President Barack Obama's Speech to Congress

My favorite moment of President Barack Obama's speech tonight was when he made the entire power structure of the United States of America give a standing ovation to an African-American 8th grade girl from South Carolina named Ty'Sheoma Bethea. That was the highlight of the speech for me. Seeing the First Lady embracing Ty'Sheoma was simply amazing.

I believe the most difficult challenge President Obama faces, even more than the depression and the wars, is nurturing a new ethos in America that emphasizes our interconnectedness as citizens. He clearly wishes to dethrone the Republican worldview that has no room for shared sacrifice and a sense of community. Tonight's speech was an early step in leading the nation toward a new progressivism that values ordinary Americans and even the role of government in our lives. The American people have embraced the spirit of reform and President Obama showed tonight that he not only has a bold "blueprint for America's future" but he wants to usher in a new way of thinking.

For decades Republican mouthpieces have dominated our political discourse promising that if we just got government "out of the way" and eliminated regulations and taxes, the private sector would create an "ownership society" where the rising sea of American capitalism would "lift all boats." But today with the collapse of the economy there has been an attendant collapse of the myths that sustained the laissez-faire ideology. Obama's speech tonight cut through the official fog and illusion.

For the past thirty years the public sector has been starved, our nation's infrastructure is crumbling. We have huge trade imbalances, devastated labor unions, and a dependence on foreign oil so extreme that even right-wingers like T. Boone Pickens are alarmed. Our health care system spends more money per citizen than any other industrialized country and lags behind other nations in educational achievement.

But the worst outcome of the GOP's laissez-faire policies is the enormous gap between the richest Americans and everyone else. The income and wealth gap is wider now than at any time in our nation's history, wider than it was in the 1920s and even during the Gilded Age. The Republicans' "supply-side economics" has produced a "demand-side" crisis. Tonight President Obama has dispatched with the happy talk and leveled with the American people about the predicament we're in. But he was also inspiring reminding us that it was an American who first walked on the moon and "the GI Bill produced the largest middle class in history." This is a president who believes in government and he speaks to us like adults. It was a wonderful night.

President Barack Obama said: "And I think about Ty'Sheoma Bethea, the young girl from that school I visited in Dillon, South Carolina - a place where the ceilings leak, the paint peels off the walls, and they have to stop teaching six times a day because the train barrels by their classroom. She has been told that her school is hopeless, but the other day after class she went to the public library and typed up a letter to the people sitting in this room. She even asked her principal for the money to buy a stamp. The letter asks us for help, and says, 'We are just students trying to become lawyers, doctors, congressmen like yourself and one day president, so we can make a change to not just the state of South Carolina but also the world. We are not quitters.'"

Comments

[overd0g1]

So it's not a new way of thinking. It the way of thinking from 30 years ago.

[research]

everything old is new again.

The conservative thinking is stuck some 100 years back.

[Altruth]

And the children will lead us.

[hillvoter]

Obama definitely took a queue from the previous President by bringing regular Americans into his speech. Unfortunately, he doesn't realize that he has enough support that he doesn't have to lie to the American people. If he would just tell the truth, we would support him.

[madatnewsmedia]

He did tell the truth; you only heard what you wanted hear!

[SeaGail]

Grammar and spelling police here: it is "cue" not "queue" (a waiting line). Lies - are you kidding? One would think you would know the meaning of lies with the last 8 years and there was nothing of the kind in that speech. Methinks your partisanship is showing unless you can be specific about so-called lies.

[blaqntelligence]

"Unfortunately, he doesn't realize that he has enough support that he doesn't have to lie to the American people."


Okay, which is it?


"If he would just tell the truth, we would support him"

[Pupadup4oBama]

we are not quitters...what wonderful words from a wise young lady.
I was bawling!

[Shortyfuse]

You will not hear this from me often. I was very moved by President Obamas' speech. MY FAVORITE PART WAS ' QUIT GIVING TAX BREAKS TO COMPANIES FOR MOVING OUT OF THE CONTRY. '

[madatnewsmedia]

You know, I get that the republicans and some democrats have philosophical differences with the President, but what's going on in this country, is bigger than anything we've faced in our lifetime. When are these knuckleheads going to realize that this is an opportunity to come together as our representatives and helped to put this country back together? I'm having a hard time understanding the reluctance of some to try and destroy the President and his agenda! I don't agree with every thing he says, but isn't this what makes our country great? We are able to say and do things in this country that wouldn't be tolerated in other countries. This is why so many people still try to come to the United States! As Americans, we have power that others only dream about!

Excxuse me if this sounds like a sermon; it's not meant to be

[Pupadup4oBama]

Im right there with you Maddie!
What makes this country so great is that we CAN voice our differences. But when the differences are so great that nothing gets done, it's time to re-evaluate.
If they disagree with everything so much, why don't they offer solutions - other than tax breaks.

[hillvoter]

Exactly, well said. However, part of what makes this country great is the balance of power structure. We are at a point in our history where we have one party rule and they refuse to listen to disenting opinions. No party has a monopoly on good ideas (or bad ideas for that matter). If we don't work together as Americans we will unfortunately be saddled with the bad ideas of the single party rule. This may hurt us all for many years.

[schicklett3]

Thank you for bringing up the story of the little school girl from South Carolina...I was hoping that story didn't go unnoticed.
Her story should make people take notice of the people that represent the state of South Carolina - republican Gov. Mark Sanford who has been on cable news all week spouting his disdain for the Stimulus money and how he won't take it for the state - and republican Senator Lindsey Graham who says he's a staunch fiscally conservative republican and always against "pork" in the budget....yet he wants a new federally funded convention center in Myrtle Beach South Carolina!!!
I'm angry - I'm more than angry.
These 2 men are a shame and a disgrace to the people of South Carolina....and the little school girl brought it to life.
BTW - Dillon South Carolina is a small town, made up of mostly poor African Americans and poor whites.

[johnie2xs]

Throughout our History there have been men for whom it was said, they were
"the right men, at the right time". Washington, Lincoln, Eisenhower, Kennedy.It could be that Barack Obama may be the greatest of these.

For the sake of the country, let's hope that is true. He has the intelligence. He has the temperament. He definitely seems to have the leadership skills. The only other thing he needs is our belief in his abilities and willingness to back him.

Count me there.

[JAJ2007]

I kept expecting the assembled lawmakers to break out in an impromptu "Yes We Can" chant. Obama took this "State of the Union-like" occasion and approached it as an opportunity to rally the nation. So it felt vaguely like a campaign rally (thus I kept waiting for the chant)... But in a way, it should have - he was campaigning for the nation to get behind his bold plans - and I think he rocked it!

[arvay]

Electing Obama is the best thing we Americans have done for a long time. I sleep better now knowing that we have a sharp, aware, thinking president at the helm.

[Pupadup4oBama]

you know...i think you're right....i sleep much better. Plus, I feel safe knowing that he's in charge.

[hillvoter]

That is the idea. It is much easier to take away your freedom when you are asleep.

[Aramarcal]

KO

[RepugsOut08]

It was so refreshing to hear an uplifting speech for a change. It seems like all we heard during the Bush years was fear fear fear. Fear and more tax breaks for the wealthy.
Now we have a president talking about a positive future, and addressing the real problems facing ALL Americans. By golly, I think he's actually gonna get it done!
It's gonna be hard for the Repubs to keep being the party of can't, with a president who keeps reminding us of all the great things America has done in the past under the direst of situations.
The Obama express is leaving the station. The Repubs can get on board, or be left behind.

[wanttruth]

Awesome speech!

[onceler]

good point, its important to note that moment. the President lecturing the Congress with the words of a child. and he didn't even need to read her whole letter! he just got to the part where she said "we're not quitters!" and just said that until they were all standing and applauding. that's good stuff.

[Jimmyboyo]

Yeah

Especialy forcing all those southern strategy guys to applaud her

Totally cool