Is this the first time the SOTU response was done in front of live audience?

[wndycty]

This looks stupid, very stupid.

[Bolo Boffin]

1. I was afraid they were going to secede right then and there. n/t

[Blue-Jay]

2. They were in the right place

[OhioBlue]

4. yep - that could be a good frame. n/t

[Catshrink]

3. It wasn't an audience, it was a cast.

That thing was so scripted.

[jasi2006]

5. That was a live audience? Was it a live response? nt

[Brother Buzz]

6. No, but they were real tired from the bus trip from NC

[susanna]

7. I was wondering that, too.

I don't think I've ever seen it done that way. I thought it was a bit of a reach. Probably to show their softer, populist side? :sarcasm:

Of course, I also thought it was a step up from Bobby Jindal within the first two minutes. Conversely, the guy who gave the response was total helmet hair...that is definitely a GOP problem. Wonder why that is?

I'm not making light, just noticing a couple of the tons of things I've seen, in relation to politics, over my generic life cycle. :)

[Yupster]

9. In 1994 Christie Whitman

did it before the New Jersey State Legislature live.

[Zen Democrat]

8. Props. n/t

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

10. The whole thing was staged. And I think it's downright disgusting and very offensive how Repukes

always use 1 or 2 black people, placing them strategically behind them during their speeches, rallies, or what have you. The tokens are always happy, smiling and nodding in agreement. FOOLS!!! :puke:

[fishwax]

11. that stage was horrible -- and unlike Jindal's response, w/o the saving grace of being *hilarious*

Just boring. :boring:

[WallStreetNobody]

12. It was another pathetic GOP response....a laughingstock

Holding it in front of a little handpicked audience like that in a statehouse meant to resemble a mini version of the US Capitol and Obama's SOTU address was a joke. It was like they were trying to look presidential. My guess is they knew they could not compete with an Obama speech and they remember the national joke that was Jindal's Republican response last year. So they had to create some theater, and that was staging a speech in front of a roomful of supporters who could break the monotony with planned applause. They had absolutely no substance, instead just saying the same old garbage they said all throughout the Bush era (and never followed through on) and just completely made up "facts" like suggesting Obama was raising taxes when so far he has cut taxes for middle-class and only plans to raise them on the richest 1% after 2011.