Whether they sit in silence or grandstand outside, the President’s address will go on without them.

 David Catron discusses the potential impact of Democrats boycotting President Trump's upcoming State of the Union (SOTU) address. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries provided two options for Democrats: attend with silent defiance or not attend at all.

1. Democratic Response Options: Jeffries suggested that Democratic members could either attend the SOTU quietly or choose not to attend. This creates an opportunity for a more dignified event since theatrics are less likely to occur.

2. Boycotts and Counterprogramming: While some Democrats may choose to boycott, around 20 have already committed to attending a counter-event called "The People’s State of the Union," organized by progressive groups like MoveOn. Another event named "State of the Swamp" will occur at the National Press Club.

3. Official Democratic Rebuttal: Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger will deliver the official Democratic response after Trump’s address. This rebuttal often highlights party rising stars, though this role has historically been challenging.

4. Potential for Distracting Events: Several Democrats planning to attend the counter-events include notable figures like Senators Chris Murphy and Tina Smith, which could overshadow Spanberger’s formal response.

5. Notable Boycotters: Other prominent Democrats expected to boycott include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Adam Schiff. Their involvement in counterprograms suggests they will speak out against Trump’s policies, framing them in negative terms.

Catron poses the question of whether the Democrats' boycott truly matters and concludes humorously. It suggests that the political fallout from their absence or presence at the SOTU is inconsequential and likens it to choosing a path at a fork in the road—the outcome is presumably the same. 

https://spectator.org/who-cares-if-democrats-boycott-trumps-sotu/