Kennedy, Kerry, and others respond to Obama's speech

The responses came quick in the minutes following President Barack Obama's address tonight.

Massachusetts senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry both applauded Obama's speech in statements. Kennedy praised Obama's remarks on healthcare reform, one of the senator's signature issues:

"Tonight, President Obama set forth a powerful vision for our country and an agenda for change that deserves the support of all Americans. The President's unwavering commitment to enacting health care reform this year makes clear that at long last we will achieve quality, affordable health care for all Americans. I am grateful for the President's commitment to national service and his generous comments about me. I look forward to passing bipartisan legislation to enable all young Americans to do something for their country. I will continue to stand with President Obama to build a stronger, fairer, more prosperous America in the years to come."

Kerry, the newly minted chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, offered a more multi-faceted response:

"I’ve waited a long, long time to hear a President of the United States talk this way, and what a powerful statement to hear his vision applauded on both sides of the aisle.

"As President Obama outlined tonight, fixing our economy requires hard work and tough choices. We've passed an enormous economic recovery package that will create 70,000 jobs in Massachusetts and invest more than $10 billion in our state for job creating projects from Boston to New Bedford, from rail to construction to green technology.

"But that recovery plan won’t provide lasting relief unless we immediately solve our bedrock economic problems by fixing our banks’ balance sheets and repairing our shattered housing market that has millions of Americans living on the brink of foreclosure. The message I hope was heard tonight by everyone from Pittsfield to Plymouth and all the cities and towns in between is: help is on the way. Whether it’s our young people who will be building housing through the YouthBuild programs in Massachusetts, or the thousands of retired cops, teachers, and firefighters who will receive tax relief, or the students who will have a chance now to stay in college, or the small business owners who will get a break on loan program fees, people across Massachusetts can know that we are already making progress to put our economy on the road to recovery.

"As Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, I was moved to finally hear an American President talk about ending torture, reengaging in diplomacy and tackling global climate change, closing Guantanamo, getting it right in Afghanistan, and making the country we love stronger and safer both at home and abroad.

"I applaud the President for his candor and his optimism. He knows we are in a deep hole, but he is dead-on correct that together we will pull through. Now we must all rise to the President’s call for bipartisanship so that together, as Americans, we will help put our country back to work and reestablish America’s tradition in the world."

In addition, the chairmen of both the Democratic and Republican National Committees each quickly issued statements -- of differing tones.

RNC Chair Michael Steele, as he has in past weeks, hammered on Democrats in Congress and President Obama by accusing them of taking a partisan approach toward legislation:

"Watching President Obama address our nation – and feeling the pride that is in every American's heart – it's worth pausing to celebrate our nation’s achievements. Yet even as we mark this historic event, we recognize the deep problems that continue to face our nation. Republicans are eager to work with President Obama on the challenges he discussed, especially restoring fiscal responsibility and growing our economy.

"After last year's State of the Union, then-candidate Barack Obama asked the nation to imagine a time when a President’s agenda would draw standing ovations from both sides of the aisle. That sort of bipartisanship is an admirable goal – and one that unfortunately continues to elude Washington. The Democratic leadership in Congress must be willing to work with Republicans to stop out-of-control spending, promote the creation of jobs, and to keep our troops properly funded.

"Now would be a good time for this young Administration to ask the Democrat leaders in Congress to actually consider working in a bipartisan way to solve the real problems Americans are facing.

"I am more confident than ever that the American people will stand up for the principles our nation was founded on and will hold their representatives accountable to overcome the challenges that this nation faces."

DNC Chair Tim Kaine was understandably more supportive, echoing many of the initiatives Obama outlined in his speech:

"As President Obama made clear tonight, there is still a lot of work to do to get our country back on track. But better days do lie ahead. In his short time in office, President Obama has already offered a comprehensive approach to get our economy moving again now and in the future. With the help of the Democratic Congress, he implemented a responsible economic recovery package that will help millions of Americans get back to work and provides meaningful tax relief for 95 percent of working families. He has proposed common-sense solutions to tackling the housing, banking, and financial crises.

"In the weeks and months ahead, we face many more difficult choices. We must reform the health care system, put our country on the path to energy independence, modernize our education system, and cut our deficit spending. And we must commit to a government that is honest, transparent and accountable to the American people.

"These goals are interrelated, and all must be accomplished to transform our country for the long-term. This is what the American people elected President Obama to do, and I have full confidence that he will make the investments and choices necessary to put us on the path to fiscal responsibility and keep the American Dream alive."