Obama balances hope with reality
By Susan Milligan and Sasha Issenberg, Globe Staff
WASHINGTON -- President Obama, tempering the series of grim economic diagnoses he has delivered in recent weeks, sounded a new note of optimism tonight, vowing that "America will emerge stronger than before'' from the Wall Street meltdown and mortgage crisis that has sent the country into a deep recession.
"The weight of this crisis will not determine the destiny of this nation,'' Obama said in his first speech to a joint session of Congress. "Those qualities that have made America the greatest force of progress and prosperity in human history we still possess in ample measure. What is required now is for this country to pull together, confront boldly the challenges we face, and take responsibility for our future once more.''
| Obama: Budget 'A vision for America' |
Obama on the deficit, foreign policy |
The remarks -- while not officially a State of the Union address, since Obama has been in office only five weeks -- had all the trappings of one: a national television audience, the walk to the rostrum through glad-handing lawmakers, the ordinary Americans sitting in the gallery and pointed out as living examples, and the series of standing ovations.
Obama used the occasion to explain the steps he has taken to revive the economy, and also to lay out a broader agenda, including a healthcare overhaul, improvements to education, and energy independence -- campaign promises that have been subsumed by poor economic news.
"Now is the time to act boldly and wisely -- to not only revive this economy, but to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity...." he said. "The only way this century will be another American century is if we confront at last the price of our dependence on oil and the high cost of healthcare, the schools that aren't preparing our children, and the mountain of debt they stand to inherit. That is our responsibility."
Obama also touched on the wars in Iraq, where he plans to withdraw most US combat troops by the summer of 2010, and Afghanistan, where he is dispatching 17,000 more troops this spring. But the ailing economy was a dominant theme in Obama's address, with the president urging worried Americans to unite to get through a crisis he said would eventually abate.
"The impact of this recession is real, and it is everywhere. But while our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken; though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before,'' Obama said to resounding applause.
Obama still faces a reluctant and energized GOP minority, which has emerged from two devastating elections to form a determined and unified front against Obama's economic agenda. The president's $787 billion stimulus plan passed without a single House Republican vote, and garnered just three aye votes from Senate GOP moderates.
Delivering the official Republican response to Obama, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal chastised Democrats for "irresponsible'' spending that would leave the next generation in crippling debt.
"The way to lead is not to raise taxes and put more money and power in hands of Washington politicians," said the charismatic and youthful Jindal, considered a possible presidential candidate in 2012. "Who among us would ask our children for a loan, so we could spend money we do not have, on things we do not need?"
The Democratic president is advantaged by approval ratings above 60 percent; polls released this week also show that Americans overwhelmingly believe Obama is reaching out in a bipartisan manner to heal the economy, and that voters are less impressed with the behavior of Capitol Hill Republicans.
But the GOP -- eager to redefine itself ahead of the 2010 election as the party of fiscal conservatism -- has shown little indication of letting up on its criticism of Obama's economic approach, even as some Republican lawmakers express their personal admiration for the popular president.
"He's a very capable individual. He's likable. We all like him. And I think the polls reflect the confidence that people have in him that was expressed last November,'' Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky told reporters today. "Everybody wants him to succeed, but that doesn't mean that we're going to have a debate-free environment.''
Obama generally struck a bipartisan tone, but several of his comments -- such as his observation that he "inherited'' a trillion-dollar deficit, or that his stimulus plan was free of earmarks -- brought party-line cheers and grumbles from the floor.
But Obama won unified and resounding applause when he honored a senator who was not present tonight: ailing Massachusetts Senator Edward M. Kennedy, whom Obama called an "American who has never stopped asking what he can do for his country.'' Kennedy, who is in Florida building up his strength as he battles a brain tumor, released a statement saying he was grateful' for Obama's "generous'' comments, and pledged to send Obama the national service bill he has written with his friend and colleague, Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah.
Unlike many State of the Union addresses, Obama's hour-long speech was short on specific proposals and filled more with the rhetorical flourishes and broad pledges that helped take the freshman senator from Illinois to the White House.
But Obama won plaudits for speaking in more positive tones about the economy; some officials have suggested that Obama's dire comments have worsened the situation by making Americans skittish about spending money in the country's consumer-driven economy.
"People are really angry, they're frustrated,'' and want their president to acknowledge that, said Senator Olympia Snowe, a Maine Republican who supported the stimulus plan. "On the one hand, you don't want to sugar-coat it,'' but "on the other hand, you want to have a can-do spirit.''
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As usual, no details!
The "Stimulus Package" was your typical spending bill. There was no focused, targeted, temporary anything. It's a decade long bill. Then, another earmark ladened 410 billion dollar bill was introduced today. Folks...how much longer do you think the world is going to extend the limit on our credit card? The bill is coming due. As they balk at buying our debt or demand much higher interest rates, watch how little that little green piece of paper in your wallet buys.
Obummer is classic policitian; not a leader. Leaders lead with great ideas that all people, regardless of party affilitation, recognized for their excellence. Everything he has done has only reinforced his lowly stature as a politician. For example, his string of tax cheating cabinet members, his failure to persuade all but three Republicans (who were bought off plan and simple) of the validity of his spending spree, etc. When history pulls back the curtain on Oz, the public will come to realize this person who saddled our children and grandchildren with crippling debt is no more than a media crcreation. God help us.
HaHaHaHaHa....you Repubs don't get it.......you lost.........get on board...or get out of the way..........oh...and weren't you totally embarrassed by Gov. Jindal ????? good lord.......platitudes, fluff, old ideas..........and did you also notice that the pettiness of sitting during the beginning of the speech dissolved as the speech progressed. the word probably got back to the chamber that the american people were revolted by the obviousness of the repubs desire for Obama failure.......well........there will be no failure......and i am looking forward to a majority approaching 435 - 0 in 2010.....HaHaHaHaHa
The republican response is harping on debt. Clinton left us a budget SURPLUS. bush and his cronies left us with a TRILLION dollar DEFICIT! And they want to talk about debt??? Do these people have a CLUE, at all? Anything?
Any american with a brain knows that the reason the republicans didn't vote for the stimulus plan is because it was created by a democrat. They don't care about america, they vote along party lines, plain and simple. don't worry elephants, I'm not stupid enough to think the democrats wouldn't do the same exact thing. If this was McCain's plan, no democrat would support it either. This 2 party system is a joke. So sit there and complain along your party lines, it makes you feel better, I know. But you are as useless as our politicians.
It was refreshing to hear our voices reflected in Jindal's speech- I'm so tired of hearing Obama's praises and that his and congress' ideas are better than doing nothing. Baloney. Study the Great Depression very well before spouting off that we need our government to get us out of trouble- they haven't successfully run anything, except into the ground. Anyone can see that business is scared to death of what he/they may do next and they are paralyzed into non-action- just as in the Great Depression. How else can you explain the stock market teetering on every word put out by Washington? Leave the market alone- leave US alone! There are many of us who are not rich that do NOT want the government's 'help'!
Senator Edward M. Kennedy, whom Obama called an "American who has never stopped asking what he can do for his country.'' ... Here's a thought Ted. RETIRE!
Obama has aleady spent my grand children's college funds and is starting to eye the great grandkid's piggy banks. Someone needs to stop the spending spree. And once it has been stopped in Washington DC, there's the tax and spend cheats on Beacon Hill that need to be dealt with also.
It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to see that smiling bimbo, Nancy Pelosi, sitting behind Obama. With that blank stare and silly grin she is always wearing she looks like a lobotomized patient from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".
Then place clueless Joe Biden beside her with Oblahma the Fraud in front and what a triumverate we have there.
I cannot even believe the clowns that are now running the country. And running it into the ground I should say. Last week Obama is pushing 1 trillion dollars in irresponsible pork laiden spending. Now all of a sudden he is preaching fiscal responsibility....LMAO. Is this tool for real ? How dumb does he think everyone is ?
I guess Obama the Fraud decided to spend first and tax later so he could avoid the label of "tax and spend liberal". He decided to become a "spend then tax liberal".
If I didn't know better I would think that Obama was a Middle Eastern plant that was sent to America to weaken us by destroying our economy. He is well down the path to doing that.
Obama is in over his head and every knew he would be.
Obama is a leader... Obama has the spirit to lead this country and has been trying to unite this country... It only been a month and he is already doing a better job then Bush. Though that doesn't take much. People need to get over the fact they don't like him and face the fact he trying...He is being a leader, trying to go past party lines. It will not be easy but Obama will bring us out of this recession. HAVE SOME FAITH
This is the first State of the Union-type speech that I have not watched in 10 years. I cannot believe the President. Since getting in office, he has scared the daylights out of people with his rhetoric. He did this to pass legislation and get individuals comfirmed. Both of which were not properly vetted. Now the President wants to be the one who rides in to save the day. The President did indeed inherit a mess. However, be forthright with the American people. Do what families all around the country are doing. Cut spending and pay down debt. We do not need a car czar, another TARP installment, or a governmental plane to pick up a senator so he can fly back to Washington to vote yes on an $800B spending package which no one read.
We need a leader who will not burden our children with debt obligations they cannot pay. A stimulus package with $65 per month per family? This is bad policy with a huge price tag.
No smirking, no fumbled sentences, no deer in the headlight moments, and best tof all no scowling Dick Cheney. What a great speech!
it feels nice to have an articulate, well thought president again...thanks god the bush years are done, clearly we will be paying for them for a long long time...
In what way is it plain and simple that the three Republicans were payed off? Where's the plain and simple proof of such an outlandish claim? It's hard to take anything you say seriously if you declare things as absurd as that.
Jindal is, as usual, a complete and total moron with his responses. "things we do not need"..give me a break. Here's what we need -- green energy not drilling, peace not war, economic prosperity not tax cuts for the rich and for rich scumbag companies like ExxonMobil. The 3 repub responses above only underline the complete cluelessness of the republican party. About the only positive would be if Jindal, and Indian-American who changed his name and religion becaume the Repub candidate....then you'd see all the racism in the repub. party rip the party in half. That'll be fun to watch.
If you think Phil Gramm didn't get it when he said the economy was sound, just watch last night's Obama speech with the sound turned off. You would think that Obama, Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi were celebrating a $2 trillion surplus instead of a deficit. Remember this moment as the beginning of the plight of our children,
1,2 3 - all negative hypocritcal republicans........if you don't love this Country, you are free to leave at anytime......and don't come back until you swallow your hatred and vitriol!
Please explain to me where the money will come from. I'm am honestly interested in this. Thus far, I have heard no explanation on how all this will be resolved. It's only, "NO TIME FOR TALK! PASS THE BILL! PASS THE BILL! NATIONAL EMERGENCY! STIMULATE!" Very Patriot Act-esque. Obama himself has said that there will be a time when Americans will have to learn to live within their means, but that time is not now. So, when will that be, and how does he plan on telling people to shape up? To me, all of these spending plans seem only to serve to maintain the status quo of over consumption.