Where I Stand — Brian Greenspun: A partisan union state

Thursday, Feb. 3, 2000 | 9:59 a.m.

Brian Greenspun is editor of the Las Vegas Sun.

Why didn't they stand up and cheer?

It has been a full week since President Clinton gave his last State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. And for seven days, this nagging question refuses a rational answer.

Since it was obvious to me, it must have been to every one of the millions of American voters who tuned in last Thursday night to hear the president's report about the state of our union. So it should be no surprise that many other people are also asking the same question: Why did they sit on their hands?

The "they," of course, are the bulk of the Republican members of the House of Representatives and Senate who gathered on one side of the political aisle to listen to Clinton's report. On the other side of that aisle sat mostly Democrats who would and could be expected to give the president's remarks loud ovations and thunderous applause. They did. No surprise there.

The surprise came shortly after he began. When Clinton informed the American people that the state of our union was excellent, I would have expected men, women and children to applaud what we have done for ourselves. I am certain that those of us watching at home felt particularly good about the fact that the United States is in the midst of the longest economic boom in history. And I am quite sure that almost all American families are thrilled with the news that the unemployment rates are at 40-year lows, inflation rates are being kept at bay, savings rates are climbing and welfare rolls are being halved as we speak. And crime? Lower rates and safer streets than we've known for many years. And what else can be said about the state of our international affairs? The world is generally at peace, more nations are moving toward democracy and the United States remains a beacon for freedom for people around the globe.

In short, there is much to cheer about. More than we have had in many years. And on one side of the aisle and in every living room with a TV set tuned in to the address, that cheering did take place. But on the GOP side of the aisle you had to look long and hard for even an acknowledgment that what this country has built in the past seven years merits even a smile.

Then, of course, it got much worse. The president announced expected budget surpluses bigger than the great outdoors, a tribute to some fiscal discipline in Congress, some leadership and spending priorities at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. and a lot of hard work and a great attitude on the part of the American people. He told America what he thought we should do with some of that money.

The first, of course, was to pay off our national debt. The interest saved alone would fund practically every good idea -- Republican or Democrat -- the politicians could dream about during the next few years. That got some applause from the other side but, if you believe that our elected leaders should govern by example, then you have to believe that it would have been prudent to show some real support for the idea of paying off our debt.

Securing Medicare and Social Security in this election year was a no-brainer and any member of Congress who didn't stand to applaud would have stood out like a sore and mean-spirited thumb. Couldn't have any of that, could we? Even the president remarked about the see-saw-like effect that was taking place in the House chamber, with the Democrats raising up and the Republicans sitting grim-faced or smirking with each new idea being advanced.

And what were some of those ideas? Teachers -- more of them and better trained. Who could be against that? Judging from the scowls on those who remained in their seats -- the entire GOP side of the aisle -- it was clear who opposed that idea. I'm not even sure most of them actually were against the idea of more and better teachers (that does defy logic) but their actions led the viewing audience to believe just that.

And what about the concept of feeding hungry children and making sure they have every opportunity to learn and advance in their early and formative years? How could the Republicans sit on their hands about that one? And what about better health care for seniors and baby boomers and prescription drug availability as a way of prolonging and enhancing the quality of life? They had to get off their chairs for that one, right? Wrong.

The night went on and on with much more of the same antics. It became abundantly clear to me that there was more than just partisan politics at work. You see, we can disagree about how much to pay and who pays for better teachers, but we cannot in good conscience disagree that it must get done. We can disagree about at what level of government it occurs and what level of funding must be appropriated to make sure our newest generation gets every chance for success, but there can be no disagreement that it must happen if the United States is to remain competitive in the coming decades.

And yet, that is exactly what it looked like last Thursday night to millions of us who couldn't quite grasp what had gone so wrong with our politics that respect and civility and common decency had been wrung from the system. Oh, no, I'm not talking about respect for the presidency, that would be too much to ask from the petty political operatives who have managed their way into the corridors of power.

I am talking about the respect that elected officials should have for the people who sent them to Washington in the first place -- the people who hired them. By refusing to show even that level of civility, those who sat on their hands showed a basic contempt for the voters that belies all of their electioneering efforts. They came across as just plain mean.

I predict that the question of "why didn't they stand" will remain on most people's minds when we vote next November. And unless those who remained silent when cheers and polite applause were more appropriate can come up with a better answer, they will be given their standing orders from the public.

And those would be, "stand up ... on your way out of this chamber of democracy."