Obama Praises Troops, Calls for Bipartisan Cooperation

President Obama began his State of the Union Address last night with words of praise for the American military, calling service members' "courage, selflessness and teamwork" an example to aspire to.

"We gather tonight knowing that this generation of heroes has made the United States safer and more respected around the world," Obama said. "For the first time in nine years, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq. For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a threat to this country. Most of al Qaeda’s top lieutenants have been defeated. The Taliban’s momentum has been broken, and some troops in Afghanistan have begun to come home.

"These achievements are a testament to the courage, selflessness and teamwork of America’s armed forces," he added. "At a time when too many of our institutions have let us down, they exceed all expectations. They’re not consumed with personal ambition. They don’t obsess over their differences. They focus on the mission at hand. They work together. Imagine what we could accomplish if we followed their example."

Obama challenged Congress to put aside partisan differences and work together to mend the broken economy.

"No challenge is more urgent. No debate is more important," he said. "We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while a growing number of Americans barely get by. Or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules. What’s at stake are not Democratic values or Republican values, but American values. We have to reclaim them."

In a veiled jab at the Republicans, Obama also reminded Congress that the current financial crisis began during the previous administration.

"We learned that mortgages had been sold to people who couldn’t afford or understand them," he said. "Banks had made huge bets and bonuses with other people’s money. Regulators had looked the other way, or didn’t have the authority to stop the bad behavior.

"It was wrong. It was irresponsible. And it plunged our economy into a crisis that put millions out of work, saddled us with more debt, and left innocent, hard-working Americans holding the bag. In the six months before I took office, we lost nearly four million jobs. And we lost another four million before our policies were in full effect."

He maintained that the economy was strengthening, however.

"In the last 22 months, businesses have created more than three million jobs," he said. "Last year, they created the most jobs since 2005. American manufacturers are hiring again, creating jobs for the first time since the late 1990s. Together, we’ve agreed to cut the deficit by more than $2 trillion. And we’ve put in place new rules to hold Wall Street accountable, so a crisis like that never happens again."

Obama pledged to work with Republicans in Congress who wanted to "build on (the) momentum" of the strengthening economy, but he issued a stern warning to lawmakers who would try to block his agenda.

"...I intend to fight obstruction with action, and I will oppose any effort to return to the very same policies that brought on this economic crisis in the first place," he said.

Obama also decried outsourcing of American manufacturing jobs and proposed a revision of the tax code to incentivise domestic industry.

"Right now, companies get tax breaks for moving jobs and profits overseas. Meanwhile, companies that choose to stay in America get hit with one of the highest tax rates in the world," he said. "It makes no sense, and everyone knows it.  So let’s change it.

"First, if you’re a business that wants to outsource jobs, you shouldn’t get a tax deduction for doing it. That money should be used to cover moving expenses for companies like Master Lock that decide to bring jobs home.

"Second, no American company should be able to avoid paying its fair share of taxes by moving jobs and profits overseas. From now on, every multinational company should have to pay a basic minimum tax. And every penny should go towards lowering taxes for companies that choose to stay here and hire here. ... It’s time to stop rewarding businesses that ship jobs overseas, and start rewarding companies that create jobs right here in America. Send me these tax reforms, and I’ll sign them right away."

The president also proposed stronger measures against foreign industries and domestic big businesses that "don't play by the rules" -- announcing the creation of a Trade Enforcement Unit that will investigate unfair foreign trade practices and prevent the importation of unsafe goods from countries like China. 

In addition, Obama pledged to crack down on financial institutions and establish a financial crimes unit to investigate large-scale fraud and assemble a team of prosecutors to investigate the abusive lending practices that sparked the housing crisis.

"... If you’re a big bank or financial institution, you are no longer allowed to make risky bets with your customers’ deposits. You’re required to write out a 'living will' that details exactly how you’ll pay the bills if you fail – because the rest of us aren’t bailing you out ever again," he said. "And if you’re a mortgage lender or a payday lender or a credit card company, the days of signing people up for products they can’t afford with confusing forms and deceptive practices are over."

He also renewed his call to Congress to limit tax cuts for the rich.

"... We need to change our tax code so that people like me, and an awful lot of members of Congress, pay our fair share of taxes," he said. "Tax reform should follow the Buffett rule: If you make more than $1 million a year, you should not pay less than 30 percent in taxes. ... In fact, if you’re earning a million dollars a year, you shouldn’t get special tax subsidies or deductions. On the other hand, if you make under $250,000 a year, like 98 percent of American families, your taxes shouldn’t go up. You’re the ones struggling with rising costs and stagnant wages. You’re the ones who need relief.  

"Now, you can call this class warfare all you want. But asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes? Most Americans would call that common sense."

Obama closed with more words of praise for the military.

"Those of us who’ve been sent here to serve can learn from the service of our troops," he said. "When you put on that uniform, it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white; Asian or Latino; conservative or liberal; rich or poor; gay or straight. When you’re marching into battle, you look out for the person next to you, or the mission fails. When you’re in the thick of the fight, you rise or fall as one unit, serving one nation, leaving no one behind.

"... So it is with America. Each time I look at that flag, I’m reminded that our destiny is stitched together like those fifty stars and those thirteen stripes. No one built this country on their own. This nation is great because we built it together. This nation is great because we worked as a team. This nation is great because we get each other’s backs. And if we hold fast to that truth, in this moment of trial, there is no challenge too great; no mission too hard. As long as we’re joined in common purpose, as long as we maintain our common resolve, our journey moves forward, our future is hopeful, and the state of our Union will always be strong."

Do you have a question about the State of the Union Adress? and it may be one of those chosen by the administration to answer!

• Do you agree with the proposals President Obama outlined in the State of the Union Address?
  • Yes, most of them.
  • Yes, some of them.
  • No, I disagreed with most of them (give us specifics in the comments).
  Total votes: 1

Related Topics: Barack Obama, Government, Obama, Politics, President, and state of the union Got something to say about this story?

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