President Barack Obama has given what could be his last State of the Union address.
Obama began his speech by praising U.S. troops as a model of teamwork that Congress—a “partisan gridlock”—could follow. Throughout the rest of his speech, Obama focused mainly on reinvigorating the economy and made several appeals to Congress challenging them to work together to make reforms a reality. Across the Duke community, viewers said the president’s remarks were pivotal as he prepares to campaign for re-election this fall, though Obama focused on the state of the economy and promoting bipartisanship.
“What’s at stake aren’t Democratic values or Republican values but American values, and we have to reclaim them,” Obama said.
Obama’s speech provided numerous steps that outlined his attempts to improve the economy over the next year. The president said that Americans making over $1 million a year should pay a tax rate of at least 30 percent, and also called for the formation of a task force to mediate trade violations and further tax breaks for companies that strive to create jobs in the U.S.
Obama also addressed the challenges of paying for a college education, asking Congress to reduce interest rates on student loans.
“Extend the tuition tax credit we started that saves middle-class families thousands of dollars,” he said. “And give more young people the chance to earn their way through college by doubling the number of work-study jobs in the next five years.”
He added that colleges and universities should lower tuition and cost of attendance or risk receiving less federal aid.
To improve education, Obama urged states to pass laws requiring students to remain in school until they graduate or turn 18-years-old. He also called for comprehensive immigration reform that would keep immigrant students with advanced degrees in the United States.
“We should be working on comprehensive immigration reform right now,” Obama said. “But if election-year politics keeps Congress from acting on a comprehensive plan, let’s at least agree to stop expelling responsible young people who want to staff our labs, start new businesses and defend this country.”
The president also spent time discussing recent foreign policy challenges. He stressed that the U.S. is effectively putting pressure on Iran and cited the Arab Spring as an example of America’s commitment to freedom. He also expressed the nation’s support of Tunisia.
Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana gave the Republican response immediately after the president’s address. In his speech, he said Obama’s optimism was unwarranted.
“When President Obama claims that the state of our union is anything but grave, he must know in his heart that this is not true,” Daniels said.
Duke Democrats and The Nexus selective living group co-hosted a campus watch party on Central Campus Tuesday night.
Junior Elena Botella, co-president of Duke Democrats, said the president’s speech was successful in highlighting the milestones of his administration to date, including the expansion of health care and ending the Iraq War.
“Obama struck just the right balance,” Botella said.
The Duke College Republicans did not sponsor a campus watch party, though the group’s counterpart at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did host an event.
Junior William Reach, former chair of the College Republicans who watched the remarks in Durham, said Obama’s speech lacked substance.
“It was disappointing to see the president resort to petty partisanship at a time when Americans need to come together to solve our current economic situation,” Reach said.
The president, however, concluded with a message of unity.
“...As long as we maintain our common resolve, our journey moves forward, and our future is hopeful, and the state of our Union will always be strong,” he said.
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