President Barack Obama delivered his third State of the Union address to a joint session on Congress Tuesday night. He talked of no more bailouts, hand outs or cop outs, urged Congress to pass the payroll tax cut and the Dream Act and ending tax subsidies for millionaires and billionaires. President Obama morphed into candidate Obama tonight as he delivered a stern speech designed to show strength, resiliency and backbone.
Some Democrats have criticized Mr. Obama for being to soft with Republicans and not showing enough aggression when it comes to fighting for what’s important to his base. President Obama is also attempting to gain more support with Independents and as his approval rating amongst this key political demographic hovers around 40 percent.
But while most State of the Union speeches are grandiose in nature filled with lofty undertakings and vision board writings, Mr. Obama chose to stay close to the ground with his expectations of Congress and of what he is able to get accomplished during an election year.
President Obama spoke for a little over an hour tonight as Republicans waddled in their seats and refused to clap when Obama spoke of job creation and tax credits for the working class. He talked of nation building and at one point stated that America needed to take money not being spent on the war to pay down debt.
He continued his assault at the podium by speaking of trade enforcement with China and ending tax credits for companies who ship jobs overseas. Obama even made mention of stopping the interest rates from doubling on student loans in July and doubling the number of work study jobs. That message was given loud and clear to his base of enthusiastic college kids.
It was the night that most Democrats wanted to see, a president who spoke to issues of importance to them and promised to hold Congress accountable if they failed to deliver on what is expected of them. To draft bills that are in favor of their success and not ones that will only tear down their path to achievement.
It was President Obama’s best State of the Union and it showed Republicans that he will no longer reach across the line if there is no arm extended his way.
As we gear up for one of the most important election cycles of our time President Obama let America know that he has the back of middle and working class families, while the other side is pandering to that of big business and millionaires.
-JH
