For the past 100 years, Presidents have delivered a State of the Union message to Congress amid much pomp and circumstances. That solemnity was disrupted only once when Harry Truman forgot to allow the Speaker to introduce him. The legendary Sam Rayburn touched the President’s shoulder and said: “Harry, I’m supposed to introduce you to the Chamber.”

It was an endearing moment among friends.

Let the record show that President Donald J. Trump plunged right into his speech as well. This time it was intentional -- a direct discourtesy to Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Only one human being on the planet is afforded the honor of a State of the Union address and it is intended as an opportunity to inspire and to unite a nation that is always in need of visionary leadership. Instead, Trump chose to begin on a discordant note and the speech featured what one reporter called a “series of puffed-up numbers and partial truths.”

Here are just a few of those misleading statements:

“We imposed tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods - and now our Treasury is receiving billions of dollar.”

That’s just not how it works. Tariffs imposed by any country result in higher prices for goods so guess who is paying for Trump’s tariffs - we, the American consumers, are paying.

“Our new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement is bringing back our manufacturing jobs.”

That agreement has not even been approved yet but, clearly, manufacturers are not impressed. General Motors recently announced that it is closing 5 plants and laying off 14,000 workers in the US and Canada.

“Wages are rising at the fastest pace in decades.”

Blue collar wages DID rise 3.4% last year. Adjusted for inflation, that comes to a mere 0.6% gain. Wages grew an average of THREE TIMES that amount in the four years prior to Trump’s election.

“Human traffickers and sex traffickers smuggle thousands of young girls...to sell them into prostitution.”

While ANY human trafficking is horrendous, Trump’s numbers are simply made up. The claims are designed to stir up bigotry and hatred against Mexicans whose only real offense is that are a darker shade than average Americans.

Similarly, Trump claims that:

“Countless Americans are murdered by criminal illegal aliens year after year.”

This is another hate-filled falsehood that he tosses to his base like fish to seals. Study after study confirms that immigrants - legal or illegal. - commit fewer crimes than native-born Americans.

“We have launched an unprecedented economic boom.”

The 3.8% expansion of the economy in two quarters last year certainly is a healthy number. But our economy equaled or exceeded that number numerous times during the 1980s (Reagan), 1990s (Clinton) and 2000s (Bush and Obama).

There was one moment of clarity in this evening of puffery.

When the President claimed that his policies had a singular effect on producing new jobs for women, the dozens and dozens of new Congresswomen in white outfits bore him out. The fact is that the new freshman class is full of Democratic women whose new job is to put a check on a President who, until now, has been unchecked by a Congress that has tolerated his bloviation. The resistance is led by women of all colors and backgrounds.

The saddest part of the State of the Union Address is that is was a missed opportunity. On the heels of a national surge against his policies and his party, the President could have done what any other rational political leader would have done - look for common ground. His one brief reference to bipartisanship was immediately wiped out by his thinly veiled threat to Democrats and others who are actively investigating him.

He tells us that achieving peace or creating jobs can only be done if we ignore the stunning list of allegations against him and his lieutenants. He wants us to think that he is above the law and above the Constitutional requirement that the Congress provide a check on his - or any - President’s power.

Imagine how refreshing it would have been to hear Donald J. Trump say: “Look, I’ve made some mistakes but I am willing to learn and to work with everybody to move America forward.”

The State of the Union Address could have been his chance to reach out in a genuine bipartisan effort; talking common sense to moderates of both parties. Pouring more gasoline on fires of intolerance and division might “sell” to his base but it does not bring any new voters to his coalition.

From the petulance at the beginning of his speech, to the posturing that permeated it, this was a speech that missed the mark and will forgotten by historians in short order.

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Mark S. Singel served as the 27th lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995, alongside Gov. Bob Casey. He was acting governor from June 14 to Dec. 13, 1993, when Casey got sick. This column serves as the liberal counterpart to Charlie Gerow as part of the “Donkey & Elephants” series of contrasting opinions.