Partly Cloudy, 64°
The nation tuned in a few weeks ago once again to honor the tradition of watching the bottom half of Vice President Joe Biden’s facial expressions for one hour every year.
This year, however, President Barack Obama is receiving criticism for standing up in front of Biden’s face in order to try to summarize his administration’s current goals and the problems facing the nation in a long-winded though admittedly well-written impromptu speech.
The chin and mouth of Joe Biden was clearly annoyed during the president’s disruption, although Biden did politely applaud and even smile and nod a little. Pundits are calling Biden’s performance “outstanding” and “dedicated,” entertaining Americans with his well-groomed jowls, despite Obama’s inappropriate behavior.
When the joint session of Congress stood and applauded Biden’s stoic countenance, the president awkwardly assumed the ovation was for him.
Viewers have maintained that the sight of Biden’s iconic mandibles — often likened to the gobbles of an albino turkey — provide Americans with simplicity and clarity in a political climate increasingly based on talking and flip-flopping. In this year’s broadcast, Americans were comforted by Biden’s lower face’s emphasis on the availability of public education and a more prudent stance on economic reform.
Polls suggest that Biden’s chin’s message came through loud and clear, despite President Obama’s vulgar attempt at making the event all about himself by trying to brag about what his administration has been doing for over an hour.
The mouth and tanned chin of Speaker of the House John Boehner was present in this year’s live broadcast as well.
The broadcasting of the bottom half of the vice president’s face has been an annual American custom since the advent of television. Biden is lauded for his performance as vice president, often thrilling viewers by scratching his lower lip or even yawning widely but clearly trying to cover it up.
It remains to be determined whether Obama’s rude conduct will hurt his chances in the 2012 election. However, polls indicate that Biden’s face’s approval rating is at an all-time high.
