State of the Union 2023: Joe Manchin says Republican jeering during Biden address ‘not acceptable’
Rachel Schilke
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Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) expressed his disapproval of the GOP members who heckled President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address on Tuesday.
Republican lawmakers booed Biden’s comments when it came to accusing Republicans of wanting to get rid of Medicare and Social Security, with lawmakers calling it “delusional” and “divisive.” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) yelled “liar,” and Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) said, “It’s your fault,” when Biden discussed the crisis at the southern border.
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However, Manchin, known for working across the aisle and often voting with Republicans, said the jeering was “not acceptable.”
“That’s just not acceptable in the type of country we are and the leader of the free world,” said Manchin, according to Politico. “Might be accepted in a Third World country. But not here.”
Manchin added that he hopes House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) addresses the disruptions, noting that “he looked like he was shushing.”
McCarthy took steps to prevent anything that would paint the GOP in a bad light. He had previously told Republicans behind closed doors on Tuesday morning to be on their best behavior, given that cameras and microphones would be on. He also said he wouldn’t “play games” during the address.
“We’re members of Congress. We have a code of ethics of how we should portray ourselves,” the speaker said earlier on Tuesday. “And that’s exactly what we’ll do. But we’re not going to do childish games tearing up a speech.”
Ogles admitted after the address that his timing with his comment might not have been perfect, as it was loud and heard by all in the room. However, he said the border crisis should be a bipartisan matter that everyone cares about.
“In the moment that I spoke, you just had almost the entirety of the conference speak out against his words,” Ogles said. “It just so happened as they were getting quiet, I got louder. So my timing, my cadence, might have been slightly off.”
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Manchin, a key centrist, had warned Biden against “berating” the GOP in his State of the Union address prior to the speech, going as far as to ask Biden to thank Republicans for their help in his administration’s successes.
“He could not have accomplished everything they’re taking credit for without our Republican friends for working with us. Take credit for that,” Manchin said on Tuesday. “Don’t just berate people just because they happen to have a D or an R next to their name. That’s what America is sick and tired of,” he continued. “So he can set that. He’s the leader of the free world. Reset that tonight.”