Hillary Clinton and Obama sitting with Democrats during George W. Bush 2007 State of the Union - 2011 Democrats Hope to avoid show of Partisanship - image smh.com.au
The idea grew from a letter written by a Washington DC based “think tank”, Thirdway.org, the organization sent a letter to members of both Houses of Congress suggesting that the members put aside their partisan seating arrangements which have been in place for 200 years, and mix it up a bit. The group, which is headed by ex-Clinton White House staff members, business executives and others, offers suggestions on all facets of public affairs, from social issues such as abortion to “How to Talk To (i.e. Convince) Moderates about the DREAM Act”, the latest suggestion being one that will allow members of Congress to blend without identifying with a particular party during the President’s State of the Union.
Mark Udall (D-CO) was the first to push the concept, which Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D-NV) said would be taken under consideration “next week”. (NYTimes). Reid apparently has since embraced the idea, (From The Las Vegas Sun) “We need to look for more ways to be bipartisan,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. “It’s important for our country that we all stand together as Americans and this could be one way to demonstrate that.”
According to the Las Vegas Sun, the Republican’s have not objected to sitting co-mingled with the Democrats. It is a gesture suggested at once to help heal the nation by showing a United Congress, and as the Thirdway Group suggests, keep the divided parties from participating in the usual actions expected in a State of the Union: Catholic-like calisthenics, with parties, sitting with distaste apparent on their faces while the opposition party is jumping up and cheering.
All well and good for an appearance of unity, and in the wake of what should have been a healing speech to the nation by Obama in Tucson (granted amidst a cheering squad of Freshmen students, at a memorial, which, although inappropriate to the extreme, was, I all likelihood, youthful exuberance by Progressive trained college freshmen who had an opportunity to cheer on a man they have been taught to sing about for the past few years.), and the media continues to assail from the left (Anti-Palin Posters in San Francisco published today) putting a certain 2012 GOP Contender in the Constant Media spotlight.
This particular story on a united Congress has been getting traction from the most notable of the left press, including the New York Times extolling the virtues of those who would mix it up as a first show of bi-partisanship.
It is truly a grand idea, and would serve the purpose of allowing our elected representatives in Congress and the Senate, the appearance of bi-partisanship. It would also downplay the significant disadvantage in numbers between one party and other which has annually been caught on c-span cameras from the inception of that reporting body. Hypothetically speaking, if a remark made by the President is not well-received by the majority (Republican’s), and they sit (as is the custom), will the approving Democrats, showing support, stand and wildly applaud? (Spectacle!) Is this really the best idea, politically speaking, for Democrats to emphasis their decline in numbers? Or is it truly a show of support for each other, as it should be, and will both parties, sit and stand together as the case may be? This will be one State of the Union address worth watching should the Democrats and Republican’s “mix it up” for the first time in 200 years. Mark your calendars and grab your popcorn, the President will deliver his State of the Union on January 25th.
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