Hakeem Jeffries Predicts Unity, House Democrats Respond with Division

Ahead of President Biden’s State of the Union Address, Democratic House Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries touted how Democrats are “unified around the fact that President Joe Biden and Democrats are building a better America,” downplaying the fact that three different members of his caucus planned to provide official responses to the speech.

The subsequent reactions to Biden’s speech paint a much different picture:

Representative Cori Bush (D-MO): “With all due respect, You didn’t mention saving Black lives once in this speech. All our country has done is given more funding to police. The result? 2021 set a record for fatal police shootings. Defund the police. Invest in our communities.”

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY): “It was a lost opportunity because there is … bipartisan support for a long-term shift away from fossil fuels. We need to hear more about our transition to clean energy beyond weatherizing our windows.”

Jared Golden (D-ME): “I believe that the president should use his remarks tonight to more publicly reckon with the devastating withdrawal from Afghanistan. I would encourage him to speak frankly with the American people about how he will deal with the consequences of this failure of execution, in particular the safety of American citizens still in the country and the tens of thousands of Afghan partners who have been left behind.”

Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ): “However, I was disappointed not to hear a mention of the importance and role of rural America in the president’s remarks.”

Jamaal Bowman (D-NY): “At a time when people of color still feel terrorized by police, it was disappointing that the President did not push hard enough for law enforcement accountability.”

Rashiada Tlaib (D-MI): “With the majority of the Build Back Better agenda stalled Mr. President, our work is unfinished.”

Jeffries is seen as the early favorite to replace Nancy Pelosi as the top House Democrat following her eventual retirement, but it remains to be seen how Jeffries can effectively lead the caucus if he’s this disconnected from reality.

Bottom Line: Endangered House Democrats and their progressive colleagues know Joe Biden’s agenda is failing to deliver results for the American people. If Hakeem Jeffries honestly thought his party would be united following Biden’s State of the Union Address, he’s painfully out of touch with both House Democrats and the broader American public.