Members of Congress no longer just listen to the president deliver his State of the Union address. They’re also actively messaging throughout the speech. Here are some of the tweets—from Democrats, Republicans and one Independent—that caught our eye tonight.
We must stand up for human rights for everyone, everywhere #SOTU @amnesty @hrw
— Congressman Mike Honda (@RepMikeHonda) January 21, 2015
#POTUS rallying the country: "I know how tempting cynicism can be- but I still believe we are one people, that we can do great things" #SOTU
— Rep. Linda Sánchez (@RepLindaSanchez) January 21, 2015
POTUS says 2014 warmest year on record…please tell that to the Wisconsinites with empty propane tanks. #AlwaysSunnyOnTheGolfCourse
— Sean Duffy (@SeanDuffyWI) January 21, 2015
Marriage equality should be a civil right. That's why I introduced the Respect for Marriage Act so #LGBT families are treated equally. #SOTU
— Mike Quigley (@RepMikeQuigley) January 21, 2015
"They say that our politics seems more divided than ever." Well, stop division + don't promise to veto bills you haven't even seen! #SOTU
— Mario Díaz-Balart (@MarioDB) January 21, 2015
POTUS: "I still believe we are one people." #SOTU #BarackObama
— Lacy Clay MO1st (@LacyClayMO1) January 21, 2015
This #SOTU is all about making sure the middle class shares in the growth & the wealth created by resurging economy @WhiteHouse
— Fmr. US Rep. Rick Nolan (@USRepRickNolan) January 21, 2015
Obama has declared #waroncoal; I will fight everyday for miners like Larry Gore who keep America running #SOTU pic.twitter.com/BVHL5xRhpK
— David B. McKinley (@RepMcKinley) January 21, 2015
A microcosm of the country where D's and R's and I's, good people of every ethnicity and every faith, share certain bedrock values. #SOTU
— Congressman Bill Foster (@RepBillFoster) January 21, 2015
https://twitter.com/RepBillFlores/status/557734673712168960
Me too, Mr. President! I'm ready to work. "I still believe that together, we can do great things, even when the odds are long." #SOTU
— Rep. Dan Kildee (@RepDanKildee) January 21, 2015
Mr. President, most Americans think race relations have deteriorated under your leadership #SOTU #SOTUlive #copolitics
— Rep. Ken Buck (@RepKenBuck) January 21, 2015
I still believe that we are one people. I still believe that together, we can do great things, even when the odds are long. -Obama #SOTU
— Rep. Doris Matsui (@DorisMatsui) January 21, 2015
"If you believe you could work full-time & support a family on $14,500/year, go try it." —Obama #SOTU #RaiseTheWage
http://t.co/KgAJzRTuZX— Paul Tonko (@RepPaulTonko) January 21, 2015
I still believe that we are one people. I still believe that together, we can do great things, even when the odds are long. #SOTU
— MichelleLujanGrisham (@RepLujanGrisham) January 21, 2015
#ObamaCare is cutting hours & wages for hardworking families costing economy equivalent of 2.3 million jobs #SOTU pic.twitter.com/aJ6VRoSrO6
— David Young (@RepDavidYoung) January 21, 2015
#SOTU proposals increase the reliance on, and the power of, the federal government. http://t.co/0fgyRVIBMX
— Mike Enzi (@SenatorEnzi) January 21, 2015
Glad to hear #POTUS talk about #Gitmo – we can’t wait another decade to shut it down. My @washingtonpost op-ed http://t.co/o7xrxtGcOX #SOTU
— Jackie Speier (@RepSpeier) January 21, 2015
“The single biggest threat to national security is the national debt” -Navy Adm. Mike Mullen #SOTU
— Tim Huelskamp, Ph.D. (@CongHuelskamp) January 21, 2015
Manufacturing is growing & the auto industry is booming. Let's keep these jobs here in America #SOTU pic.twitter.com/Y45imTvrOf
— Rep. Debbie Dingell (@RepDebDingell) January 21, 2015
Persecuting any one group of people endangers us all. Persecution of women, religious minorities, and the LGBT community must end. #SOTU
— Congressmember Bass (@RepKarenBass) January 21, 2015
Closing Guantanamo Bay is deeply misguided. It plays an important role in combating terrorism and keeping the American people safe. #SOTU
— Rep. Tim Walberg (@RepWalberg) January 21, 2015
"No challenge poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change." —President Obama #SOTU #ActOnClimate pic.twitter.com/tfIOqG925m
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 21, 2015
https://twitter.com/RepMickMulvaney/status/557733344390418433
Coming up at 11pmET: Sen. Sanders will be on @CNN with his reaction to the #SOTU. #SOTU2015
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) January 21, 2015
https://twitter.com/Renee4Congress/status/557732903720083458
Good comments on the need for stronger cybersecurity, addressing a real 21st century threat. #SOTU
— Jeff Fortenberry (@JeffFortenberry) January 21, 2015
The few Dems who applauded when Obama said he'd veto Iran Sanctions bill shows we wld be able to override the veto
— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) January 21, 2015
#Obama says he's integrating intel 2 combat cyber threats like he combats terror. Might work as long as #NorthKorea isnt JV like #ISIL #SOTU
— Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (@RosLehtinen) January 21, 2015
I agree with #POTUS. We must focus on the unprecedented and increasing number of data breaches. #cybersecurity
— Elijah E. Cummings (@RepCummings) January 21, 2015
Consumer protection is paramount. I want to make sure companies are better prepared to protect consumer data. #SOTU
— Gus Bilirakis (@RepGusBilirakis) January 21, 2015
It would be foolish of Congress to impose new sanctions & risk giving #Iran an excuse to walk away from these critial talks. #SOTU
— Chris Murphy ? (@ChrisMurphyCT) January 21, 2015
You want a job done right? Hire a veteran. #SOTU
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) January 21, 2015
I have heard nothing about getting spending under control & tackling our $18 trillion debt. That would leave a lasting legacy. #SOTU
— Rep. Randy Hultgren (@RepHultgren) January 21, 2015
Raising taxes doesn't create jobs. We need to focus on cutting spending, reducing the debt, and getting Americans to work. #SOTU2015
— Lynn Westmoreland (@Westmoreland_GA) January 21, 2015
We need pro-growth tax reform Mr. President, not higher taxes. #ObamaTaxes #TaxReform
— Kevin Brady (@RepKevinBrady) January 21, 2015
First bill passed by this new Congress was #HireMoreHeroes. If POTUS wants to help veterans find jobs, he should sign this bill.
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) January 21, 2015
Obama just claimed you can't raise a family on $7.25 hr. NEWS FLASH: you can't do it on $10.10 hr either! #sotu
— Aaron Schock (@aaronschock) January 21, 2015
Ready to work with the President and with anyone else to fix our country’s problems. Let's start by repealing and replacing Ocare #SOTU
— Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@BillCassidy) January 21, 2015
Instead of working with us to alleviate some burdens of #Obamacare, the pres. threatens to veto our common sense solutions. #SOTU
— Rep. Jason Smith (@RepJasonSmith) January 21, 2015
Waiting for President to come to Congress to give his #SOTU. Rep. Renee Ellmers of NC is standing in foreground. pic.twitter.com/y7PXpDtrTO
— Joe Barton (@RepJoeBarton) January 21, 2015