Parties mix on State of the Union night

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- At least one member of Congress said Tuesday the gesture of members of both parties sitting together at the State of the Union speech seemed to have an effect.

Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., sent out a Twitter tweet prior to President Barack Obama's speech noting a "different feel" compared to past State of the Union nights.

"The bipartisan seating arrangement really changes the atmosphere," Aderholt mused.

Cameras saw plenty of familiar party faces seated politely with colleagues who otherwise would have been sitting on opposite sides of the aisle.

Among the notable seatmates were former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md. The Washington Post said Pelosi earlier declined an invitation to sit with the new House majority leader, Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., saying the venerable Bartlett had beaten him to the punch.

Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., who barked out "You lie" during a 2009 address by Obama, sat with Rep. Susan Davis, D-Calif., and Guam's delegate, Madeleine Bordallo.

Senate veterans John McCain, R-Ariz.; Joe Lieberman, I-Conn.; and John Kerry, D-Mass. sat together.

The Hill said not everyone paired off with the opposition. Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., joked, "Looks like I'm going stag."

The seating arrangement also appeared to have the effect of diluting the custom of standing ovations. The entire audience, however, got on its feet when Obama saluted America's military troops.