Inappropriate Behavior Rampant During Obama's State of the Union

The media's focus on Justice Samuel Alito's head shaking dissent during President Obama's State of the Union address has overshadowed many other breaches of decorum from both sides of the aisle. State of the Union expert Dr. Isabel Strong called the reaction to Obama's speech "the most indecorous since President William Henry Harrison's infamous 'the state of the union is phlegmatic' speech of 1843."

While it is not unusual for legislators to react with subtle expressions of disapprobation to presidential utterances, Strong noted that Republican facial reactions bordered on disgust. She recorded an unprecedented number of scowls and glares directed both at the President and legislators across the aisle. Democrats, for their part, countered glare for glare, delivering an average 42.3 glares per minute to the Republicans' 47.3, the highest on record since analysts began measuring in 1913. By contrast, Republicans were almost four times more likely to scowl than their Democratic counterparts.

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) delivered the most glares of any legislator, averaging 89.3 per minute. His glares were directed at Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Leader Harry Reid, and an unknown woman in the balcony. The count is disputed, however, by facial expression expert, Dr. Shayna Punnem, who argued that some of the alleged glares were in fact leers.

In addition to scowls and glares, Dr. Strong listed many other examples of inappropriate behavior. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) yawned fifteen times during Obama's criticism of Senate inaction, and Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) appeared to pick his nose during Obama's discussion of the Federal deficit. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) twitched every time Obama said the word "economy," though many analysts believe that the twitches were involuntary. During Obama's spirited defense of his health care plan, Rep. Mike Simson (R-ID) licked the ear of Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), twice. At 23 minutes into the speech Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) shot a spit ball across the chamber that hit Rep. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in the eye. She was rushed to Bethesda Medical Center immediately afterward where she is reported to be in stable condition. In addition, Reps. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) and Ted Poe (R-TX), dressed as telephone repair men, attempted to tamper with the cell phone of Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-LA) and were quietly escorted from the chamber.

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) who received notoriety for shouting "You lie!" during Obama's last State of the Union, was tightlipped and stone-faced throughout the speech, but those sitting next to him reported hearing a quiet high-pitched squeal from his vicinity, and there are unsubstantiated reports that he bit off his own tongue.

Other than Justice Alito's head shake, the Supremes were respectful and expressionless throughout the speech, but bystanders witnessed a spirited debate afterward, with Justices Ginsburg, Stevens, Breyer, and Sotomayor nodding as Justices Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, and Alito shook their heads furiously. Justice Kennedy reportedly just bobbed his head from left to right.