State of the Union Address

Anthony Guerrero
The Paw Print

On January 27, 2010, President Barack Obama staged his first State of the Union Address as prescribed by the Constitution.  The President began with an inspiring opening paragraph which reminded Congress and the American public about the challenges our nation has overcome. “It’s tempting to look back on these moments and assume that our progress was inevitable – that America was always destined to succeed.  But when the Union was turned back at Bull Run, and the allies first landed at Omaha Beach, victory was very much in doubt.  When the market crashed on Black Tuesday, and civil rights leaders were beaten on Bloody Sunday, the future was anything but certain.  These were the times that tested the courage of our convictions and strength of our union.  And despite all our divisions and disagreements, our hesitations and fears, America prevailed because we chose to move forward as one nation, as one people.  Again, we are tested; again we must answer history’s call.”  What followed was the usual populist rhetoric filled with euphemisms, and the bashing of the now one-year-old George W. Bush administration. This was definitely one of Obama’s better speeches since taking the Oath of Office, but it is becoming clear that the American public is demanding more than exhilarating speeches from the Commander in Chief and his political party.

While Obama continued to make more promises to the American electorate, his words and presence were overshadowed by the ten percent employment rate, the apparent failure of meaningful healthcare reform, two wars still in full swing under his leadership, the deployment of 33,000 more troops to Afghanistan, and one of the largest deficits in history.  The entirety of his speech was what is now a typical cliché Obama-style promise and pander oration.  The next day, amidst promises the night before about controlling government spending and decreasing the federal deficit, Obama unveiled the largest Federal Budget in history estimated at about 1.3 trillion dollars.  Republicans were quick to voice their disapproval of this new budget, higher taxes, and reckless spending.  Of course, they had no alternative.

However, not everything was bleak. The State of the Union seemed to set a new tone for the Obama administration.  Obama was elected on promises of ending a deep partisan divide, which only seemed to worsen during 2009.  This same week Obama accepted an invitation to the Republican Caucus for a question and answer session.  The conversation was filled with accusations from both sides, but honesty seemed to be a discovered middle ground.  The President reminded Republicans that many of the problems the nation is now facing originated from the eight year apocalypse of George W. Bush.  He told them of the ridiculousness of some of the claims made about the proposed health care legislation, invited them to share any solution with him, while at the same time maintaining his conditions for accepting alternative propositions, and reminding them that the current legislation did contain Republican ideas.  Republicans in turn accused the president of out-of-control government spending, back door dealings, and all that is typical of conservative whining.  This meeting did seem to do some good though, as recently the Obama administration announced the creation of a bi-partisan summit to tackle the health care reform debate.  Obama and his party seem to have received the message about what the American electorate expects of their leaders.  Health care reform looks bleak, and Democratic lawmakers are fearful after the recent returns in Massachusetts and other states.  However, the president seems to have a new outlook for 2010 which is more in line with the Obama the people voted for.  He definitely has work and corrections to make, but the issues faced by his office might soon get better, rather than worse, if Obama continues on his new course.