For One Night, Biden was the Media Master While Trump was Fumbling

Clarence Page, Tribune Content Agency on Mar 11, 2024

Of course, in his next sentence, Trump seemed to realize that maybe he was sounding too charitable for the good of his brand: “Other than that, he did not do a very good job.”

Which probably means he did a spectacular job, judging by the smiles I see on Democrats and other never-Trumpers I know.

Biden’s mission was to reframe his stumbling reelection campaign and ease questions about his age and mental acuity. Somebody probably suggested that he get angry. Biden has always tried to be something like everybody’s buddy, but voters appreciate passion sometimes, especially when it is expressed on behalf of their legitimate concerns.

And, yes, he was heckled, a sign of how civility has declined at this annual event. But when it’s the likes of the right-wing Queen of Excesses (yes, I’m looking at you, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene) who is coming after you, it’s not so hard to look good.

On the flip side, Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, a rising star on the right, shows promise but got negative reviews for her official State of the Union response to Biden. My high school drama teacher would say she “overplayed” her role. With touchy issues like abortion and IVF playing poorly for Republicans after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, it was smart of Republicans to ask the young married mom to do it. But it didn’t end up working well.

I do not often agree with Charlie Kirk, founder of the far-right Turning Point USA youth group, but he nailed it in an interview with The Guardian: “I’m sure Katie Britt is a sweet mom and person, but this speech is not what we need. Joe Biden just declared war on the American right and Katie Britt is talking like she’s hosting a cooking show, whispering about how Democrats don’t get it.”

A lot of people have been wondering if Biden gets it too. At least for one night, and with the election still months away, Biden showed he’s not too old to learn.

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(E-mail Clarence Page at cpage@chicagotribune.com.)