Democrats Call Joe Kennedy a Star; Republicans Say He's Drooling

Many Democrats on Twitter praised Massachusetts Rep. Joe Kennedy III on Tuesday for a State of the Union response that was inclusive and impassioned. Republicans said he was literally drooling.

The response to the State of the Union is an unenviable job — the speaker needs to follow the president, spelling out an agenda from the ultimate bully pulpit. Many on the left said Kennedy, grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, did his ancestors proud by appealing to struggling Americans from all walks of life.

But look at the right side of his mouth, said Republicans. That’s spittle!

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The Kennedy name endows its bearer with fame and solemnity, but also the responsibility to live up to the achievements of the past. Listeners on the left largely agreed said it was hard to take issue with the 37-year-old’s text or delivery.

But Republicans had a point that it was hard to un-notice what definitely looked like drool. Even Politico got into the speculation, writing:

The Democratic congressman’s mouth corners appeared especially shiny during his response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address — and many online were quick to accuse him of drooling during his address. The alternative theory was an overzealous application of lip balm.

Look, the congressman’s own great uncle started us down this dumb path. We all remember the classic story of the 1960 presidential debate in which John F. Kennedy wore makeup, and Richard Nixon was too macho to accept it, and people who heard the debate on the radio thought Nixon won, and people who saw it on TV thought Kennedy won, and then Camelot? Looks matter. They shouldn’t, but they do.

Remember the point Sen. Marco Rubio was making in his response to President Obama’s 2013 State of the Union, just before he suddenly made a thirsty lunge for a water bottle?

Of course you don’t. No one does.

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So it remains to be seen whether America will remember Kennedy’s speech for his insistence that we’re all in this together, or for his awkward mouth situation.

It probably depends if they heard the speech on the radio or saw it on TV. Try to guess the political leanings of the folks below:

Seeing a lot of this and frankly, no substantive critique of Joe Kennedy's speech. I think it's fair to say someone finally did well in that unenviable slot. https://t.co/UP5PDvervd

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) January 31, 2018

In his Democratic response to Trump’s #SOTU speech, Rep. Joe Kennedy III mentions transgender youth, hits Trump for offering false choices between worthy and unworthy groups of Americans. pic.twitter.com/RClVghmqqw

— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) January 31, 2018

Joe Kennedy: “The strongest, richest, greatest nation in the world shouldn’t leave any one behind.” #SOTU

— Ryan Knight, PROUD RESISTER ???? (@ProudResister) January 31, 2018

My friend & #FutureForum member @RepJoeKennedy did a stellar job with the #SOTUresponse tonight, describing our optimism for, and commitment to, a brighter future for ALL of us. https://t.co/dxSdsxvgex

— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) January 31, 2018

Joe Kennedy's drool is Marco Rubio's water bottle.

— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) January 31, 2018

Joe Kennedy tonight. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/CNzckAxL1S

— Ryan Saavedra ???????? (@RealSaavedra) January 31, 2018

This Joe Kennedy clown is so nervous he's drooling, and you can hear him trying to catch his breath in between sentences. Sorry kid, but the Kennedy name can only get you so far in life. #SOTUResponse

— Mark Dice (@MarkDice) January 31, 2018

Joe Kennedy is ending his political career tonight

— Jack Posobiec ???????? (@JackPosobiec) January 31, 2018

And here is President Trump clapping for himself:

16 Actors Who Played JFK, From Patrick Dempsey to Michael C Hall (Photos)

Cliff Robertson, "PT 109" (1963) •

Oscar winner Cliff Robertson ("Charly" and "Spider-Man" 1 and 2) portrayed JFK during his military years as a U.S. Navy officer in command of Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 touring the waters of the Pacific amidst World War II.
William Devane, "The Missiles of October" (1974) •

Devane ("Knots Landing," "24") portrayed JFK in this made-for-TV offering, which depicted the drama in the 1962 White House while the President's administration decided the best course of action during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Martin Sheen, "Kennedy" (1983) •

Jed Bartlet on "The West Wing" wasn't the only Democratic president Sheen has portrayed on screen. In 1983, he played JFK in the miniseries "Kennedy." Nine years earlier he played "Jack's" younger brother Robert opposite William Devane in "The Missiles of October."
Steven Weber, "The Kennedys of Massachusetts" (1990) •

The "13 Reasons Why" star played a young JFK in the ABC miniseries, which focused on the 54-year marriage on the family patriarch and matriarch, Joseph and Rose, the expanding of their family and Joseph's wandering eye.
Stephen Collins, "A Woman Named Jackie" (1991) •

Long before his stint as Rev. Eric Camden on "7th Heaven" (1996-2007), and even before he beguiled a young Keri Russell in "The Babysitter's Seduction," the actor played Kennedy. Collins did so opposite Roma Downey as Jackie Kennedy in the TV miniseries that focused on the FLOTUS.
Patrick Dempsey, "JFK: Reckless Youth" (1993) •

Believe it or not, Dempsey had other roles before he became McDreamy on "Grey's Anatomy." This includes his performance as America's dreamiest Commander-in-Chief during his early years before the presidency in this two-part TV miniseries, which aired on ABC.
Jed Gillin, "Forrest Gump" (1994) •

Audiences didn't see the actor in Robert Zemeckis' Oscar-winning drama, but they did hear his voice when Gump (Tom Hanks) met the president at the White House after drinking 15 bottles of Dr Pepper. The picture features Gillin on film before the John F. Kennedy's head was superimposed.
Tim Matheson, "Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis" (2000) •

The "Animal House" star played Kennedy in the TV movie starring Joanne Whalley as his First Lady, a woman of many names and facets, as the title implies.
Bruce Greenwood, "Thirteen Days" (2000) •

This Cuban Missile Crisis drama also starred Kevin Costner as Kenny O'Donnell, a top aide to JFK and the movie's protagonist.
Brett Stimely, "Watchmen" (2009) •

The actor makes a quick appearance as Kennedy when the White House extends its thanks to Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup) for quickly ending the Vietnam War in Zack Snyder's superhero movie. Stimely also made brief appearances as the same president in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" and "Parkland."
Greg Kinnear, "The Kennedys" (2011) •

Kinnear played JFK opposite Katie Holmes as Jackie Kennedy and Barry Pepper as Bobby Kennedy on the eight-episode miniseries that aired on Reelz Channel. The piece went on to win four Primetime Emmys.
James Marsden, "The Butler" (2013) •

The "X-Men" actor played one of the many powerful Commander-in-Chiefs in Lee Daniels' civil-rights movement drama. The film centered on a White House butler who served eight presidents over the course of his career.
Rob Lowe, "Killing Kennedy" (2013) •

The former "Parks and Recreation" star played the title role in Nat Geo's adaptation of the nonfiction best-seller by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard.
Caspar Phillipson, "Jackie" (2016) •

The Danish actor who is most noted for his work in theater, played JFK in the critically acclaimed feature film that starred Natalie Portman as the First Lady during her husband's presidency and immediately following his assassination.
Jeffrey Donovan, "LBJ" (2017) •

The actor best known for the TV series "Burn Notice" appeared as JFK in the Rob Reiner-directed film "LBJ," starring Woody Harrelson as Vice President Lyndon Johnson, who stepped into the role of commander-in-chief after Kennedy's assassination.
Michael C. Hall, "The Crown" (2017) •

In the second season of the Netflix series about Queen Elizabeth II, the "Dexter" star appears as a philandering American president who's addicted to painkillers. “He was very much a functional addict," Hall told Entertainment Weekly of his warts-and-all-portrayal. "And his relationship with women was certainly a well-kept secret back then.”