Biden State of Ohio, Union speech: Darcy cartoon

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Tuesday, President Biden gave what seemed like both a State of the Union and State of Ohio address, making several connections to the ‘Buckeye State’ during the speech and exiting the House Chamber.

In the early part of the address, President Biden noted the billion dollar Intel development outside of Columbus and name-dropped Senator Sherrod Brown when addressing American manufacturing.

The president also heralded the historic bipartisan Infrastructure Act orchestrated along with Sen. Rob Portman who led the negotiations for the Republicans.

During the second half of the address, President Biden saluted an Ohio widow, Danielle Robinson, whose late husband Sgt. 1st class Heath Robinson, a combat medic, died from respiratory cancer caused from exposure to battlefield ‘burn pit’ exhaust. The Veterans Administration is now providing coverage for that cancer treatment.

Several times during the speech, the cameras showed Rep. Marcy Kaptur wearing a large scarf and ribbon in the blue and yellow colors of the Ukraine flag. While proceeding out of the House Chambers, President Biden stopped to speak with Rep. Kaptur

More than once, President Biden’s remarks received bipartisan standing ovations, including from both Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy. There were two notable exceptions, far-right extremists Reps. Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Both Boebert Greene stood and heckled Biden, screeching at the president when he talked about military casualties from cancer like Sgt. Robinson of Ohio, and the President’s own son.

The majority of Senate and House members were no longer wearing masks, which were not required, although would have been warranted for Boebert and Greene spewing toxicity.