debt limit, yet both expressed desires for bipartisan accord during their remarks at the event.
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McCarthy spoke first, noting how the luncheon was first held by President Ronald Reagan and House Speaker Tip O’Neill.
He joked that a “clash is brewing” between himself and the president over which is more Irish before telling Biden, “From one Irish American to another, I want to strive every day to live up to the example of President Reagan and Tip O’Neill.”
Biden punctuated his own brief remarks by repeating a quote from Irish poet Seamus Heaney that President Bill Clinton delivered in a 1995 speech in Derry, Ireland.
“To this day, hope still brings us together,” the president said. “It’s important to keep that in mind as we approach the upcoming anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.”
Biden concluded by saying there’s “no reason” Republicans and Democrats “can’t find common ground” and said that he hopes “we can then turn this breakfast into more of an everyday relationship.”
Following Biden’s remarks, the microphone caught McCarthy whispering “nice job” to the president.
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You can watch Biden and McCarthy’s remarks below.
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