President Barack Obama’s fourth State of the Union address
seemed predictable to me.
Social
issues were going to take the forefront, or so I thought.
While
there was ample time given on topics such as gun control and immigration throughout
the speech, the economy was addressed to a much greater degree than I thought
it would be.
The president
was very detailed in the plans and proposals he has in store with the economy
in mind.
Equal
pay for women, raising the national minimum wage and tax reform were all key points
that the present addressed.
A “fix
it first” program was introduced during the State of the Union that calls upon
putting people to work on our nation’s most urgent repairs, which includes
nearly 70,000 structurally deficient bridges across the country.
The subject
of education was one that I didn’t see coming in this address.
The president
called children the most precious resource and made an offer to develop that
resource.
President
Obama proposed working with states to make high-quality preschool available to
every child in America.
Higher
education was also targeted by the president. The president is challenging high
schools across America to better equip graduates for the demands of a high tech
economy.
The
administration is also releasing a new college scorecard on Feb 13. where
parents and students can go and see which colleges will give the most band for their
educational buck.
The
president also called on changes to the Higher Education Act so affordability
and value play a role in determine which colleges receive certain types of
federal aid.
Defense and the United States’ military
involvement in Afghanistan was a topic I didn’t predict would be a part of the
State of the Union.
The president announced the return
of 34,000 troops from Afghanistan in the coming year and a change into a supporting
role in Afghanistan. President Obama also called for the end of the war in
Afghanistan by next year.
A
pledge to lead the effort to prevent the spread of the world’s most dangerous
weapons was renewed by the president.
The
recent actions by North Korea would only lead them into further isolation,
according to the president.
Cyber
defense was an issue that I did not see coming at all in this address.
President
Obama announced that earlier in the day he had signed an executive order that strengthens
cyber defenses and encouraged Congress to pass similar legislation to secure
networks and prevent attacks.
These
were all issues that I did not predict would be so prevalent President Obama’s
fourth State of the Union.
Issues such
as gun control, immigration, the environment and gay rights were predicted to
be included in the address and they were found, although the majority of these
issues were used to close the address.
Climate
change was heavily endorsed by the president as an overwhelming judgment of
science. Congress was urged to persue a bi-partisan, market solution to climate
change.
The president stuck with his stance
on energy, calling it the promising investment in America.
The
country was called upon to go all-in on clean energy sources like solar and
wind energy.
An
Energy Security Trust was proposed to drive new research and technology to shift
cars and trucks off of oil for good.
Real
reform for immigration including tightening border security, establishing a
responsible pathway to earned citizenship and fixing the immigration system to
cut waiting periods was met with bi-partisan approval in the council chamber.
President
Obama asked for a comprehensive immigration bill to be sent to his desk in the
next few months that he will sign right away.
Gay
rights were not mentioned as much as I thought it would be during the State of
the Union. The president seemed to lead on during his Inauguration speech that
it would be a topic that would be elaborated on in greater detail.
It was
hardly mentioned at all, save for the part ensuring equal benefits for both gay
and straight service members. I was surprised there wasn’t more information
given by the president involving potential gay rights reform.
The issue
with the most buzz going into the State of the Union was gun control. President
Obama seemed to know that, saving his rhetoric on it for the end of the
address.
In one
of the most emotional moments I have ever witnessed, President Obama told the
story of Hadiya Pendleton, the girl from Chicago who had performed at his
Inauguration. Pendleton was shot and killed just a mile from the president’s
house in Chicago.
President
Obama then proceeded to mention many recent cases involving gun violence,
saying simply that these people deserved a vote on gun control reform. The room
reached a fever pitch as the president advanced through the names and communities
effected by gun violence. Gabby Giffords, Newtown, Aurora and Blacksburg among
others were all mentioned by the president.
The
State of the Union concluded with a challenge as most of President Obama’s
speeches in the past. Americans were challenged to be the authors of the next
great chapter in our nation’s history.
There
were many aspects of the State of the Union that I did not predict. The
emphasis on the economy took me by surprise, as well as the lack of rhetoric
surrounding gay rights.
The
address was in many ways unpredictable to me, but it was also
unforgettable.
