Amazon’s video business is teaming up with the White House to make President Barack Obama’s final State of the Union address available on-demand.
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Obama reiterated his pledge to avoid voting for a presidential candidate who refuses to support gun control, and he asked gun control proponents to “demand governors, state legislators … act to make communities safer”. Obama’s prime-time speech Tuesday won’t include the traditional list of proposals, new policies and appeals for new laws. In fact, one of the more immediate steps he’s taking to address the issue will take place this Tuesday during the State of the Union address.
To the extent he can, Obama will also try to give a burst of energy to initiatives he is hoping to push past beyond the life of his administration.
Recent weapons tests by North Korea and Iran also present a challenge in Obama’s final year.
Despite that rich election lore waiting to be tapped, the President won’t spend too much time reliving his election glory years, aides insist.
The White House says one seat in the First Lady’s guest box will be left vacant for “victims of gun violence who no longer have a voice – because they need the rest of us to speak for them”.
“I want the president to outline his strategy to defeat radical Islamic terrorism and how he intends to protect this great nation and keep our citizens safe”, said Republican Rep. Trent Kelly, a colonel in the Mississippi Army National Guard. Obama’s past addresses also will be available. The White House started broadcasting the president’s annual addresses on the internet during George W. Bush’s presidency in 2002, and began live streaming an “enhanced” version of the speech from 2011, during Barack Obama’s first term.
Added Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.: “If he will focus on what he agrees on with Congress instead of what we disagree on, there’s quite a bit we could get done in 2016”.
“Don’t take our foot off the gas”, the President told a group of West Wing aides and speechwriters preparing drafts of the speech, according to a senior White House official who attended meeting. Expect to hear Obama offer an olive branch to the Republicans on those potentially bipartisan issues.
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Twelve-year-old Braeden Mannering of Bear, Delaware, D.C. businessman Mark Davis and Army veteran Naveed Shah of Springfield, Virginia, will be sitting in Mrs. Obama’s visitor box. From here it’s on to Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Thursday, January 14th.
