Tonight’s State of the Union address was different than I expected. I had no doubt the President would deliver a good speech, that I would agree with most of his policy points and that he would strike the right tone given the political and economic climate we face right now.
What was more uncertain to me was how forcefully he would push the more politically charged aspects of his agenda (health care reform, his jobs bill, etc.) and what bipartisan olive branches he would offer.
In some ways, I feared he might be too reconciliatory with a Republican opposition that is growing exponentially more negative and abrasive. Given what happened in Massachusetts and the increased concern being expressed by some Blue Dog Democrats over their re-election bids, a placating speech of platitudes was easy to fear. My fears were misplaced.
President Obama delivered a speech that offered policy concessions to the Republicans while at the same time making clear that he was not backing down from his agenda. In fact, he challenged Democratic leaders in Congress not to back down but to move forward, and he made clear to Republicans in the Senate that if they acted as obstructionists they would bear the burden of an ineffectual government before the voters.
In other words, he acknowledged the political reality of the Senate and signaled his willingness to accept Republican proposals on key issues like energy policy and health care. At the same time, he made clear that Democrats were overwhelmingly elected to lead Congress based on the pledges they made and the policies the proposed. It’s not time to run from those policies but to stand and fight.
Health care reform. Higher education reform. A jobs bill. Ending the war in Iraq. Strengthening our forces in Afghanistan. Protecting our civil liberties. These are all ideas on which Senator Obama campaigned, and on which the American people elected him President Obama. He’s made clear, he’s not backing down.
