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Obama: 'I will not walk away from these Americans'
Tweet- State of the Union Address Transcript
SEE ALSO: Austintown bar patrons grade president’s speech
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama, staking a new commitment to fiscal restraint while renewing his bid for an overhaul of the nation’s health care system, called on Americans Wednesday to repair “a deficit of trust.”
The president, addressing the nation and a joint session of Congress in his first State of the Union address, suggested that the nation’s budget deficit is not the only problem confronting Americans.
“We have to recognize that we face more than a deficit of dollars right now,” the president planned to say, according to prepared remarks released by the White House. “We face a deficit of trust — deep and corrosive doubts about how Washington works that have been growing for years.”
With this address, in the aftermath of a special election in Massachusetts that cost his party a super-majority and thus real control of the Senate, the president was attempting a delicate political pivot.
“Rather than fight the same tired battles that have dominated Washington for decades, it’s time for something new,” the president planned to say. “Let’s try common sense.”
After a first year in office focused on a $787 billion economic stimulus act, recession recovery and pursuit of a health care overhaul that could cost more than $1 trillion over 10 years, the president now is touting fiscal restraint.
The president — who plans to for a three-year freeze in discretionary spending apart from national security in the 2011 budget that he proposes on Monday — also is creating his own budget commission to examine spending and taxes in the aftermath of the Senate’s rejection this week of bipartisan commission.
With national unemployment running at 10 percent, the president also is proposing new initiatives to help the middle class, with additional aid for college loans and additional tax credits for children.
And he is promoting new tax cuts for small businesses as well as breaks for all businesses that the White House says should result in a 10 percent reduction in taxes that corporations pay this year and next.
Obama, who last year called on Congress to pass health-care legislation, issued a new call for health-care reform without adding any specific direction that leaders might heed.
“By the time I’m finished speaking tonight, more Americans will have lost their health insurance,” Obama said. “I will not walk away from these Americans, and neither should the people in this chamber.”
Obama reaffirmed his commitment to the fight against terrorism. He addressed the wars in Afghanistan, which he is escalating, and Iraq, where he is scaling back, and the challenge of containing the nuclear ambitions of Iran.
And the president, reiterating a promise made before, said he would call on military leaders to finally find a way to repeal a policy of “Don’t ask, don’t tell” for gays and lesbians serving in the armed forces.
In the midst of continuing controversy over bonuses that bailed-out Wall Street investment companies have awarded, Obama is pressing for new federal regulation over banks aimed at averting another credit crisis like the one that prompted a federal rescue of failing banks last year.
But he attempted to strike an optimistic tone about the prospects for recovery from the worst recession since the Great Depression.
“I have never been more hopeful about America’s future than I am tonight,” Obama said.
“Despite our hardships, our union is strong. We do not give up. We do not quit.”
The political environment surrounding this address was fraught with challenges. Obama, who promised to “change the way things work in Washington,” faces a Congress sharply divided since his party’s loss of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s seat in Massachusetts this month.
“We face big and difficult challenges,” Obama said.
“And what the American people hope — what they deserve — is for all of us, Democrats and Republicans, to work through our differences, to overcome the numbing weight of our politics.”
The formal Republican response to the address comes from Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, whose election victory last year was part of a GOP sweep that continued in Massachusetts this year.
“The president’s partial freeze on discretionary spending is a laudable step, but a small one,” McDonnell said.
“The circumstances of our time demand that we reconsider and restore the proper, limited role of government at every level.”
Reactions || Valley, Ohio politicians
Ohio politicians react to President Barack Obama’s first State of the Union address, delivered Wednesday:
U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson of St. Clairsville, D-6th, “The President talked directly to the American people about restoring security for middle- class families. This past year we brought the economy back from the brink of a depression. Now, President Obama has outlined his vision to rebuild our economy... [Wednesday night] the President called on Congress to pass a jobs bill to jumpstart private-sector job creation with investments in small businesses, energy, and infrastructure. I look forward to working with my colleagues to come up with a common sense bill that achieves those goals.”
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th’s communications director was ill and Ryan’s office didn’t issue a statement.
Republican U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, “The American people are speaking loud and clear: they want their government to work together in a bipartisan fashion to solve the problems, meet the challenges, and take advantage of the opportunities our nation has before it. I look forward to hearing how the president plans to bring Republican members to the table – not just to ask for our votes, but to sit down and discuss what we can agree on and how to move forward.”
Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, “President Obama reaffirmed to the American people [Wednesday night] that he is fighting for the middle class. His speech draws a clear contrast to the previous administration’s eight years of economic policies that saw wages fall, jobs shipped overseas, and left our economy on the brink of collapse. This happened because the fox was guarding the chicken coops – from Wall Street to K Street.”
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland: “President Obama laid out a robust job-creating agenda to help middle-class families. The economic meltdown can be traced to Wall Street, but it continues to devastate everyday Americans across the country and here in Ohio. That’s why I am encouraged by the President’s call for a new jobs bill that will build on the progress spurred from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and jumpstart private sector growth and investments in small businesses, energy, and infrastructure.”
Source: Statements from respective elected officials.
Comments
es, a bar is a good place to listen to an Obumma speech. At least you can get drunk during and after the speech since nothing has changed as the DemoCROOKS & DemoLIARS had promised. The economy and jobs have only gotten worse under Obumma.
Although he is a very good speaker, I felt he made 3 big errors. He slammed the Republicans for past disgressions(while demanding co-operation), slammed the Supreme Court Justices (slapping them for a recent decision) and slammed the military leaders (for their stand on gays).
If we are to move forward with a clean slate, as he suggested, slamming those who you are asking to help is not the way to build co-operation. In this, he failed.
He was defiant, demanding and arrogant.
I think the President's speech was a little too long. I agreed with his suggestions on reguation of the banking and financial sector. I also agreed with his urging of congress to represent the people not their political parties. (This is the only major country where Health Care is arguable.) We can all see that the budget needs to be trimmed down. Everybody seemed to agree with his foreign policy statements.
OnionForever brings tears to my eyes - if you hate this country so much - move to another one. "If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich." John F. Kennedy
As long as people are taxed they will gripe about it. That's how this country began. But I don't see what a wall street journal article about tax demonstrations has to do with the State of the Union address. A tax free society would be anarchism. Where wouild you drive your car if there were no streets?
"“We have to recognize that we face more than a deficit of dollars right now,”
Code words for taxes are coming !
VINDYAK.....I don't think you understand the recent ruling of the Supreme Court. In a 5 to 4 vote they lifted all restrictions on campaign contributions by both foreign and domestic corporations. In other words they put up a FOR SALE sign for the US government.
From now on the candidate with the most money will be able to drown out the competition. Your representatives will be beholding to the people that financed their campaigns and not the people in their districts.
Foreign governments and corporations can contribute to a representative for favorable trade and import conditions. Domestic corporations will be unregulated. You can see the results of unregulated banking, wall street, insurance companies and trade right now.
From now on our representatives will be owned by the highest bidder.
McDonnell is a rising star in the GOP.
What alternative do the Republicans offer? Tax cuts? We had all kinds of tax cuts under Bush and yet we had zero job growth. The Republicans have nothing to offer Americans either. It's time for a viable third party.
Ytownboy....We didn't have all kinds of tax cuts under Bush. We had a 1.6 trillion dollar tax cut for the top 5% and stogots for the bottom 95%.
i dont think vindyyak understands anything-its about time the pres. got some balls, to tell it like it is--we had 16 yrs of the burning Bushes-all they did was ---k up this country.on the broadcast last night the republicans sat with their hands under their -sses as usual , never showing any respect for anything the pres. had to say, has he really done everything wrong??? and when he (implied that the republican party were supposed to work for the people) they snickered at one another-just as they have for the last 20 yrs as if to say we'll never agree to anything unless you kiss our -sses and give us what we want---well what you all wanted --gave us what we have today-!!!
OneandDone lied to get elected and repeated those lies again last night. Why would anyone believe this guy? Like I've said before, you'll wish you had three ears so you can hear more.
There's far more than enough blame to go around for the present pathetic, corrupt, bankrupt, out of control "State of the Union."
We, collectively, as a nation, have allowed all of the powerful self serving republicans and democrats to morally and financially ruin and destroy us, and now even at the end hour, our politicians in both political parties, are still collectively using class warfare tactics to try to further confiscate the few blessed crumbs that remain.
More up to the minute news about the latest out of control State of our Union. ....
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats needed all the 60 votes at their disposal Thursday to muscle through legislation allowing the government to go $1.9 trillion deeper in debt.
Democratic leaders were able to prevail on the politically volatile 60-39 vote only because Republican Sen.-elect Scott Brown of Massachusetts has yet to be seated. Republicans had insisted on a 60-vote, super-majority threshhold to pass the measure. An earlier test vote succeeded on a 60-40 vote.
The measure would would put the government on track for a national debt of $14.3 trillion — about $45,000 for every American — and it served as a vivid reminder of the United States' dire fiscal straits.
The massive increase in the debt limit would allow majority Democrats to avoid another vote until after the midterm elections this fall. New estimates released by the Congressional Budget Office on Tuesday show that the U.S. this year could run a deficit matching last year's record $1.4 trillion shortfall.
The arrogance of this man is unbelieveable. Can't wait until he is gone in 2012. It cant come soon enough.
Rudy....I shouldn't expect the people that post at the Vindy to have the capacity to understand the magnitude of this Supreme Court decision. No one that works at the Vindy is even smart enough to either report or comment on it. Five people just past a law that has sold out at least 95% of all Americans. Unbelievable.
Rudy, cambecile is hands down the most ill-informed and ignorant poster on these boards. He wears blinders on all four sides of his head, he can't see anything but what's described to him by Olbermann. Check out opensecrets.com for some info on how much trial lawyers give to democrats. They shame corporations.
Cambridge, If you or anyone else, has information to dispute the following corrected information, please post it....
President Wrong on Citizens United Case [Bradley A. Smith]
Tonight the president engaged in demogoguery of the worst kind, when he claimed that last week's Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC, "open[ed] the floodgates for special interests — including foreign corporations — to spend without limit in our elections. Well I don't think American elections should be bankrolled by America's most powerful interests, or worse, by foreign entities." ]
The president's statement is false.
The Court held that 2 U.S.C. Section 441a, which prohibits all corporate political spending, is unconstitutional. Foreign nationals, specifically defined to include foreign corporations, are prohibiting from making "a contribution or donation of money or ather thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State or local election" under 2 U.S.C. Section 441e, which was not at issue in the case. Foreign corporations are also prohibited, under 2 U.S.C. 441e, from making any contribution or donation to any committee of any political party, and they prohibited from making any "expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication."
Samuel Alito is a jerk and that why he reacted in the manner he did when Obama mentioned the court decision. So Republicans out there what are you going to do to change this country? Maybe start more wars, give more to the rich, or better yet alienate more of our friends.
the only ones happy with obama are pubic workers and public retirees
Sorry that I have been away and missed all the excitement, but to answer Cambridge’s thoughts I need to explain myself to him, as well as to all of you reading these posts.
When government seeks to use its full power, including the criminal law, to command where a person may get his or her information or what distrusted source he or she may not hear, it uses censorship to control thought,” Justice Kennedy wrote. “This is unlawful. The First Amendment confirms the freedom to think for ourselves.”
Justice Kennedy’s majority opinion said that there was no principled way to distinguish between media corporations and other corporations and that the dissent’s theory would allow Congress to suppress political speech in newspapers, on television news programs, in books and on blogs.
Justice Stevens responded that people who invest in media corporations know “that media outlets may seek to influence elections.” He added in a footnote that lawmakers might now want to consider requiring corporations to disclose how they intended to spend shareholders’ money or to put such spending to a shareholder vote.
If the First Amendment has any force,” Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote for the majority, which included the four members of the court’s conservative wing, “it prohibits Congress from fining or jailing citizens, or associations of citizens, for simply engaging in political speech.”
The majority opinion did not disturb bans on direct contributions to candidates. This verdict is a victory for the First Amendment, freedom of speech and to all citizens of the United States. Let’s keep our Constitution intact for ourselves, so we may be able to enjoy these moments of freedom and our power to say what we please and to think however we please, even on blogs and posts such as these. We aren’t stupid. We are Democrats, Republicans, Independents and we decide how we want to vote. Freedom of speech keeps it that way.
Jessiedavid....Many corporations are multinational or American corporations with foreign board members who are in a position to say how their contributions (influence) are directed. Many "American" companies are in a position to enjoy larger profits for itself and a foreign government rather than for America. Oil companies, pharmaceutical, and obviously manufacturing come to mind.
If you don't think the richest corporations wont take advantage of no limit contributions to those making the rules you haven't been paying attention.
Whether you know it or not, this ruling just overturned a 100 year old law.I have a question for you. Why do you think that the richest companies in the world petitioned this all the way to the Supreme Court to overturn that law?
Cambridge, I agree with what you've stated, however, the vast majority of politicians in both political parties, are already owned and operated by the ultra rich and powerful, including the ultra rich and powerful connected with foreign corporations (like Soros), and many politicians are also owned and operated by the ultra rich and powerful unions. ,,So there must be some self serving reasons Obama made those misleading comments.
How can you walk away from a place you have never been?
Rudy....I didn't say the law allows these corporations to had cash directly to politicians. What it does do is allow UNLINITED contributions to the campaign of those politicians. The results are the same, the campaign with the most money repeats the most BS.
Fox News is a perfect example. They repeat the same BS 24/7 and the sheep that watch it have their brains go so numb they end up believing it. The campaigns with the most special interest money to spend will be the ones getting elected. After the election the special interest will get their payback from the people that make the rules you and I will have to live with.
As far as union go,there isn't a union on the planet that can compete with the richest corporations in the world. I'll ask anyone that cares to answer again. Why do you think the richest companies in the world petitioned all the way to the Supreme Court to have this 100 year old law overturned?
I got the AP article below from Comcast. Far from a liberal news organization. There is a quote from an Ohio politician from back in the day when the recently overturned law was written.
http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-...
cambridge, if corporations are allowed to contribute to political campaigns, at least we will know where the money came from. We don't know where a good bit of the millions that was donated to obowser came from.
Let me ask you this, does the cambridge corporation donate to politicians that it thinks might benefit the cambridge corporation??? What a novel concept!!!
I wish obowser would of commented on the justice department allowing the terrorists to be tried in civil courts where they can make it their stage instead of military courts. What are your thoughts on that cambridge since you know all? Give us a "land of fruits and nuts" take on it. Also why the Christmas day bomber was read his rights and will be tried in civil court. Could it be that obowser wants to do all he can for his brothers? Now New York is balking at having the trials there. I know, the obvious place would be in S.F "fairy" land. Your girl Nancy should approve that idea.
Obowser and his clown Biden both came to Florida on their separate aircraft to announce the $1.5 billion for Florida's high speed train. I guess we are so flush on money that the added expense of both Huey and Dewey coming wasn't a problem. I think Louise was out of the country or she would of been here also. By the way, that train better have good brakes cause $1.5 billion ain't gonna get it from Orlando to Lakeland, let alone Tampa. .
Why is alot of blame and whinning going on the president when this country was going downhill way before he was in office? This country is so corrupt there is no telling when things first started to go wrong. It doesn't matter who is in that office everything will not just go all preachy for every american here. People are acting like all these jobs were going to magicly appear the president even said how it would take time and how we all would have to work together for this change. My opinion I don't know if our current president will be able to get that big change effect or not but I do agree when he made that statement (I think he said that when he was running for president).
The US's MONTHLY budget spending under Obama is almost the same as what the YEARLY budget spending was under BUSH. I guess we'll blame that one on BUSH to. When the economy finally comes around, do we get to blame that on BUSH to?
The sad thing is that libs like Penguin do not have a clue as to what is happening!!!
Instead of making things up, take an hour or so away from your delusions and watch Obama be questioned by the Republicans at their conference. If your not interested in Obama's speech the Republican questioning starts at 20 minutes in.
They read their hardest questions and Obama answered off the top of his head. No written notes no teleprompter just reality. Instead of watching the talking heads on cable news watch the two parties face to face.
I'll be interested in reading your comments after you watch the video.
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/29...
Oh, I forgot to mention. It says here that 72% of Americans support a public health care option.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/0...
cambecile, back in June/2009 most people were still in the dark about what OneandDone and his cohorts were going to do to health care reform. Once the details trickled out the numbers you cite are about reversed. Once again trying to blow something past someone. As far as OneandDone at the Republican conference, he did answer off the top of his head. Only problem is most of the answers were the same lies repeated so often, he now believes them. The meetings for health care were on C-SPAN? Yeah, but not the meetings with lobbyists and the bribing of the democrats. He wants co-operation with the repubs as long as they give him want he wants and then goes to N.H. and bashes the repubs. No lobbyists in his adminsration, how about 40 linked with lobbying in the past 2 years. He blames repubs for the deficit and tells them they take credit back in their states. How about he was in congress since 2005 and voted for all the spending he now blames on Bush. Just like Bush, OneandDone can't sign checks and since 2007 the dem. controlled congress has been writing the checks. Pull your head from your r----m, take a deep breath of clean air and realize this guy is a liar and a con artist.
bor-Y-lie....That's pretty interesting. You listen to the answers Obama gave and you call bs but the entire group of Republicans from the House of Representatives didn't. Know why? Because he was calling bs on them and they had no comeback.
You claim that the numbers are reversed. Show me the poll numbers from a reputable news agency that says 72% of Americans are against a public option.
You might not realize this but just because you saw it on Fix Noise, heard it from a teabagger or from the voices in your head doesn't make it true. It's really fun to read someones babble when they are living in denial. :-)
USEless1.....Your real good at calling other people a liar.Your the clown that said there were 2.1 million teabaggers in DC at the Fix Noise party on Sept.12. Click on the link below and see how many teabaggers Fix Noise says showed up and then tell me who the liar is. I'll give you a hint, it's you.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/...
I provided the link below from a poll by CBS News and The New York Times that says 72% of Americans want a public option. How about you proving a link to back up your claim or is that just one more thing you lied about? :-)
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/0...
USEless1....Click on the link below and tell everyone how many teabaggers Fix Noise reported being at THEIR party. I'm waiting.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/...
USEless1....Click on the link below and tell everyone how many teabaggers Fix Noise reported being at THEIR party or are you going to just keep telling the same lie over and over again? You could also provide a link from a reputable news agency that backed up your claim except that link doesn't exist, does it?
Thanks for never getting tired of making a fool of yourself. We all appreciate the laugh. :-)
Still waiting
.http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/12/tea-party-express-takes-washington-storm/
Cambridge, you like to admonish people for not answering your questions while you do the same. Instead you go back to the old tea party stuff. Isn't that old news?
What is your opinion of terrorists being put on trial in civilian courts? This is going to give them a nice stage to spout their crap isn't it? Even the libs in New York do not want the scum in their state. How stupid can this clown be??? Of course you are from the land of "fruits and nuts" so I guess you would approve!
How about the Christmas day bomber also being lawyered up real quick. Is your boy Obowser trying to protect one of his brothers or are you too stupid to figure this out.
Redvert, please allow me to answer for Cambecile, Yes he's too stupid.
redvert....It's common knowledge that USEless1 is both an idiot and a chronic liar, I know it and you know it. He proves it in almost every post he makes. I just enjoy making fun of him. Get over it. You on the other hand continually run to his defence. What does that say about you?
You got that "land of fruits and nuts" thing in again. Good one.
As far as the Christmas bomber, the mastermind of that failed attack was released from Gitmo by Bush. You remember Bush don't you? He's the guy YOU voted for, or is that old news also? The link below will tell you all about it.
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/northwe...
As far as the other terrorist, I've always said they should have been left laying dead on the battle field. But Bush wanted them as prisoners. Now they should go on trial before the whole world and then punished before the whole world for their crimes against America.
Sixty years ago Nazi war criminals who murdered millions were jailed and held for trial then later convicted and punished because the right people weren't afraid to step up. Today conservatives who seem to be afraid of everything think that if they are brought to America for justice that they will escape and kill us all. You need to grow a pair.
As far as calling people out, I noticed you didn't give a comment on the Video of Obama being questioned by the Republicans. I can only think of two reasons for "no comment". One you didn't watch the video seeing the actual players in action, you'll just go with whatever spin Fix Noise puts on it or, Two you watched the video and once you saw how the Republicans got OWNED by a community organizer from Kenya you didn't have the stomach for a comment.
Okay cambridge, "the land of fruits and nuts" That is kinda like how some posters use cute little nicknames for other posters, isn't it?
OK, next, I didn't comment on Obowser being questioned by the republicans since the truth is that I did not watch it. I can't stand to hear that person speak, so you are right on that account.
I don't recall mentioning USA1 in my last post, I was just refering to your lack of answering questions in general while expecting it from others. Although you do try to twist a answer around from time to time.
So, according to ABC, Bush released the guy that planned the Christmas attack a year ago. Hey, if it makes Bush look bad and Obowser look good, I would go with the theory that this guy was the planner also. That makes sense!
What is terrible is that all the alphabet networks and CNN are scared to death of little "fix" network.
Now, let's try one more time, what do you think of Obowser having the dirtbags tried in a civil trial rather than a military tribunal? I just want your opinion on that, that is all I ask for. What would you think of having the trials in San Francisco? Sounds good to me!!!
AlwaysHope, you have some good ideas there but the problem with them is that the folks on welfare vote democrat...................but you already knew that!!!
"the more little babies we have the more money we get"
redvert....I don't care if the terrorist get tried in San Francisco or anywhere else, by the feds, the military, whoever. Just put them on trial in front of the world and punish them in front of the world and be done with it.
Let me get this straight. You believe that the ABC video and report and the New York Times made up the fact that a Bush released terrorist helped mastermind the Christmas bomber?
How do you expect anyone to consider your comments as credible if you won't even watch the guy you hate so much get grilled by the Republicans. For someone who doesn't know what the guy has to say on the subjects that you comment on so often you sure are quick to make allusions to him being a Muslim terrorist out to socialize America. Tell me since you disregard first hand information such as the Q & A with the Republicans how did you form such strong opinions? You need to gather up the courage to watch the video and afterwards try to imagine Bush or Palin doing the same thing by answering questions from the Democrats. I'd pay money to see that.
You know what I think? I think the fact that the people you voted for, the Republicans who were in charge of the country during the last administration f**ked up the country so bad that it got a black guy elected president and that drives you and a lot of other people nuts.
Cambecile, you act like I didn't even post my #59 post in response to your #57 post. You want to chastise Redvert for not responding to your take on OneandDone's lying exhibition at the repub.conference. Why don't you respond to mine? Fox news is by far the leading cable network of opinion and news. By far. So Cambecile, you and your ilk is the small minority not watching. Doesn't this make you wonder what you're missing? Are you and the few others not watching so smart and the majority not so smart? That wouldn't be smart thinking.
cambridge, I was able to see thru this clown a long time ago. You are one of the people that still has blinders on because you are a lib to the bitter end and could never say anything bad about your hero even if you someday realized that he is not God!!
I consider Bush's actions after 9/11 to be outstanding. I think he screwed up big time going into Iraq. See I can call it like it is!
Your hero did not get elected on his merits because he had no track record other than Acorn etc. He got elected on a anti-bush vote and we all know it, even you. Well maybe not you.
I hate to break this to you but not everyone considers your comments to be credible, besides your faithful lemmings.
Enough said on this one, it is getting boring! Have at it.