Dem Leaders SLAM Biden's Choice Of Language During SOTU Address

By Alan Hume | Saturday, 09 March 2024 04:10 PM
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Dem Leaders SLAM Biden's Choice Of Language During SOTU Address

In the aftermath of President Biden's State of the Union address, several Democratic leaders and lawmakers have criticized his choice of words when referring to the alleged murderer of Laken Riley in Georgia, a Venezuelan illegal immigrant.

During a post-speech interview on CNN, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was asked about Biden's reference to Riley. Pelosi responded, "Now he should have said undocumented, but that’s not a big thing, ok? What’s the big thing?"

CNN anchor Dana Bash, who was conducting the interview, clarified that she had not intended to question Biden's language. "I was just gonna ask more about the moment. But you do think that he should have said undocumented? That wasn’t going to be my question," she said.

Pelosi continued, "Well, we usually say ‘undocumented.’ He said ‘illegal.’ I don’t think it’s a big deal. I don’t think it’s a big deal because I think his focus was on the sympathy for the family. It’s a terrible tragedy." She further added that Biden had handled the situation well, despite the tragic circumstances.

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Illinois Democratic Rep. Chuy García, an immigrant himself, expressed his disappointment at Biden's choice of words. "I'm extremely disappointed to hear President Biden use the word ‘illegal,’" he wrote.

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Echoing García's sentiments, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Rep. Delia Ramirez both emphasized that no human being is illegal. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, went a step further, suggesting that Biden's rhetoric was "dangerously close to language from Donald Trump that puts a target on the backs of Latinos everywhere."

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In addition to the criticism over his language, Biden was also mocked for a slip-up during his speech. As he mourned the death of the young woman, he seemed to refer to her as "Lincoln Riley" — the name of the University of Southern California Trojans football team's coach.

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This error was seized upon by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who shouted "say her name" at the president. Biden responded by saying, "It's not about him. It's not about me. I'd be a winner…" He was referring to former President Trump's alleged intervention in a failed bipartisan border bill.

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As the chamber erupted in boos, Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, gestured to Greene. Biden then reached below his dais and presented a button bearing Riley's name. "Lincoln — Lincoln Riley," Biden appeared to say. "An innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. That's right, but how many of the thousands of people being killed by legals — to her parents?"

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