State of the Union - why does everyone applaud every time President says something?

[Anonymous]

"Hey Buford, git a load outta this... they're clappin' at a colored boy!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes they applaud to be snarky.

And sometimes the President gives the line of the night in response.

+1

Delivered with unveiled hatred. Look at his face - wow

Obama unmasked...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just part of the drama ..... happens with every president.

The other part is members of the president's party applauding or giving a standing ovation and the other side stays seated and does not applaud.

True. The speechwriters write the SOU speech in sound bites. Each sentence then is marked with hashmarks. One hashmarks means pause and wait for applause. Two means pause pause, wait for applause, three means hold your breath and wait for lots of applause and clapping. The supporting party knows this and knows when to just politiely applaud and when to go crazy. It's nonsense but it's just the way it's done - wife of former WH speechwriter.

I always figured there were cue cards or some instructions passed out beforehand so everyone knew when to clap and/or stand.

[Anonymous]

This happens in every SOTU for as long as I can remember.

What I cannot remember is the level of jeering, boos and sarcastic applause Obama's SOTU elicits from the Right.

[Anonymous]

What I cannot remember is the level of jeering, boos and sarcastic applause Obama's SOTU elicits from the Right.

I do not remember a President who walked on the floor chewing gum either. Or one who openly mocked his opponents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes they applaud to be snarky.

And sometimes the President gives the line of the night in response.

+1

Delivered with unveiled hatred. Look at his face - wow

Obama unmasked...

Oh, puhhh-lease. We have the far right extremists in Congress attacking Obama daily, full of hatred, vitriol, and lies about Benghazi and Death Panels, yet when he zings them back with a little comedy, suddenly it's "Oh, look at the angry black man full of hatred!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just part of the drama ..... happens with every president.

The other part is members of the president's party applauding or giving a standing ovation and the other side stays seated and does not applaud.

True. The speechwriters write the SOU speech in sound bites. Each sentence then is marked with hashmarks. One hashmarks means pause and wait for applause. Two means pause pause, wait for applause, three means hold your breath and wait for lots of applause and clapping. The supporting party knows this and knows when to just politiely applaud and when to go crazy. It's nonsense but it's just the way it's done - wife of former WH speechwriter.

How long has this been the practice. So annoying. One of the reasons I don't watch anymore.

Annoying! Entirely too theatrical and why I no longer watch this live. I typically wait and read a transcript. I find it distracting and fake.

I also hate that most concerts are interrupted by constant whoops, whistles and karaoke sing alongs. I'm paying to listen to my favorite rock star and not the audience. I know, I sound old and cranky...

[Anonymous]

Muslima wrote:I wondered if any president ever said anything other than "The State of the Union is STRONG" and just what did they say when they said otherwise. So did some research while I watched'':
1960's: Lyndon Johnson said the union was “free and restless, growing and full of hope.” John F. Kennedy declared that “the state of this old but youthful Union, in the 175th year of its life, is good.” Coolidge said in 1928: “No Congress of the United States ever assembled, on surveying the state of the Union, has met with a more pleasing prospect than that which appears at the present time.”
1860's (civil war times): James Buchanan declared in December 1860, four months before the Civil War began, that “the Union of the States, which is the source of all these blessings, is threatened with destruction.” Andrew Johnson said in December 1865, the year of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination: “Candor compels me to declare that at this time there is no Union as our fathers understood the term, and as they meant it to be understood by us.”
The bleakest assessment in modern times came from Ford, who amid the recession in 1975 admitted: “I must say to you that the state of the Union is not good: Millions of Americans are out of work. Recession and inflation are eroding the money of millions more. Prices are too high, and sales are too slow.” It wasn’t what his audience wanted to hear, but, as Kusnet would say, it had the benefit of being accurate.
.....off to bed.... Good night

Interesting...none of the ones you cite who acknowledged that the SOTU was anything other than rosy (Coolidge, Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Ford) were re-elected. It appears that modern presidents have learned their lesson.

[Anonymous]

I know the SOTU is required by law ..... and it does have a certain amount of pomp and ceremony ..... but I really think it is nothing more than rhetoric.

In some ways it reminds me of commencement speeches at a college graduation. Very few people remember anything of consequence that is said at these speeches. For example, I don't remember anything that was said at the last SOTU. I remember the guy from South Carolina who, at a SOTU, yelled during Obama's speech "You lie" or something to that effect because it was so bizarre.

[Anonymous]

Because they are sheep.

[Anonymous]

I know the SOTU is required by law ..... and it does have a certain amount of pomp and ceremony ..... but I really think it is nothing more than rhetoric.

It is not required to be presented in person. It can be written.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This happens in every SOTU for as long as I can remember.

What I cannot remember is the level of jeering, boos and sarcastic applause Obama's SOTU elicits from the Right.

Let's use Joe Wilson as an example. You are more concerned that he was rude, even though it's since been proven Wilson was correct?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just part of the drama ..... happens with every president.

The other part is members of the president's party applauding or giving a standing ovation and the other side stays seated and does not applaud.

True. The speechwriters write the SOU speech in sound bites. Each sentence then is marked with hashmarks. One hashmarks means pause and wait for applause. Two means pause pause, wait for applause, three means hold your breath and wait for lots of applause and clapping. The supporting party knows this and knows when to just politiely applaud and when to go crazy. It's nonsense but it's just the way it's done - wife of former WH speechwriter.

How long has this been the practice. So annoying. One of the reasons I don't watch anymore.

Annoying! Entirely too theatrical and why I no longer watch this live. I typically wait and read a transcript. I find it distracting and fake.

I also hate that most concerts are interrupted by constant whoops, whistles and karaoke sing alongs. I'm paying to listen to my favorite rock star and not the audience. I know, I sound old and cranky...

Ive actually told orople off at concerts for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes they applaud to be snarky.

And sometimes the President gives the line of the night in response.

+1

Delivered with unveiled hatred. Look at his face - wow

Obama unmasked...

Oh, puhhh-lease. We have the far right extremists in Congress attacking Obama daily, full of hatred, vitriol, and lies about Benghazi and Death Panels, yet when he zings them back with a little comedy, suddenly it's "Oh, look at the angry black man full of hatred!"

That wasnt comedy. There was no glint in his eye, no smile. That was a comment delivered with malice by a President who intends to ignore congress and do what he wants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This happens in every SOTU for as long as I can remember.

What I cannot remember is the level of jeering, boos and sarcastic applause Obama's SOTU elicits from the Right.

Let's use Joe Wilson as an example. You are more concerned that he was rude, even though it's since been proven Wilson was correct?

Please cite why Wilson was correct. IIRC, he was insisting that illegal immigrants would be eligible for health insurance under the ACA.