Obama State Of The Union Prompts Reaction From GOP Candidates (PHOTOS)

After President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, it didn't take long for candidates running for the Republican presidential nomination to sound off on the speech.

The message conveyed in Obama's remarks is one he can be expected to reinforce in the months ahead on the campaign trail.

Below, a slideshow of what Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul had to say about this year's State of the Union speech.

(Click here for HuffPost's live blog coverage of the event. Click here for a recap and to watch highlights from the president's address.

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Comments

[patianneb]

12:16 PM on 01/25/2012

Quoting Romney:
"I was reminded trip to Florida just a week or so ago when he spoke at Fantasyland, because he was speaking in Fantasyland again last night,"
He's half right: Last night he spoke in CONGRESSLAND. You know, the place where the Nation's BUSINESS IS DONE.

[mienemutti]

04:20 PM on 01/25/2012

Congressland?

Isn't that the place where 398 of the 'residents voted to have Newt 'evicted' when he 'lived' there?

[IndiCali]

11:34 AM on 01/25/2012

It's not that he isn't a part of the political class, or their power, or their right to rule; it's that it is supposed to be HIS party's political class, their power, and HIS right to rule.

[GDWhiteman]

11:06 AM on 01/25/2012

"The politics of envy"? My rear end. Obama is talking about "The politics of we're sick and tired of being thrown under the bus so a very few can sell our lives to further enrich themselves." I know that needs some refinement before it can be a campaign slogan, but it's still the truth.

[CSKAP]

10:02 AM on 01/25/2012

The biggest problem these candidates have is that, slowly the economy is improving. Exports up, GM (which Obama saved) has returned to be the leader worldwide in auto sales, all the auto companies have repaid their loans at a profit to the government, the FED paid over $700 billion dollars to the Treasury over both past 2 years, unemployment slowly dropping, home sales slowly going up, most banks repaid TARP at a profit.
The Republicans respond with “more tax cuts for the rich” will work better. Since they are all rich it does seem a little self serving.
Now the Republicans in Congress have 8 months to try to destroy the economy for their candidate.

[IndiCali]

11:45 AM on 01/25/2012

Oh the horror... :)

[Gwendolyn Rouse]

09:50 AM on 01/25/2012

CBS News reported that the assault was carried out by members of the same SEAL team responsible for killing Osama bin Laden. The SEAL team parachuted into the heavily-guarded compound, secured the hostages and left in helicopters. Many Somali militants were killed in the assault, but there were no reports if any of the American troops were wounded.

I can not hear you tea baggers now! Obama 2012.

[Gwendolyn Rouse]

09:50 AM on 01/25/2012

President Obama can walk and chrew gum at the same time, but I can not say that about his clown Republican candidates running on the Republicans ticket.

[IndiCali]

11:51 AM on 01/25/2012

It's all part of the new Cirque de' Soleil show "Republikka!" No animals will be harmed (unless they are gay animals (or even a little too happy), or have no health care insurance, or..GASP... are running in socialized herd collectives)

[Gwendolyn Rouse]

09:48 AM on 01/25/2012

When the president entered the House on Tuesday night to deliver his State of the Union address, he was seen pointing to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and overheard saying "good job tonight,” NBC News first reported. It was unclear at that time what the president was referring to. His speech praised American forces for the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden last summer but made no mention of the operation in Somalia.

Not one of the Republican candidates can touch Obama on foreign polices.

[bebby37]

10:29 AM on 01/25/2012

Agreed and I will go one further they can't even walk in his shadow, they wouldn't be seen.
F/F

[Phil Van Voorhis]

09:46 AM on 01/25/2012

Is this all Newt has? I sure hope he brings it to his first debate with Obama!

[Dr of psychology]

09:39 AM on 01/25/2012

Obama WILL remain President of the United Hates of America.

And his opponents will play a key role in keeping him in office....

[leonel]

09:36 AM on 01/25/2012

None of the Republican candidates seem electable, a taboo for the media to bring up, but the party is conflicted as what to do and what is likely to happen. Not the first time when a major political party has this dilemma---that it is obvious to everybody that the voting public does not go for what is on the menu.

If it were to happen that no one has a majority before the convention, they will have to start brokering a deal, something that it is not to early to start.

However, party regulars are not even able to slow down the destructive criticism of the candidates toward each other. This could mean that Republican leaders should warn the candidates that destructive criticism of each other will weaken them in coming up with a compromise candidate for their party.

[Freedom and Peace]

09:23 AM on 01/25/2012

This is why Independen­­ts and Democrats are voting for Ron Paul in this year's GOP Primaries.­­..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuRyaRG3tio

Remember, Obama will be the Democratic Party nominee. Thus, Democrats and Independen­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­t­­­­s can vote in the GOP Primaries in states that are open and semi-open. Learn how here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HawiHvxloms&feature=youtu.be

[reciprocat]

10:02 AM on 01/25/2012

Not all Independents and Democrats are voting for Ron Paul.

[Jester2069]

10:35 AM on 01/25/2012

He didn't state that. Nor does it take all to win an election....just more than the other guy.

[Freedom and Peace]

11:10 AM on 01/25/2012

Ron Paul performs better among independents than any other Republican candidate for the presidential nomination.

[SunnyDaySam]

09:21 AM on 01/25/2012

"Obama State Of The Union Prompts Reaction From GOP Candidates"

That's why they're called Reactionaries. They only react.

[bebby37]

10:32 AM on 01/25/2012

Exactly they cant seem to ever "act" on any important legislation, just stall, stall. By the way i like your pup. F/F

[SunnyDaySam]

10:37 AM on 01/25/2012

Thanks! That's Marley - she's 95 lbs. of spoiled Lab now. ;-]

[vicla1942]

08:44 AM on 01/25/2012

They are wasting their time none of them can beat Obama.
The record
1-George bush and the republican and democratic congress caused this mess
2-Obama in three years has got the country going back to prosperity.
3-The last two years the republicans have obstructed and put party over country
4- Republicans favor the 1% and are the party of no shared sacrifice
5- Republicans are an old white racist party basically southern, too small a demographic to win without cheating.

Does anyone disagree? which statement? refute

[LIKEWHAT]

09:25 AM on 01/25/2012

OBAMA! That's right, OBAMA 2012!!

[Rightfromhere]

08:34 AM on 01/25/2012

looks like newt has a new wig ????

[bebby37]

10:33 AM on 01/25/2012

No I think that is his Wife/mistress. Fav.

[gtt]

08:29 AM on 01/25/2012

Watching Morning Joe this morning as they survey President Obama's speech. Mika hears the President say that we need to make those earning over $1M per year pay at least as much as their secretaries. Mika responds, "that sounds reasonable, doesn't it?" as she turns to Joe.
Joe stutters = "Well we wouldn't want to get into the details" "Details?" Joe spends five minutes trying to spin the comments away from the President's common sense.
This is the problem that republicans have = painted into the corner.

[sallysuelee]

09:40 AM on 01/25/2012

in his heart Joe KNOWS the GOP front-runners are flawed and incapable of dealing with our huge problems.. BUT he gets paid to pretend they have a chance..

[gtt]

07:24 PM on 01/25/2012

Yep. I can see that.

[Aurical]

07:25 PM on 01/25/2012

They all do. It's a big horse race and they have to pretend its neck and neck to get people to pay attention. The regressives have no shot.