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February 18, 2010
Editorial Board
For a majority of the year 2008, President Barack Obama promised much to America. His slogan of “Change” has transcended the campaign and echoed yet again in his first presidential State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on the evening on Jan. 27.
With a year of mixed emotions and shifts in political views from the American citizens, the State of the Union Address was received with much anticipation from all. Obama’s speech, given roughly one year and one week after his inauguration, touched on a variety of current issues: job creation, education, clean energy, health care reform, deficit reduction and even childhood obesity.
Similar to much of the past year, Obama focused on America’s financial woes – particularly the nation’s trillions of dollars’ worth of deficit. After several minutes of stern speech, Obama stated that he has “never been more hopeful about America’s future than tonight.” This home-run quote brought both Democrats and Republicans to their feet in a standing ovation, and Obama cleverly transitioned into talking about plans for the nation’s future.
Obama is clearly concerned with the unemployment rate of the nation’s middle class. After mentioning that one in ten Americans is out of work, Obama demanded that discussion on a jobs bill start immediately.
“That is why jobs must be our number-one focus in 2010 and that’s why I’m calling for a new jobs bill tonight,” Obama said, creating rousing applause.
Besides labor, the President brought up America’s involvement in health care reform, the military conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, the earthquake in Haiti, and the ever-changing education system. Obama showed his Democrat colors by praising the House of Representatives for passing a health care reform bill and also by challenging the Senate to agree on one. However, he also appeased Republicans by promising to look for offshore drilling areas for oil. Regardless, both parties were scolded as a result of their lack of transparency, something promised to constituents in Obama’s campaign, in regards to major decisions.
It is quite clear that the President went out of his way to please and reassure all Americans. It is also quite clear the Obama has hit it right on the head; hope and change are vital if any improvement is expected.
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