The Banner

President Barack Obama delivered his first State of the Union address on Jan. 27 with the trademark charisma and spirit of optimism, coupled with glittering generalities and somewhat vague solutions that he ran on during the presidential campaign nearly 18 months ago.

Obama focused the topic of his address on both the problems that his administration has attempted to overcome, and the remaining challenges that still loom over the horizon of America's future. Obama also briefly touched on current world events, such as the American relief effort in Haiti and the current nuclear situations in Pakistan and North Korea.

The current state of the American economy was the biggest priority in Obama's address. The main focus of this was the stimulus bill that kept the American economy afloat during the tail end of the recession last year. Obama made note of the 25 new tax cuts designed to aid middle class families throughout his speech, as well as the need for a thriving small-business sector in the American economy. Much of the stimulus money and financial restructuring performed under the Obama administration has been aimed at aiding small business owners. In his address, Obama proposed additional financial incentives for small businesses, including a plan to infuse $30 billion of credit to community banks, as well as tax credits for small business owners who hire new workers or raise wages for their staff.

The president also briefly touched on last year's bank bailout and its unpopularity with the general public, calling it "about as popular as a root canal."

In addition to justifying the bailouts sent through Congress last year, Obama also focused on how to solve the current financial hole staring down the American economy. To counter the multi-trillion dollar deficit facing the American economy, Obama called for a complete freeze of all discretionary spending by the year 2011.

In emphasizing the need to reign in the national debt and eliminate discretionary spending, Obama sharply and uncharacteristically hounded Congress to make a concrete change that would produce real results.

"This can't be a gimmick that lets us pretend we have solved a problem," Obama remarked in reference to the spending freeze. "I refuse to pass this problem on to another generation of Americans."

Obama also emphasized the need for bipartisan support of the stimulus and reforms bills he intends to pass through Congress, as well as those already being passed through Congressional territory.

Beyond the economy, Obama spoke on several other problem areas facing the union. The national healthcare reform bill, one of the driving points of the Obama administration, was only briefly touched on during the address. Obama offered no specific solutions to the bill battle being fought in Congressional chambers; instead, he explained that he would not "walk away from the American people. And neither should the people in this chamber."

The president referenced the Haiti relief effort, as well as the two ongoing wars in the Middle East. Obama called for an end to the war, and even spoke of possible deadlines to bring troops home from Afghanistan: June of 2011.

Obama also called noted a need for change in how the public views Washington politics.

"We face a deficit of trust," Obama said in reference to beltway politics. "We are here to serve our citizens, not our ambitions."
Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell gave the Republican Party response to the State of the Union address. McDonnell echoed many of the points highlighted by the Obama speech, calling for an expanded effort to create jobs, as well as a solution to the healthcare reform conundrum that has plagued Washington politics for the last year. The Virginia governor said that while Republicans share the Democrat's desire for nation-wide healthcare reform, the two parties differ significantly on how to solve the problem.

McDonnell also criticized Obama's administration and the growth of the federal government, saying that it was, "trying to do too much."

In Washington, Obama closed his address with a tone of optimism, hope and determination.

"A new decade stretches before us," Obama said. "We don't quit. I don't quit. Let's seize this moment to start anew, to carry the dream forward and to strengthen our union once more."