State of the Union sheds light on state of politics and the media

It took seventy-one minutes for President Obama to speak during the recorded coverage of the most watched State of the Union address in U.S. history.

Politicians filed into the Capitol Building by the dozen, and the public waited while they greeted one another. When the President’s arrival was announced, the whooping and hollering made it sound like the next keg had arrived at the party.

I understand that the State of the Union is a big event for policymakers and media alike, but would it be so wrong to just hear what the President has to say about the future of our country? Must we listen to pundits for hours on end discuss the meaning behind Congress’ seating and the significance behind who stands when?

Are the ceremony and ritual behind the State of the Union address really all that important for the health of our nation? Forget the traditional protocol. I think it would be more effective if the President and his cabinet would put this same time and effort toward an annual address directly to the viewer.

They’re all sitting together like a big, happy family for the first time in history… yippee! I bet they’ll be holding hands tomorrow while they solve the world’s problems, too!

As the President said early in the address, “It’s no secret that those of us here tonight have had our differences. The debates have been contentious; we have fought fiercely for our beliefs. And that’s a good thing. That’s what a robust democracy demands. That’s what helps set us apart as a nation…Tucson reminded us that no matter who we are or where we come from, each of us is a part of something greater.”

Why does it take tragedy for us to realize what sets us apart as a nation? We can not become a nation which rediscovers its priorities only when harrowing events remind us of our purpose. I don’t care that our members of Congress vow to work together in the wake of the Tucson tragedy. I want to see this chummy behavior pan out into results.

The problem is multifaceted. While policymakers try to enact change and focus on what’s truly important, they are worried too much about how the media will analyze and portray their decisions. The media has as much power as does the government in creating a national agenda. “Success is not a function of fame, or PR, but of hard work and discipline,” Obama said. In this age of an ever-expanding public relations industry, I can’t imagine that even the President really believes this.

President Obama remarked, “What comes of this moment is up to us. What comes of this moment will be determined not by whether we can sit together tonight, but whether we can work together tomorrow.” The applause began and everyone on the floor looked around to others’ reactions in case there was some deeper meaning. Whether due to uncertainty or stubbornness, it took nineteen seconds for the last person to stand up in reaction (you can see it in the shot of Senator John McCain guffawing with fellow congressmen.)

What do I care if Republicans stand after some statement, or whether Vice President Biden nods his head after everything Obama says? House Speaker John Boehner clearly doesn’t want to clap for anything at this event. He wants to challenge Democrats on their next proposed bill. Time will tell whether the issues we face are above partisan politics.

Anyone who’s watched an episode of “The West Wing” knows how much strategy went into every single word the President uttered. As has become standard, the President’s speech and Congress’ decision to sit together is another marketing ploy to sway public opinion. The whole process has made me question the President’s sincerity. In order for President Obama to follow through with the rhetoric that won him a Nobel Peace Prize, he must find a way to break free from the media’s shackles that so horribly plagued the Bush administration.