(WASHINGTON) — Alabama Sen. Katie Britt gave the Republican response to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union on Thursday night, responding to his attacks on her party and boasts about his record by painting a much darker picture of the country under his leadership — while promising a different path under the GOP.
From her kitchen table in Montgomery, Alabama, Britt, a 42-year-old mother of two, centered her remarks on the issues she says are plaguing everyday Americans.
“Tonight, the American family needs to have a tough conversation because the truth is we are all worried about the future of our nation. The country we know and love seems to be slipping away, and it feels like the next generation will have fewer opportunities and less freedoms than we did,” she said during approximately 17-minute remarks. “I worry my own children may not even get a shot at living their American dream.”
She called the current American dream a “nightmare.”
“The true unvarnished state of our union begins and ends with this: Our families are hurting,” she said.
Notably, as a senator form Alabama, where the state Supreme Court ruled frozen embryos are “children,” throwing IVF access into doubt, she said Republicans support IVF — even as Democratic women, wearing white, earlier flooded the House chamber to show support for reproductive freedom.
“We are the party of hard working parents and families and we want to give you and your children the opportunities to thrive and we want families to grow. It’s why we strongly support continued nationwide access to in vitro fertilization. We want to help loving moms and dads bring precious life into this world,” Britt said.
While many of Britt’s attacks were policy focused, she didn’t shy away from direct jabs at Biden either — painting him as an old and out-of-touch member of the political establishment.
“My husband just watched President Biden’s State of the Union address from our living room and what we saw was the performance of permanent politician who has actually been in office for longer than I’ve been alive,” Britt said. “One thing was quite clear though — President Biden just doesn’t get it. He’s out of touch.”
She called Biden “dithering and diminished.”
“Right now, our commander in chief is not in command,” Britt said. “The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader. America deserves leaders who recognize that secure borders, stable prices, safe streets and a strong defense are actually the cornerstones of a great nation.”
Britt hammered Biden on his immigration policies, which she argued have made the nation less safe.
“President Biden’s border policies are a disgrace,” Britt said. “This crisis is despicable, and the truth is it is almost entirely preventable.”
Bringing up the death of Laken Riley, a nursing student from Georgia allegedly murdered by an unauthorized immigrant, Britt said, “This could have been my daughter, this could have been yours.”
“As a mom I can’t stop thinking about this. this could have been my daughter this could have been yours,” Britt said.
Riley’s name was invoked by Biden during his State of the Union address, prompted by Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. “President Biden finally said her name but he refused to take responsibility for his own actions,” Britt said.
Britt also criticized Biden’s economic policy, highlighting ballooning credit card debt, child care costs and mortgage rates.
“The American people are scraping by while President Biden proudly proclaims that Bidenomics is working. Goodness. Bless his heart, we know better,” Britt said.
Britt also argued that Americans are less safe today than they were four years ago thanks to Biden’s policies at home and abroad.
“From our small towns to Americas most iconic city streets, life is getting more and more dangerous and unfortunately President Biden’s weakness isn’t just hurting families here at home, he is making us a punchline on the worlds stage,” Britt said. “Where I’m from, your word is your bond, but for there years the president has demonstrated that America’s word doesn’t mean what it used to.”
Toward the end of her remarks, Britt changed her tone — shifting focus to the alternative vision Republicans are prepared to present and calling on Americans to get involved.
“I know you’re frustrated. I know you’re probably disgusted by most of what you see going on in Washington and I’ll be really honest with you, you are not wrong for feeling that way. The task in front of us isn’t an easy one, but I can promise you one thing: it is worth it. So, I am asking you for the sake of your kids and grandkids get into the arena,” Britt said.
Concluding her remarks, Britt called on voters to “reawaken the heroic spirit of a great nation” and shared hope for the future.
“Our future starts around kitchen tables just like this with moms and dads just like you. And you are why I believe with every fiber of my being that despite the current state of our union our best days are still ahead,” Britt said.
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