Kinder, Gentler Republicans Take On Clinton

Henry Hyde wasn't there, citing a bad back and advancing age. And Bob Barr made a very public boycott, saying that it was inappropriate for the President to speak before the people who are currently judging him. And throughout the State of the Union, Republicans could be seen primly sitting or looking sour while President Clinton gave the speech of his life. But afterward, rather than raising the impeachment scandal, members of the GOP mostly confined their gripes to White House policy -- which is just what Clinton wanted. "The President is trying to set up the same trap as last year, which is to put the Republicans against Social Security," says TIME congressional correspondent John Dickerson. Though Dick Armey attacked the proposed budget -- "a $4 trillion surplus, and not a penny for tax cuts?" -- Wednesday morning, Dickerson says, Republicans were toning down the rhetoric, going out of their way to appear supportive of the office, if not the man.

The reason: enlightened self-interest. With pollsters and even donors telling party leaders they had better find a horse other than the President's troubles to ride, yet another plea for healing was in order. The first step in that direction is changing the public face of the GOP from Gingrich and Hyde to the more palatable (and focus-grouped) Jennifer Dunn and Steve Largent. Following the speech, the two rising young stars gave a bright and shiny infomercial of a Republican response that did get across the message that Republicans are for reconciliation. Sort of. So let the healing begin.