State of the Union 2023: American dream dominantes Spanish-language GOP response
Haisten Willis
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Freshman Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) returned over and over to the theme of the American dream in the Spanish-language GOP response to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.
Ciscomani, who was born in Mexico and raised in Arizona, played up his own story and the opportunities America holds, saying it is time to reject “woke policies” and emphasizing that “the American Dream is a dream worth fighting for.”
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“The first time I took an oath to the Constitution was the day I became a United States citizen. The second time I took the oath to the Constitution was the day I became a United States Congressman,” Ciscomani said, per an English translation of the speech. “I am grateful for the opportunities our country has given my family, and millions of families, in pursuit of the American Dream.”
Fighting for the values that made the dream possible is more important now than ever before, he added, because President Joe Biden continues to “push policies that hurt our families.”
The speech aired live on Americano Media, Telemundo, and Univision News.
Like Biden, Ciscomani spoke of the need for bipartisanship and unity.
“We need a government that is accountable to its citizens. Not leaders with excuses and their focus on criticizing the other party than finding real solutions,” he said. “We can do better. We must do better.”
Ciscomani said his family entered the United States not knowing English and that his father spent most of his career as a bus driver in Tuscon. Today, he is the first immigration from Mexico ever elected to Congress from Arizona, and said his aim is to pass on that vision to his six children.
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) announced his choice of Ciscomani, whose family story he described as “nothing short of inspirational,” late last week.
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While the speech mainly focused on positives, Ciscomani cited rising costs of milk, eggs, bread, gas, and housing as a failure of the Biden administration. He also spoke of the dangers of fentanyl and the need to secure the southern border.
“That’s why it’s important to keep fighting for our country I’m fighting for our country. And my Republican colleagues and I are committed to protect and strengthen the American Dream for all,” Ciscomani said. ““The state of our union is strong because our people are strong. We can overcome any obstacle. Our best days lie ahead.”
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Ciscomani, 40, was elected to the House in November, beating his Democratic opponent by just over 1 point. During the contentious House speaker election, he gave a floor speech in support of McCarthy and later earned a spot on the powerful Appropriations Committee.
He said during the rebuttal that his purpose and his message is to preserve the American dream for everyone.
“It’s about the freedom to pursue happiness,” Ciscomani said. “It is a dream that I am living. It is a dream that unites us all. It is a dream that is alive. It is a dream worth defending. And together, we can make it a reality for all.”
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, former White House press secretary under President Donald Trump, delivered the main Republican rebuttal. There was no Spanish-language GOP response to the State of the Union speech last year.