Following a difficult year beset with Republican obstructionism, Democratic infighting, and voter disappointment, President Barack Obama delivered his first ever State of the Union address with a message for everyone.
He vowed to not abandon ambitious plans for longer-term fixes to healthcare, energy, and education despite stinging setbacks to his agenda–and popularity.
“We have finished a difficult year,†Obama said. “We have come through a difficult decade. But a new year has come. A new decade stretches before us. We don’t quit. I don’t quit. Let’s seize this moment–to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union once more.â€
The address was an opportunity for Obama to retool his agenda and lay out his vision for the future. He sought to change the conversation from the shortcomings of his presidency to how he was taking more control. Much of the speech addressed the country’s economic woes — especially the high unemployment rate — which was a good move, said San Francisco State University political scientist Robert Smith.
Touting what he considers to be some of the successes of his first year in office, such as tax cuts for 95% of working families and for small businesses and first-time homebuyers, as well as jobs created or saved because of provisions in the Recovery Act, the president acknowledged that there are still too many Americans feeling anguish over the nation’s unemployment figures, worried about whether they’ll become the next statistic.
“That is why jobs must be our number one focus in 2010, and that’s why I am calling for a new jobs bill tonight,†Obama said to rapturous applause.
“I was pleased to hear him put jobs at the forefront because that’s what the American people are worried about, but he also let them know that he feels their pain and he wants to do something about it,†said Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland), following the president’s remarks. “Some people had gotten to the point where they were wondering about his sensitivity level, but he made it clear he will do something about it.â€
In acknowledement of the power of small businesses as a key to an economic recovery, Obama proposed taking “$30 billion of the money Wall Street banks have repaid and use it to help community banks give small businesses the credit they need to stay afloat.” He also proposed a new small business tax credit, and a range of provisions that include tax incentives to spur investment; expanded access to capital and growth opportunities to create jobs; and increased support for entrepreneurship to foster innovation.
The speech did not win the support of Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, who accused the president of trying to sound “conservative” with his “rhetorical flair.”
“By all accounts, his explanations failed to answer the question on the mind of Americans: ‘When will I get a job?'” said Steele. “There is just no amount of spin and blame shifting that can hide the fact that tonight the president added more zeros to an already burdensome deficit with no explanation as to how he would pay for this ‘new foundation.’Â As a good construction worker will tell you — foundations cost money.”
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— Transcript: State of the Union Address
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Still, Obama didn’t put healthcare reform on the backburner, saying instead that he has no plans to move backward on the issue, despite its unpopularity.
“I didn’t choose to tackle this issue to get some legislative victory under my belt. And by now it should be fairly obvious that I didn’t take on healthcare because it would good politics,†Obama, conceding that he and his administration did not adequately explain its importance more clearly to voters.
He challenged lawmakers from both parties who think they may have a better approach that will accomplish the goals of bringing down premiums and the deficit, expand coverage, strengthen Medicare for seniors and stop insurance company abuses to share their ideas.
“Do not walk away from reform. Not now,†urged Obama. “Not when we are so close. Let us find a way to come together and finish the job for the American people.â€
Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-New York) said that jobs and healthcare are intertwined and people worried about the former cannot discount the latter.
“The fact of the matter is that healthcare is jobs. We have about $350 billion in deficits in the 50 states right now. Of that, between 25% to 30% is healthcare with the growth of spending and the uninsured,†Weiner said. “So if you’re concerned about states having to lay off people, to raise taxes and punish jobs, you’ve got to be concerned about healthcare.†As a result of Obama’s remarks, Weiner added, lawmakers can stop focusing on the 60th senator without whom the upper chamber felt it couldn’t pass a healthcare bill, and think about what’s best for the country. Obama’s next step, counseled Weiner, is to take the argument to the American people.
Obama received tepid response from both Democrats and Republicans on plans to freeze spending for three years. His argument is that like the nation’s cash-strapped families, the government must learn to live on a budget.
“It sounds like a plan, but of course you have to know more about it. The reason there’s uncertainty is that many aren’t sure yet what that means,†said Rep. Danny Davis (D-Illinois). “I don’t mind cutting but not essential things that help lift people up by their bootstraps or that will prevent us from rebuilding deteriorated communities in America.â€
The president also challenged the Senate, which is infamous for its slow movement, procedural hurdles, and horse trading that slowed down the chamber’s healthcare bill, to act swiftly to take up legislation already passed in the house, on such issues as jobs, energy, education, and a pay-as-you-go law. He called out the seven Senate Republicans who co-sponsored legislation to create a bipartisan fiscal commission and then voted against it on the day before his address, and announced that he plans to issue an executive order to move forward on it.
Obama also used his speech to change the political tone and gamesmanship taking place in Washington. Frustrated with members of his own
party, Obama reminded Democrats that they have the largest majority in decades and it must not be wasted. He told Senate Republicans that if they insist on 60 rather than 51 votes to pass legislation that they must also take responsibility for governing and that saying no to everything isn’t leadership.“I will not give up on trying to change the tone of our politics. I know it’s an election year. And after last week, it’s clear that campaign fever has come even earlier than usual. But we still need to govern,†the president said, adding that he plans to hold monthly meetings with lawmakers from both parties and chambers.
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-New York) said that the meetings would force Republicans to come up with ideas and prevent them from getting away with just saying no.
“Obama has made compromises to the point where he was upsetting the base. With this transparency, people will have to come on board and the Senate won’t be able to continue to be a graveyard for bills that are good for the American people,†Meeks said.
Whether Obama will be able to fulfill his promises remains to be seen. He faces an uphill struggle among the American people and other politicians. In fact, Gallup Poll finds that Obama is the most politically polarizing president in recent history, with 88% of Democrats approving of his job performance and only just a 23% approval from Republicans.
Deborah Creighton Skinner and the Associated Press contributed to this article.