Senator James Webb of Virginia delivered the official Democratic response to President George W. Bush’s sixth State of the Union address. In his remarks he said that Democratic members welcomed the president’s intentions to improve health care and education, but strongly differed on economic proposals and future military operations in Iraq. He talked about a growing gap between wealthy and middle class Americans, calling for more policies responsive to the middle class. He also characterized the president’s Iraq policy as “reckless,” saying that the Congress should find ways to continue to oppose terrorist threats while planning for eventual withdrawal from Iraq.