Since Tuesday's speech, the Project 21 Black Leadership Network points out that the president has earned his near-record-low approval ratings by championing unapologetically left-wing policies which have contributed to skyrocketing inflation, supply chain woes, unchecked foreign aggression, and the scars of COVID lockdowns.
Instead of calling the president's speech the State of the Union, Emery McClendon, a tea party organizer and Project 21 member, says the "Stake Driven through Our Union" would have been a more accurate name for the address.
"Instead of solving any problems that we're currently having right now in America as far as inflation, healthcare, supply chain, or the aggressive problems that are being faced in America, all Joe Biden did was solicit more money from the government and continue to spend, spend, spend its way out, when we all know from experience that the government can't spend its way out of these problems," McClendon continues.
He does not expect Biden's speech will inspire his black voter base to get out and vote in the November midterms.
"He's continuing to dig himself a hole in the black community because many black people are experiencing the worst of what's going on right now in America," the Project 21 spokesman asserts. "So I think what we're going to end up seeing is either a decrease vote by the black community or many black people switching over, probably voting for the other side."
McClendon goes on to point out that President Biden's speech advocated for policies that would weaken election integrity. And while lauding the courage of Ukrainians in their fight against Russia's invasion, the president sought to curtail Second Amendment protections for his own citizens.
Biden is full of 'gaslighting': Bauer
President Joe Biden's State of the Union address Tuesday night has been described by some observers as "gaslighting" – that is, uttering something so completely untrue that it makes those listening feel like they're crazy for not believing it. And it can be very convincing, says Gary Bauer of the Campaign for Working Families.
"It's just beyond the pale; it's just incredible how immense the lie is," he describes. "But you are so compelling when you tell it, you make the individual who does not believe it or thinks it's not true … feel like they may be going insane, that maybe they're beginning to miss things that only you can see.
"That's what the president did [during the State of the Union]. It was unbecoming of his office," he adds.
For example, says Bauer, it's blatant gaslighting when Biden says he supports funding for police when, in fact, he doesn't – and hasn't been for a long time.
Biden (during his SOTU): "I know what works: Investing in crime prevention and community police officers who'll walk the beat, who'll know the neighborhood, and who can restore trust and safety …. We should all agree: The answer is not to Defund the police. The answer is to FUND the police with the resources and training they need to protect our communities."
"That is astonishing!" Bauer tells AFN. "I find myself reminding people that the president has been attacking American law enforcement most of his political career. It's been on steroids during his presidency.
"He has called the American criminal justice system and law enforcement 'racist.' He's putting justices and judges on the courts who are anti-cop and pro-criminal."
But the longtime conservative activist says police know who is on their side – and that's why every major police union endorsed Donald Trump over Joe Biden in 2020.
Editor's note: Bauer comments added after story was originally posted.
