Obama highlights achievements and attacks public enemies

Cool and calculated State of the Union address attempts to balance governing and campaigning

President Barack Obama’s third and potentially final State of the Union was largely a thoughtful speech, low on emotion, but high on policy initiatives and pleas for greater bi-partisan co-operation. Drawing on the example of the US Armed Services, who in the past year had finally returned from Iraq and killed Osama Bin Laden, the President called for greater teamwork from those in Washington to save American values and pledged continued and wide-ranging work to drive forward the reconstruction of a modern American economy.

Mr Obama went into the speech ahead of the November General Election with his disapprovals higher than his approvals, by 46% to 45%. His administration has so far failed to convince its constituents that it is creating a better America, and the promise of “Hope” has not been lived up to in the eyes of many. He is currently being attacked by the Republican candidates for President, with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich calling the administration a “disaster” and former Governor Mitt Romney calling Obama “the worst President in the History of the USA”.

In a speech intended to be delicately balanced between setting out the continued activity of government and the kick-start of his campaign for re-election, President Obama attempted to state his case by highlighting his achievements and attacking the nation’s common enemies.

He began by reminding the Chamber just how deep the crisis of 2008 was and highlighting that a recovery is underway, with three million jobs having been created. He also stressed that his administration has reduced illegal immigration and is increasing foreign trade, on top of having overseen the recovery of the auto industry.

However, the President hedged his bets by not only focussing simply on his achievements, but also by demanding a fairer tax system and by attacking the perceived villains of all Americans. He sought the implementation of the Buffett Rule, that says that people who earn $1mn should have to pay at least 30% tax. He also announced that he was directing the Attorney General to start inquiries into finding anyone who was legally culpable for the 2008 financial collapse, as well as saying that measures would be taken to ensure that never again would the banks have to be bailed out in such a manner.

Yet, the real villain in Obama’s speech was accused largely implicitly but almost continuously. He attacked the Congress for failure to act and for being unable to work together. This may not do President Obama a great deal of help, as he will be seen as having his fair share of responsibility for Washington’s inactivity, but it will do him no harm. Congressional job approval ratings are currently at around 13%. They are truly hated by almost all of the American people.

We are yet to see how effective Mr Obama’s speech has been at helping his polling situation. However, whilst his Republican opponents have chosen to bicker amongst themselves, he seemed like a man with ideas whose priority was the American people. It was, however, a cold performance on the whole, though his final section on the fortunes of America being “stitched together like the 50 stars and 13 stripes” did hit the mark, leading to a loud ovation in the Chamber. However, amidst all the partisan squabbling, he is still struggling to rise above it all and look truly Presidential.