The Story
State of the President
President Obama’s renowned oratorical abilities were on showcase once again Wednesday night as he gave his State of the Union address. However, it was still different from some of his past memorable speeches. It was not in front of 200,000 clamoring Germans, nor was it in front of his devoted followers while accepting the presidency at Grant Park in Chicago. Rather, it was in front of a subdued Congress.
Democrats just lost the Massachusetts Senate seat, an unfathomable defeat, and the Republicans still were faced with behind the overwhelming minority in both the House and Senate. Thus, Obama’s report on his first year as president, a year met with mixed reviews, was far from being the setting to which he had grown accustomed. Perhaps that can be his excuse for a speech in which he eschewed personal responsibility and instead blamed Congress.
In addressing the cynicism of the American people, Obama stated that “[he] never suggested that change would be easy, or that [he] could do it alone.” Considering Obama’s 2008 campaign, it would seem as though Obama could do it all and change would come easy. His campaign made him into an iconic hero of sorts, while at the same time focusing on messages of uninhibited optimism. Obama was the man who could lift America up in the palm of his hand and restore it to greatness. He was America’s savior. Now he no longer seems willing to handle the level of responsibility that his campaign seemed willing to take.
Obama also looked to divert blame away from his administration by mentioning the situations which he inherited upon accepting the position of president. Less than two minutes into a speech that went for nearly seventy, Obama stated, “One year ago, I took office amid two wars, an economy rocked by a severe recession, a financial system on the verge of collapse, and a government deeply in debt.” Obama certainly came into office at a difficult time for the nation yet his repeated declaration of such makes it appear as though he is unable to handle the situations that he inherited, showing a weakness in his ability to govern. Perhaps the standards of leadership are higher for a man who built his political power around his personality and confidence. Regardless, America needs Obama, the president, to have the same character and resolve as Obama, the candidate.
Despite Obama’s seeming unwillingness to take significant credit for what has gone wrong in his administration, his outline for the future once again gives promise to the future of the United States. Yes, he made some positive gains in his first year as president, such as averting the country from entering into an economic depression and reiterating our commitment to rooting out terrorists in Afghanistan.
Have these decisions come at a cost? Certainly.
However, these decisions, no matter how unpopular, will ultimately make this country more financially stable as well as more secure from international and domestic threat. Nevertheless, it is what is to come in the following years that should be far less contentious and should be supported on both sides of the aisle.
The strength of President Obama’s speech was in his economic ideas for the future and his commitment to establishing better partisan relations. He made a commitment to doubling exports over the next five years, which he claimed would support two million additional jobs in the United States. He also aimed at giving some repaid bailout money to local banks that could support loans for small businesses. In addition, he addressed a concern of many Americans, the growing debt, with the recommendation for a three year spending freeze on non-essential programs. All of these are plans that would strengthen the country, but they cannot be done without help from Congress.
Obama did a commendable job of establishing that he would not stand for Democratic cowardice or Republican stubbornness. Furthermore, he called for partisan cooperation, stating that “we cannot wage a perpetual campaign where the only goal is to see who can get the most embarrassing headlines about their opponent.” Now that the Democratic party has lost its super majority with Republican Scott Brown winning Ted Kennedy’s former Senate seat, cooperation is more important than ever, as the country needs a determined, unwavering leadership. Obama showed such leadership in calling for monthly meetings with leadership from both parties. Former President George W. Bush put America in a holding position for most of the last decade. Those who voted for Barack Obama expected him to lead America into an ever-changing 21st century.
Although Obama’s first year was marked by an inability to get a health care bill passed and a struggle in restoring economic confidence, his second year is likely to be more successful. Despite the likelihood of him losing many of his Democratic colleagues in the 2010 elections, Obama appears willing to take the charge for taking drastic steps in altering the future of America. No one can be sure of whether or not his plans will prove to be successful. Obama asked a rhetorical question: "How long should America put its future on hold?” In a year of mistakes and learning, he certainly got this part right. America cannot wait any longer. It is time for change.
Robert Oehrig is a staff columnist for The DSJ. His views do not necessarily represent those of the entire staff.