Holly Harris, the executive director of the U.S. Justice Action Network, said she’s been told that Obama will devote a “substantial part” of his speech to the issue. A CNN/ORC survey conducted after the speech showed 60% of Americans disapproved of Obama’s handling of terrorism, and 64% said they disapproved of the way he’s going after ISIS.
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The latest innovation ahead of Obama’s final State of the Union came by way of Snapchat, where users can share photos and short video clips. It also will be notable to take stock of who’s not there. This year really will be different, the White House promises. “Obviously, given the terrorist attack that we saw in San Bernardino at the end of a year ago, people are understandably concerned about national security and it sort of reawakened people’s concerns about that”.
In fact, that belief was one reason many people in the administration’s inner circle were wary of a run by Vice President Joe Biden.
“Any State of the Union has multiple audiences”, said Mary Kate Cary, who worked as a speechwriter under George H.W. Bush (though she herself did not write any of his addresses). The message itself only began to be informally called the State of the Union from 1942 to 1946.
The White House wants to portray Obama as setting the agenda, even on the campaign trail, with goals such as gun control that will reverberate past his time in office. It’s also likely to mean he’ll raise issues of income inequality and wages, areas Democrats believe they carry a strong advantage over their Republican rivals.
“Will there be candidates in either party – some Republican candidates trying to use this to advance their campaigns?” But he will outline domestic and worldwide priorities that build on steps he’s taken in office, a vision certain to be more in line with Hillary Clinton and other Democrats than the Republican presidential candidates. “If we didn’t have a 22nd Amendment, I am sure he would be running again”. And expect a flurry of White House activity on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Vine, Tumblr and other sites bookmarked by social media addicts around the country.
Aides said he would offer a more optimistic view of the United States’ standing, compared with the dire assessments put forth by Republican presidential hopefuls.
Obama wants it passed earlier – and is likely to say so Tuesday night.
Here are a few safe bets for Tuesday’s State of the Union: There will be dozens of applause breaks, endless GIF-worthy moments and a laundry list of proposals (not to mention lots of reporters using the phrase “laundry list” for the first – and maybe only – time this year). “Ready to go!” chant that became ubiquitous during his 2008 campaign.
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Not to mention, one of the seats next to First Lady Michelle Obama will be left open to symbolically honor victims of gun violence. Paul Ryan (sans beard) will be sitting behind the president for the first time as House speaker, and when he was asked last week what he’d like to hear Obama say, he merely joked that he hoped the president would have a epiphany and renounce his entire political philosophy. We’ve proven that, together, we can overcome great challenges. “That we weren’t timid or got exhausted or somehow thinking about the next thing because there is no next thing”.
