No the SOTU is NOT meant to be a vehicle to showcase civility; however, you must have missed the lead up to SOTU where all the Demmies & Pubbies were supposed to pick a BFF-buddy to sit next to, so that the event would be civil, would be a dignified showcase of civility.
Oh, silly me!
My impression was that the mixed seating was to cover up the fact that the dems got their a$$es handed to them last election.
I just thought the pubbies were silly enough to go along with it.
;)