ENMU professor weighs in on address

The State of the Union address is a mediated ritual of democracy. Voters expect it, presidents have to do it, presidents want to do it.

So says Josh Bramlett, assistant professor of communications at Eastern New Mexico University. Bramlett was asked for his view of Tuesday night’s State of the Union address by President Joe Biden.

Bramlett researches political communication at the presidential level. He follows debates, presidential media events and State of the Union addresses.

“Whenever major political media events occur I make sure to tune in,” Bramlett said.

Bramlett points out the State of the Union address is actually a ritual.

“The president’s entry is announced, Congress is in attendance as well as members of the Supreme Court,” Bramlett said.

Bramlett spoke of the presence of the social media in American day to day life. “And even with social media,” he said, “People still expect the State of the Union address.”

In his observations Bramlett notes what political pundits, experts in politics who are called on for their opinions, had to say about Biden’s address.

“Pundits pointed out a larger attendance than last year,” Bramlett said.

“Another talking point among pundits was that the Joe Biden who spoke Tuesday night was “moderate” Joe Biden, for instance when he spoke of funding the police. That was a clear rhetorical choice from the political perspective.”

Bramlett said the priority issue in the address was Ukraine. “Typically State of the Union addresses are about domestic policy,” he said. “This is where Biden announced the new airspace policy regarding Russian flights.”

Bramlett said the scripts for State of the Union addresses may be obtained before the actual speech. “So when the president goes off script that is noted,” he said. “An off-script comment directed at Russian Premier Vladimir Putin got a lot of attention. This was when the president said of Putin, ‘He has no idea what’s coming.’”

Bramlett said his favorite moment was retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer’s reaction when Biden pointed him out in the assembly.

“State of the Unions are a way for a president to weigh out his agenda, his vision,” Bramlett said. “It’s a TV moment to try to move public opinion.”