Progressives Will Deliver Their Own Response to Biden’s Speech to Congress

Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s (D-NY) feedback defies tradition. For decades, the president’s opposing party pre-writes a text replying to the leader’s speech. The rebuttal typically highlights a rising star in the party. Additionally, figures from the other party will try to convince the public as to what the Commander-in-Chief is getting wrong.

What We Know:

• President Joe Biden will address Congress on April 28, the same week as his 100th day in office. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) invited Biden in a letter to give a speech to Congress’s joint session that day. Pelosi asked Biden to share his plan for “addressing the challenges and opportunities of this historic moment.” His speech will be different from than ones from previous years. Due to COVID-19 Restrictions, the House chamber will be almost empty.
• Bowman will represent the left-wing Working Families Party. He states the rebuttal will not be critical. Instead, Bowman intends on crediting Biden for his success. Bowman will proceed to inform Biden what the left wants to see next.

“It’s a balancing act. He’s already done a lot that I love. And he’s going to say a lot of things that I like, as well… But if we relent, it doesn’t mean that what’s been going on so far is going to continue. It’s important for us as progressives to continue to push and continue to organize,” he said in an interview.

• The Working Families Party supports progressive candidates in the Democratic Party. The party’s goal is to join “regular people” together. They are a “multiracial party” that fights for the working class to achieve true equality. Working Parties Family. During former President Donald Trump’s administration, the Working Families Party began giving their own responses to his speeches. They are continuing to do so in Biden’s presidency.
• Maurice Mitchell, the Working Families Party’s national director, says giving Biden feedback will allow him to succeed and make the Rooseveltian change he promised. Although progressives are generally content with Biden, Mitchell referenced a story about President Franklin D. Roosevelt telling activists, “You’ve convinced me. Now go out and make me do it.”
• During the Trump Administration, the Working Families Party chose Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes (D-WI), and former Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) to comment on Trump’s addresses. NBC News says the Working Families Party’s choosing Bowman and the others to respond to the President symbolizes the desire of the “historically white professional left” to align itself with the racial justice movement, which may be front and center after Derek Chauvin’s conviction.
• Bowman is a freshman lawmaker. Last year, he defeated 16-term Democratic incumbent Elliot Engel in a New York City primary. Since entering Congress, he has become the only male member of “The Squad” and has worked tirelessly to promote progressive causes related to education, broadband access, and equity, and more.

In the three months that he’s been in D.C., Bowman has been unafraid to praise and criticize Biden, making him the perfect candidate to represent the Working Families.