Staff Reports
President Joe Biden decided to pull himself away from vacationing to deliver remarks from the White House, just in time to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. What better way to distract from his record-low approval ratings than by throwing a party for a law that everyone supports? That’s right: the ADA has been around so long, it makes Biden’s obsession with his beloved ice cream look like a fleeting fad.
In a rare display of enthusiasm for the current administration, Biden took a moment to acknowledge July as Disability Pride Month, which is fitting because little else in his presidency seems to inspire such pride. It’s almost poetic that the signing of this landmark legislation happened in July, because one might imagine it also represents a golden age of bipartisan cooperation—definitely not something you’d associate with the divisive politics of today. The only thing more inflated than his words at such commemorative events is the national debt.
In this White House, we celebrate disability pride.
And that’s what everyone who joined me today on the South Lawn embodies.
Thank you for the work you’re doing to ensure the promise of America can be delivered to all Americans. pic.twitter.com/QbamV7IK52
— President Biden (@POTUS) September 10, 2024
While a celebration of such an important law is certainly warranted, it raises questions about Biden’s actual commitment to the exploration of disability rights in today’s America. Has the administration done anything noteworthy beyond the obligatory speeches? With the chaos seen at the border, economic instability, and inflation that could embarrass the worst supermarket checkout, one wonders if the president is merely trying to distract citizens from the myriad issues overshadowing his term in office.
Biden’s attempts to celebrate Disability Pride Month make one ponder whether his actions are sincere or just a desperate ploy to feed the narrative that everyone loves him. With soaring prices and a failing economy making it tough for anyone to find a penny on the pavement, a balloon-filled speech on disability rights feels more like political theatrics than genuine concern. Perhaps if Biden spent as much time addressing economic woes as he does orchestrating these awareness events, Americans wouldn’t find themselves struggling at the grocery store.
Ultimately, while it’s crucial to recognize the significance of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its accomplishments over the past 34 years, one must wonder if Biden’s approval ratings will still be spinning downward faster than a merry-go-round during this reflective moment. In a world where good intentions meet questionable execution, the real question is whether the administration will ever understand that actions speak louder than words.
