Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith criticized Democratic lawmakers who have discussed boycotting or walking out during the President’s upcoming State of the Union address, arguing that such actions would undermine their credibility and weaken their moral authority.
“The President of the United States is going to give his State of the Union address, and the Democrats got other planes,” Smith said.
“So some are talking about walking out in the middle of his speech. Others are talking about boycotting it all together and essentially finding something else to do.”
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Smith said he believes neither approach is appropriate. “I’m here to tell you that neither is acceptable,” he said.
“Neither should be acceptable at some point in time, ladies and gentlemen, there’s got to be gentlemen, there’s got to be an adult in the room.”
He argued that staging a protest during the speech would mirror behavior Democrats often criticize.
“If you’re going to act as juvenile, as petulant, as petty as you accuse the President of the United States to be, how are you ever going to hold a high moral ground, at least high enough to judge him accordingly, if people on the right can turn and look at you and say, You’re no better, you act no better, where’s it going to get you?”
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Smith said the issue speaks to a broader expectation of responsibility in public office.
“See, these are the kind of things that end up getting people like myself and others in the news, because we’re talking about getting things done,” he said.
He also clarified that he has no political ambitions. “I’ve said repeatedly, and I’ll state it again, and I’ll make news by saying it again,” Smith said.
“I have no desire to be an elected official. I’ve never entertained politics in my life. I’m certainly not an officiant.”
“I don’t want to issue it’s got a long way to go. To go to learn all the things that go on,” he added.
Smith said what he does bring to the discussion is common sense and respect for public institutions.
“But you know what I have? I have common sense, I have decency, I have respect for the office, even when or if I didn’t respect the individual,” he said.
He emphasized that elected officials have an obligation to their constituents.
“Because I would understand that as a representative, whether it be that, as a representative or Senate, a senator in the United States of America,” Smith said.
“Guess what? I have a constituency to answer to, and I have people who need me, who I represent, and whether I like it or not, this individual is in office until 2028 and I got to find a way to do business with him in order to get something done.”
Smith said the same standards Americans apply to themselves should apply to lawmakers.
“You see when you go to the American people and you ask the American people, yo, stand up, step up and handle your business,” he said.
“Stop bitching and screaming all the time.”
“When you got problems at the job, when you got bills to pay, when you got a family to take care of, find a way to work around it and handle your business,” Smith continued.
He then questioned why elected officials should be treated differently.
“How come that can’t apply to elected officials. Why do they get to get away with that?” he asked.
“Why do they get to circumvent those rules and regulations?”
“Why do they get to circumvent the need and the insistence of mere decorum?” Smith added.
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