Republicans pit ‘pro-parent’ GOP against Democrats on Covid, schools, crime
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ response to President Joe Biden’s address framed the GOP as the “pro-parent, pro-family” party, connecting that message to a range of perennially divisive issues, such as immigration, crime and education.
Reynolds peppered her speech with criticism of the pandemic-related social distancing policies — especially those involving schools — that Republicans have tied to Biden and the Democratic Party.
“Republican governors faced the same Covid-19 virus head on,” Reynolds said. “But we honored your freedoms.”
“That’s why Iowa was the first state in the nation to require that schools open their doors. I was attacked by the left; I was attacked by the media. But it wasn’t a hard choice. It was the right choice,” she said.
“We’re getting people back to work, not paying them to stay home. Most of all, we’re respecting your freedom,” Reynolds said later in the speech.
“We are standing up for parents and kids; we’re standing up for life. We’re keeping our communities safe and thanking those in uniform,” she said. “We’re fighting to restore America’s energy independence, including biofuels. We’re getting people back to work, not paying them to stay home. Most of all, we’re respecting your freedom.”
— Kevin Breuninger
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds delivers GOP response
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, delivering the Republican response to the State of the Union address, couched her criticisms of President…
