Obama’s speech underscored the political dilemma facing Democrats: Despite the tangible economic achievements Obama cited, many Americans have not felt the economic recovery, leaving Americans sharply divided over his presidency.
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In farewell State of the Union address, US president calls for cancer cure, shift away from non-renewable energy sources. Rounding out the threesome is Ingrid Nilsen, a 26-year-old fashionista known on YouTube as “Missglamorazzi”, who said women’s issues, health care, unemployment and gay rights are all are her mind. It doesn’t work if we think that our political opponents are unpatriotic or trying to weaken America.
“Democracy grinds to a halt without a willingness to compromise”, said the president.
According to Obama’s prescription, that involves campaign-finance reform and redistricting of overly partisan congressional districts.
Challenging criticism from Republicans that he is soft on terrorism, Obama also declared that “priority number one is protecting the American people and going after terrorist networks”. Congressional Republicans began filing out even before it was over.
“And each time, we overcame those fears”, he said.
Obama wrapped up his speech in the way he so often does: He offered an olive branch to Republicans appealing to a belief in American exceptionalism.
“And we’ve got to make voting easier, not harder, and modernize it for the way we live now”, added Obama, sounding yet another seemingly innocuous theme that actually has a sharp partisan edge.
On Tuesday night, Obama took what might be his last major opportunity to counter that picture by presenting Congress and the nation an accounting of the progress since he inherited the worst domestic economy since the Great Depression some 75 years earlier.
“If this Congress is serious about winning this war, and wants to send a message to our troops and the world, you should finally authorize the use of military force against ISIL”.
After almost an hour on the podium, Obama paused and slipped into a mode more suited to a pulpit.
The President spoke about the war on terror during his State of the Union Address and so did the Republican chosen to give the party’s response.
Obama did include an olive branch of sorts to Ryan, who recently apologized after characterizing the United States as full of “makers” and “takers”.
Hope springs eternal. Change takes work. Meanwhile, some Republicans have their own gripes with the deal, including that it’s not strong enough.
It was perhaps the only Obama policy pitch that drew strong applause from both sides of the aisle.
“This is a big country, different regions, different attitudes, different interests”, he said. “You want to show our strength in this century?” Rather than subsidize the past, we should invest in the future – especially in communities that rely on fossil fuels.
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Obama pitched the removal of legislatures from redistricting; a reduction of the influence of money in politics; and laws that make it easier to vote.
