Obama Speech To Congress: REACTION

Pundits have begun to react to President Barack Obama's speech before both houses of Congress. Below is a roundup of some of the reactions in no particular order.

Andrew Sullivan: A Tour De Force

It was perfectly pitched: a form a liberal patriotism that eschews the kind of politics the American people are sick of. A tour de force.

But look: the politics and rhetoric are superb, but all that matters is whether he can pull this off. The results are all that matter now. He has this moment; it could make him and the rest of us. It could destroy him or us. It's our job in this crisis to support him and to criticize him constructively. We need to rise to the occasion he is rising to. And maybe most of us will.

The Economist: Vintage Obama

powerfully delivered, after a slightly hesitant start, and carefully constructed. Clever because he pulled back from his previous warnings of catastrophe, but without downplaying the seriousness of the situation. Clever because he presented the Democratic agenda (particularly greenery and educational spending) as the stimulus that the economy needs. And clever because he threw a few bones to the non-liberals listening in the form of promises about charter schools. He even mentioned "entrepreneurs" no fewer than three times, on my count. It would have been nice to have heard how he plans to halve the deficit while boosting spending. It would also have been nice to have a commitment to helping those precious entrepreneurs by cutting onerous regulations (another job for Joe Biden?)

David Brooks: This "Was An Excellent Speech"

I thought it was an excellent speech. It's been a long time since I've really been able to rave over an Obama speech, but I thought this was a speech that perfectly captured the tenor of the country. [PBS, NewsHour with Jim Lehrer Coverage of Presidential Address, 2/24/09]

Marc Ambinder: The Obama Synthesis

The key phrase of the speech was, to me, two words: "long-term investments." The spine of the speech holds up this premise -- the examples of Americans who've sacrificed, the history lesson, the implicit criticism of an elections-based worldview, the lensed look at the recent party-hardy past. From Obama's perspective, the failures of the past -- or the collective failures that mushroomed into today's clouds -- require a plunge into activist government.

CBS News Poll: Positive Reception For Obama Address

Eighty percent of speech watchers approve of President Obama's plans for dealing with the economic crisis. Before the speech, 63 percent approved.

Fifty-one percent of speech watchers think the president's economic plans will help them personally. Thirty-six thought so before the speech.

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Seventy-five percent of speech watchers now say they were able to get a good understanding of President Obama's economic plans, compared to 58 percent before the speech.

Will Wilkinson: Dangerous

Oratorywise, so good. Ideawise, so weak. Combination, so dangerous.

David Gergen: President's Speech Was "Most Ambitious... We've Heard In This Chamber In Decades."

This was the most ambitious president we've heard in this chamber in decades. The first half of the speech was FDR fighting for the New Deal. The second half was Lyndon Johnson fighting for the Great Society and we have never seen those two presidents rolled together in quite this way before. [CNN, Anderson Cooper 360, 2/24/09]

Rich Lowry: That Shout Out To Biden

Was juvenile and condescending to Biden. Speaks poorly of Biden that Obama thought it was necessary.

Josh Marhsall: Major Policy Switch On Torture

Did I get my sections mixed up or did most of the GOP legislators hop to their feet when Obama said "We do not torture"? That's a major policy switch.

Chuck Todd: Speech Hopeful, Uplifting.

I think this idea that somehow [President Obama] had not been talking hopeful enough about the situation, I have a feeling that President Clinton isn't going to be criticizing him, particularly for that last I'd say ten minutes of the speech where it was all hopeful. It was all uplifting. It was as somebody had said to me, the last part of this speech, you're going to recognize it, is Obama-esque, and I think that it's not hard to look at that last part of the speech and saying he wasn't being hopeful and talking up about the economy. [NBC, Nightly News with Brian Williams, 2/24/09]

Comments

[mmz]

Good that David Brooks knows what the President is capable of --breathtaking intellectualism with unfathomable depth. To put that kind of omnipotent ability into a comprehendible speech for the upright, two-footed species is more than brilliant.

Amazing.

[v eyepete]

The autograph is odd in any situation I think. I guess your friends will not believe you otherwise when you tell them you came so close to greatness without it.

[undecidee]

It was a great speech. What a great president we have! I am SO proud of American today because YOU have chosen a brillant man to lead this great nation. He is right, everybody should think like and act in the best interest of this great nation. We should not be thinking like we are democrats or republican, but rather, just plan American.

I am afraid that the repugs will not listen to him though no matter what because they don't really care about American, only their share of the profit. Jindal is a good example. He is a wannabe. He wannabe like O, but unfortunately he does not have the class or the intelligence to be like him. Jindal is like a wet firecracker.

[commentator101]

I'm a big supporter of Obama, but i agree with Rich Lowry on O's shout out to Biden.

My growing impression when the 2 have been together is that Obama either doesn't really like Biden or else doesn't really respect him. It's kind of like watching a married couple where one of the spouse's doesn't really have respect for the other but tries to act otherwise in public. If it's true I hope Obama catches himself, because it looks demeaning for Joe.

I could be wrong though. Just my impression.

[mmz]

That's an interesting take. I was going to say they are really comfortable with each other --tit for tat.

[ljc]

The same Rich Lowry:

I'm sure I'm not the only male in America who, when Palin dropped her first wink, sat up a little straighter on the couch and said, "Hey, I think she just winked at me." And her smile. By the end, when she clearly knew she was doing well, it was so sparkling it was almost mesmerizing. It sent little starbursts through the screen and ricocheting around the living rooms of America. This is a quality that can't be learned; it's either something you have or you don't, and man, she's got it.

Was he touching himself when he wrote that?

[Christian]

I thought it was fun moment, a good call. The light laughter was great in the middle of such an important speech.

[Jonni Rae]

It got everyone on their feet applauding Joe Biden, which is what Obama wanted!!!! They all showed their love for him.

[Invox]

I think Joe makes Obama laugh and, even with all of his antics and gaffes, he values his input. I'm sure he'd like to ch.oke him when he veers off but it's actually part of Bi.den's charm. He's a nice balance to Obama's perfection.

[gaja]

I think Rich Lowry and others misread that --it seemed to me as though people (politicians and ordinary people alike) have a great love for "Joe" and his shout out was meant to bring a little levity to the speech and atmosphere in the room...
Obama struck a masterful balance between his remarks to Republicans --that they need to get on board and work on REAL solutions instead of sitting back and criticizing everything, while at the same time appealing to their sense of comraderie as fellow senators and love for this country... I recently read an article that described Joe Biden as someone who talks to ordinary people on the train every single day and who is refered to as "Joey" by ordinary people... His remark highlighted Biden's popularity with everyone in that room...
I think there are some who would like to elevate the office of the President as "royalty" --but Obama's power rests in his ability to relate and speak to people with a diverse range of backgrounds including the common people. I heard the same criticism of Clinton years ago --but we don't need someone on a pedestal handing down edicts and acting humorless --what we need is exactly what Obama is giving us --a respectful, honest, and adult discussion­... My suggestion to Rich is that he examine the definition of "juvenile" --because that is exactly how I would characterize the commentary and responses of the Republican base right now...

[janpradder]

You are wrong. It was a respectful and fun call out to Joe our Veep.

[zippywpinhead]

that's just Lowry trying to stir up trouble by fabricating something that doesn't exist

it's all they've got, since they have no legitimate criticisms of the substance of the speech...

[HowdyDoody]

After 8 years of being scared that our country may have slipped away, last night I felt like I was a 3rd grader again (back in the 50's!!!), pledging allegiance with the deepest sincerity and pride in being an American. I trust Obama to lead us! And then, to hear Bobby Jindahl -- who seems like a nice guy -- parrot Ronald Reagan -- "government is the problem" -- was so jarring and out of touch with our nation's needs and ideals, that I realized how far down the Republicans have sunk. Wow...

[R8RBOB]

I wonder if Bobby Jindal was saying that "government is the problem" for the last eight years? I love how Republicans preach for smaller government yet their size of government is the same size of a Democratic government. I'm smelling a oxymoron here Jindal as well as the rest of the new school Republicans need to stop channeling Ronald Reagan as if he created this so-called smaller government.

As for the president's speech. He hit home on three things: energy, health care and education. If any Republican or their talking heads believes that these issues don't matter then I would like them to tell us what is important besides tax cuts.

[Seattlelite]

Jindal's right in one sense when he says government is a problem -- had the government allocated enough funding to rebuilt the failing levees perhaps his state would not have been drowned under water.

[SammyD]

Please Obama, fire the people that write your speeches. There were so many errors in the speech it makes you appear uneducated and out of touch. I understand that the people who are writing your speeches do not know American history but we did not invent the car (one example). You are a great speaker but every time you make a speech, there is some/several stupid mistake. Also, please remove Nancy Pelosi fro the background. She is truly an embarrassment to women. I hope she was wearing her Depends last night. Best to keep Joe only in the background as he was supportive and not a distraction.

[wordvarc]

Wow! what an exercise of twisted projection from the very very far right!

Maybe you enjoyed Piyash's Teletubby/Barney styled speech much more!

[arspar183]

so many errors in the speech, yet u only give ONE that everybody caught. name some other errors. most of the people who know ....say it was a great speech.
who are u any way....are u somebody?

[smit9187]

It's a tr o ll

[Terrence0258]

"Is our children learning"
"Human beings and fish can co-exist peacefully"
"We can't allow al-Qaeda the recruitements to recruit"
"I think you misunderestimated me"

Don't make me go to Reagan, Quayle, McCain, Palin, Dole etc.... Republicans love a good idiot.

[swift goat pet for truth]

Google "Make the Pie Higher"

[gaja]

LOL Don't forget "how hard it is to put food ON your family" ;D

[Suzanne525]

Nobody with even 1/4 of a brain would say that Obama appears uneducated.

[MossyOak]

Another fine example of the conservative base trying hard not to keep up....LMAO

[kwoodberryesq]

In my office this morning, it was quite refreshing to hear all of the stodgy attorneys in my office gleam so optimistic after the Obama speech. I am committed to being a part of the solution with the President.

[nicole473]

What is clear to me is that this president is kind, caring, compassionate, honest, has a full grasp of the issues, and best of all for us, is genius-level smart.

If he can not pull it off, no one can.

[mtredstar7]

Yes, he is all of that and a fine representative of a new generation.

[TJRich]

I agree with you 110%!

[bravoat4]

The anti-Bush!

[taiwanjohn]

If he can not pull it off... ??

O ye of little faith!

It's not up to Obama alone...

Yes *WE* can!! ;-)

--jrd

[Altruth]

Will Wilkinson (of NBC) you don't have a clue, you just exposed yourself as a GOP frontman a kin of Rush and Hannity. We weren't watching the same speech, President Obama was excellent. What ever NBC is paying you is way too much.

[raechel]

Many commenters below seem to think walk and talk are mutually exclusive. In fact, unless Obama does a great job of talk, and gets people of this country behind him, it doesn't matter how good his ideas are, they'll never be implemented. 90% of the job is going to be selling the package and keeping it sold for four hard years. Glad he understands that. Glad he's a great orator.

[TJRich]

"it doesn't matter how good his ideas are, they'll never be implemente­d.". . . .

Can't wait to prove you wrong, wrong again!

[CAHertzfe]

Yo Yo Raechel! Which of his ideas have not been implemented the last 35 days?

[nicole473]

Wow. You seem to be a little out of touch.

[Altruth]

Rich Lowry (of NBC), what ever you are being paid, it is too much!

[Incumbent]

No kidding! Out of everything Obama said in his speech, Lowry picked Obama's reference to Biden as worthy of discussion? What a maroon!

[smit9187]

This is the same guy that saw Sarah's speech while sitting on his couch, remember, he just knew she was speaking to him. ugh!

[swift goat pet for truth]

"Sparkles through the television screen"

*barf*

[krocklin]

Eventually Obama might turn the corner.
It may just become uncool to obstruct and complain about sensible policies that benefit all.
The Idealogues may finally be loosening their grip on the Public Psyche after 30 years of programming by the tax cutters (for tThe Rich) and anti-Government types.
Any scent of divisiveness, which Obama has very little of, may finally be turning off the electorate.
Finally the Divide and Conquer strategy may be failing the Republicans. From Joe McCarthy to Reagan to Rove and Cheney to Jindall - their winning streak may be coming to an end.
The country may finally be coming to its senses.
National Healthcare, which in every other country halves the cost of medical care, improved education as an investment in the futrue, tax DISINENTIVES for companies that export factories and jobs overseas, the need to maintain infrastructure, the subsidization of a progressive energy policy -- all no-brainers - may suddenly seem to make sense again.

[lwaxanatroi]

From your mouth to God's ear. And, no, I don't think the nattering nabobs of right-wing negativism will suddenly put a sock in it. But if you were watching on MSNBC, you saw the response lines at the bottom of your screen. Red for GOP, blue for Dems. And while there were times the two lines separated, I was thrilled to see a whole lot of purple as red and blue responded as one. That is the hope I have: that ordinary voters will allow themselves to think and react to what's happening without the automatic us vs.them we've seen for far too long. I hope the GOP representatives study those purple lines, too, and understand that many of their constituents are as ready for change as any Dem.

And now have a look at the red and blue lines during the Jindal speech. I saw precious little purple, if any. This says to me that the GOP "leaders" care nothing for reaching out to people who aren't already in the club. Obama crafted a speech that had McCain voters joining Dems in agreement; Jindal spoke only to those who already agreed with him.

Haven't we had enough of that kind of divisiveness? Isn't it, as Jon says, becoming seriously uncool?

[TJRich]

I agree. Now we need to take care of the die_bold issue to finish the job.

[scooterdog]

I agree. Divide and conquer is failing the repubs. Soon they will start losing at the polls. Even conservatives can see those old dinosaurs have nothing to offer.

[sbvpav]

after listening to president obama's excellent speech last night, the first thing that came to mind was, "after president obama's speech last night, did any one other than me think of the line: "Vinny Gambini: I'm finished with this guy."

[Second-Class-Citizen]

Um, no. I think you're on your own there, Mr. Jindall.

[Suzanne525]

Huh?? Guess the answer is NO.

[leticia32]

Everyday since the inauguration I have felt like we have been crawling out of a big black hole and are finally seeing the daylight. Thank you Oabama.

[URDRWHO]

Oh yea so much has changed hasn't it.

Businesses is hiring
The stock market is roaring
The Federal Government is less in debt

Oh yea....we are in great shape.

What hole are you crawling out of because it is sure a rosy place to live. A hole not strong on reality but one that would be nice to live in to hide from the real world.

But hey....doe­s society care about a $65 trillion Federal debt? After all it is a society that didn't understand how to control their own debt feast so how could they expect their government to be an different from them.

How many different Presidents must pull you by the nose until you start seeing what they are doing to you.

[raechel]

It might be just a tad unreasonable to expect a President to reverse a financial collapse that was decades in the making in his first 30 days. Might you be just a tad blinded by wrath? And why, exactly?

[nicole473]

Wow. Just wow. Get a grip. You are cr iticizing the wrong man. It was YOUR guy, the id iot 43 who created that deficit.

[Incumbent]

"Oh yea so much has changed hasn't it.

Businesses is hiring
The stock market is roaring
The Federal Government is less in debt

Oh yea....we are in great shape."

Really. Obama's been in office a whole 36 days. If he hasn't fixed everything by now he never will!

[wordvarc]

Try Disneyland. You might feel better.

[CAHertzfe]

I'll add you to the prayer chain so you are able to find happiness in your sorry life.

[JamesofDC]

If Obama does not feel like a whiff of oxygen to people seeking an exit from a burning building, you are not seeing the man. I can't remember seeing a speech by a president without a lie, without spin, without code words, in short, straight-up honesty!

America, (and the world—see today's Friedman column) despite its dirty deeds of the Bush years, has more good Karma than I ever thought, to get such a leader!

[chuk98death]

Well he suggested that the car was first built here by Ford...tha­t's a lie i guess.

[raechel]

I winced when he said that, too. The "invented by" thing is always a fantasy. Someone may popularize an idea, or succeed in putting something into production, but nothing is ever invented by just one person. In this case, you could argue that the manufacturing process that resulted in its proliferation was an American invention. And one should allow a little license when it comes to rhetorical devices. It wasn't substantive, after all.

[lwaxanatroi]

He did not say the name Ford, although I, too, had a question about whether Americans invented the first car.

[TJRich]

Really? I thought Ford was 1st too! What's the lie?? Whodunnit??

[cheforacle]

Invented the car industry on a large scale.

[URDRWHO]

I will give you that one. I do think he is more straight up than the last two people sitting in his seat. Sometimes though, he looks like he is thinking..­.man what have I gotten myself into. Happens to all of them. Once in the job, they find out how much things are a messed up and friends become enemies.

This is not disparaging but for anyone to want that job takes one heck of a strong ego. You are going to take shots from every angle.

Nice looking family and it seems a very stable family. I hope this job doesn't hurt the stability of the family.

Personally I like a politician that when they talk, it is not possible to know if they are a Dem or Rep.