x
Breaking News
More () »

Rep. Kennedy denounces 'bullies' in rebuttal to Trump's State of the Union address

Democratic leaders chose Kennedy, 37, the grandson of the late U.S. Attorney General Robert F. "Bobby" Kennedy, to deliver the response to Trump's address.

WASHINGTON — Democratic Rep. Joe Kennedy will speak out against “bullies” in his rebuttal to President Trump’s first State of the Union address.

“Bullies may land a punch,” says Kennedy, of Massachusetts, according to excerpts from his speech released by Democratic leaders. “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.”

Democratic leaders chose Kennedy, 37, the grandson of the late U.S. Attorney General Robert F. "Bobby" Kennedy, to deliver the response to Trump’s address.

Kennedy says reflecting on the state of the union is a “difficult task,” adding that many have spent the past year feeling “anxious, angry, afraid.”

“We all feel the fault lines of a fractured country. We hear the voices of Americans who feel forgotten and forsaken,” he says. “It would be easy to dismiss the past year as chaos. Partisanship. Politics. But it’s far bigger than that. This administration isn’t just targeting the laws that protect us – they are targeting the very idea that we are all worthy of protection.”

Republicans targeted Kennedy as “another out of touch, Massachusetts liberal,” who is “emblematic” of the Democratic Party’s problems.

“Don’t expect to hear much bipartisanship in the Democrat response tonight, or any attempt to reach out to Americans in the middle — the forgotten voter who sent President Trump to the White House. Instead, it will be resistance, resistance, resistance,” wrote Michael Reed, Republican National Committee spokesman.

Trump's speech comes at a time of taut partisan tensions and an uncertain policy outlook. Government funding will expire next week and lawmakers have yet to reach a budget agreement. Immigration negotiations seem to have stalled and there are new flare-ups over Russia’s role in the 2016 election.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi sat stone-faced when Trump said, "Tonight, I call upon all of us to set aside our differences, to seek out common ground, and to summon the unity we need to deliver for the people we were elected to serve."

Earlier, Pelosi warned Democratic House members on Tuesday to be polite. “If you want to walk out, don’t come in,” she said, according to a Democratic aide in the room who was not authorized to speak on the record.

One of the only Democrats to stand when Trump said “make America great again for all Americans,” was Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Indiana, who is in a tough race for re-election this year.

More: State of the Union: The Democratic boycott list grows

Democrats send a message by bringing 'Dreamers' to State of the Union

Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat from Missouri who is also vulnerable, said before the speech that the president has been so inconsistent on major policy matters that lawmakers might not be able to count on any pitches he makes.

“It is hard for me to know whether or not what the president says tonight will be what he will tweet tomorrow,” she said.

Trump's mention of conservative judge confirmation drew some hissing and groans from Democrats.

They groaned when he talked about ending "chain migration" by limiting sponsorships to spouses and minor children. Someone said that’s “not nice” and Pelosi looked around, sticking out her arms, as if she was trying to quiet them.

Democrats invited to the speech more than two dozen DREAMers, whose status has been in jeopardy since the Trump administration announced in September it would end legal protections that former president Barack Obama established under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Lawmakers and the White House are feuding over the details of a long-term legislative solution to replace DACA.

“Stop holding these young people hostage,” said Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M., chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, at an event before the address. “Stop holding them as your political pawns.”

President Trump has proposed a path to citizenship for up to 1.8 million DREAMers in exchange for $25 billion for his promised border wall and a 25% reduction in legal immigration. But Democrats oppose the reduction in immigration, with Pelosi calling the plan “make America white again.”

Trump, during his speech, called on Congress to fix immigration laws and beef up border security to better protect Americans, adding "because Americans are dreamers too."

Most Democrats are using the event to highlight concerns about immigration, health, gun violence prevention and sexual misconduct.

Taking a cue from Hollywood, almost all of the Democratic women wore black in a symbolic stand against sexual harassment, honoring the “Time’s Up” and “Me Too” movements.

Other Democrats wore African Kente cloth, a response to reports this month that Trump questioned why the U.S. accepts so many immigrants from “s---hole countries” in Africa and said the U.S. didn't need more people from Haiti.

Several House members heeded calls from the progressive base to boycott Trump's address, citing objections to Trump’s rhetoric and politics.

“This president has not honored nor respected the office of the presidency and has shown total disregard for our democratic institutions,’’ said Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif, who said she has attended every SOTU since 1998.

Contributing: Eliza Collins, Deborah Barfield Berry, and Deirdre Shesgreen, USA TODAY

Before You Leave, Check This Out