FULL SPEED AHEAD!
I always enjoy the spectacle of State of the Union speeches. They are a sitting president’s coming out party, replete with flesh pressing, cheers, flashbulbs, and unadulterated airtime. They are quite the show, especially if the president doing the speaking has a modicum of intellect and speaking ability. Add to this the circumstance of history (Barack’s blackness) and the country’s present course– and you have the makings for one bad ass speech. The president gave a frank assessment of the state of the country– providing moments of zeitgeist and hindsight– on the anxiety and fervent anger many Americans are feeling about the direction we are headed. In short, chill was the word of the night.
President Obama used his speech to try and channel voter angst, a tactic necessary to remain one step above the fraying rhetoric, and to ease Americans’ fears. Obama, sounding remarkably Reagonian, continuously harped on the “staying the course” mantra, basically saying my way will work, hang in there. He was focused like a laser on the economy and jobs, which unfortunately relegated health care reform to the back of the line. I’ve always thought it was important to fuse jobs with health care reform, particularly for the symbiotic relationship they share. Losing one often causes the loss of the other, and that in turn raises the costs of both.
President Obama did defend the fight for health care reform. A brief quote:
But I also know this problem is not going away. By the time I’m finished speaking tonight, more Americans will have lost their health insurance. Millions will lose it this year. Our deficit will grow. Premiums will go up. Patients will be denied the care they need. Small business owners will continue to drop coverage altogether. I will not walk away from these Americans, and neither should the people in this chamber.
He was also quick to poke and prod his detractors, not letting an opportunity for a quip go by without slipping one in. My favorite jab of the night was aimed squarely at Republican cross hairs. The President said “saying no to everything is a great political strategy, but it’s not leadership.” That is not letting arrogant obstinance go unanswered, and it was good to hear.
He also chided his own party as they attempt to scurry away from enacting legislation. “I would remind you, we still have largest majority in decades, and the people expect us to solve problems, not run for the hills.”
Conservative consternation in the hall was palpable, as the president seemed to take most GOP talking points, and turn them on their heads. Many Republicans seemed uncertain whether or not to stand when the president goaded them by talking about tax cuts he initiated, and alternative energy sources such as nuclear power– a pet project of the GOP.
Today’s political structure is fascinating to me. Civic engagement and voter turnout have always been the cornerstones of a vibrant, booming democracy. Yet, the vociferous participation by segments of the populace seems to have caught most elected officials off guard. Just as the president tried to refocus voter anger in his speech last night– congress needs to use the rabid energy from voter engagement to lead– and offer concrete, applicable solutions. Our democracy isn’t weakened or endangered, because Americans have stepped out of the wilderness and decided to be players in the game. It’s become stronger. And I feel sorry for those politicians who can’t grab the reins of the steed in time to see it.
The president delivered the necessary goods last night, and succinctly wrapped up the Washington political end game in a tight, black ribbon. I would paraphrase his remarks in one line like this: We cannot sacrifice accomplishments and work for political posturing and gamesmanship– the trade-off is unwise. Let’s see if the American people agree with the assessment.
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