UNITED STATES | 25.01.2012
State of the Union establishes firm line for Obama in election year
US President Barack Obama devoted most of his State of the Union address Tuesday evening in Washington D.C. to domestic issues facing America as the country heads into a presidential election year.
One of the main themes of Obama's speech was creating a fair economy in the US that encouraged domestic job creation.
Obama laid out an "economic blueprint" that focused on manufacturing, energy, and increasing training to create skilled workers for jobs currently available in the technology sector.
"Right now, companies get tax breaks for moving jobs and profits overseas," Obama said to a joint session of Congress. "Meanwhile, companies that choose to stay in America get hit with one of the highest tax rates in the world. It makes no sense, and everyone knows it. So let's change it."
Days after Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney revealed that he paid less than 15 percent in taxes on investment income in 2010, Obama weighed in on tax reform as well.
"Tax reform should follow the Buffett rule," he said, referring to an idea that is named after billionaire Warren Buffett, who supports increased taxes on the rich. "If you make more than $1 million a year, you should not pay less than 30 percent in taxes."
Foreign policy
At the end of Obama's speech, which lasted over an hour, he briefly addressed some of the biggest issues in American foreign policy. As the United States and Europe implement sanctions against Iran regarding its nuclear policy, Obama said the sanctions were effective in putting the squeeze on Iran to prevent it from expanding its nuclear program.
Gabrielle Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt last year, was in attendance
Gabrielle Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt last year, was in attendance
"America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and I will take no options off the table to achieve that goal," Obama said.
He directly addressed ongoing unrest in Syria and protests against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
"I have no doubt that the Assad regime will soon discover that the forces of change cannot be reversed, and that human dignity cannot be denied," Obama said.
The United Nations estimates that over 5,000 people have been killed in government suppression of protests against Assad's regime since the movement began in March.
Swift response
Although some opposition Republicans, including presidential hopefuls Romney and Speaker of the House John Boehner, weighed in on Obama's speech before he had even delivered it, the party's official response came from Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels shortly after Obama was finished.
"No feature of the Obama presidency has been sadder than its constant efforts to divide us, to curry favor with some Americans by castigating others," Daniels said.
Republicans and Democrats were overwhelmingly united in welcoming Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords into the House chamber before Obama's speech. The Arizona lawmaker received a loud standing ovation with chants of her name. She survived an assassination attempt a year ago and has announced she will step down from her Congressional post to further focus on her recovery after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head.
Author: Matt Zuvela (Reuters, AP)
Editor: Mark Hallam
Editor: Mark Hallam
Comments