If Biden is serious about bipartisanship, he can start with Sen. Tim Scott

“Thank you for your patience.”

Thus ended President Joe Biden’s hour-plus address Wednesday to a joint session of Congress, marking his first 100 days. Not that many senators or representatives were on hand to hear it. About three-quarters of the seats were empty with the few attendees masked and muted.

It was an odd sight for the planet’s oldest democracy: Legislators, fully vaccinated for months, still unwilling to gather with their new president or each other. The low-energy affair only reinforced the sense of a fading superpower with an enervated political class.

Biden’s speech was serviceable, if not inspiring. The president recited a litany of America’s problems and told Capitol Hill to start fixing them. The only legislative success Biden could hype was the American Rescue Plan Act. The rest was wish-casting.

Biden won't accomplish those things

The president asked Congress to solve the “economic crisis,” the “opioid crisis” and the “climate crisis.” But first they need to pass the Hate Crimes Act, the Equality Act, the PRO Act, the Paycheck Fairness Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. “Send them to my desk right away,” Biden pleaded.

With a 50-50 Senate and little hope of ending the filibuster, most of these bills won’t make it to Biden’s desk. And he knows it.

At his inauguration, Biden promised a new era of unity and bipartisanship. A political breather after several divisive years. Instead, he’s pushing often radical legislation requiring razor-thin, party-line votes.

This allows a single Democratic senator to prevent a bill from getting to the Oval Office, a fact both Arizona’s senators (and West Virginia’s Joe Manchin) know well.

Biden wasn’t elected to add seats to the Supreme Court or add stars to our flag. His mandate was not to be Donald Trump. Considering his sleepy address, mission accomplished.

Sen. Tim Scott tried to bridge the divide

Few Americans watched the speech and fewer stuck around for the Republican response. But those who did ended the night on a hopeful note.

Sen. Tim Scott (R–S.C.) delivered the optimism and healing that Biden missed.

Over his career, Scott has repeatedly tried to bridge the partisan divide. Democrats and the media are more willing to listen to the Black Republican compared to the average conservative.

“I won’t waste your time tonight with finger-pointing or partisan bickering,” Scott said in his response. “You can get that on TV any time you want.”

Scott championed a sweeping police reform bill last year in the wake of George Floyd’s killing and the resulting protests. Though it was lauded by some across the aisle, Senate Democrats squashed it via filibuster. You know, the filibuster Democrats now call “a Jim Crow relic.”

Despite this experience, Scott’s response Wednesday focused on real-world unity. He noted that the GOP Senate passed five bipartisan COVID-19 packages last year with 90 or more votes in the Senate. “Common sense found common ground,” Scott said.

Biden should meet with Scott quickly

The senator also questioned the nation’s gloomy mood despite our surging economy and fading pandemic. "This should be a joyful springtime for our nation,” Scott observed. "So why do we feel so divided and anxious? A nation with so much cause for hope should not feel so heavy-laden.”

Voters crave this message from leaders in both parties. A new USA Today poll revealed 7 out of 10 Americans believe that the nation’s deep divisions are driven by politicians and news outlets. Just 14% think politicians are willing to reach across the aisle to solve problems.

In the next week, President Biden should invite Senator Scott to the White House. Discuss an issue or two where they can work together and then move it through Congress.

Voters would love to see it. And they won’t be patient for much longer.

Jon Gabriel, a Mesa resident, is editor-in-chief of Ricochet.com and a contributor to The Republic and azcentral.com. On Twitter: @exjon.