President Barack Obama urged Americans and politicians to work to rebuild the nation through reform, responsibility and innovation in his second State of the Union speech on Tuesday night.
Obama highlighted the Administration’s accomplishments in the past year, including strengthening relations with other countries and improving the economy following the 2008 recession.
The president also outlined a new set of goals for international affairs, energy reform, health care, education and the economy, eliciting several standing ovations from the audience.
“The future is ours to win but to get there we can’t just stand still,” Obama said in his address. “Sustaining the American dream has never been about standing put; it’s been about each generation’s sacrifice and struggle to meet the demands of a new age – and now, it’s our turn.”
The first step to better future, Obama said, is encouraging innovation in areas such as energy reform.
“I challenge you to join me in setting a new goal: by 2035, 80 percent of America’s electricity will come from clean energy sources.”
When discussing the economy, Obama said, “cutting the deficit by gutting our investments in innovation and education is like lightening an overloaded airplane by removing its engine.”
“We shouldn’t just give our people that’s more affordable, we should give them a government that’s more competent and more efficient,” he added.
“We can’t win the future with the government of the past.”
He also touched upon illegal immigration while foreshadowing the discussions that compromises that lie ahead.
“I know that debate will be difficult and take time but tonight let’s agree to make that effort,” he said.
Almost an hour into the speech, Obama acknowledged the Iraq war.
“Our purpose is clear – by preventing the Taliban from reestablishing a stranglehold over the Afghan people, we will deny al Qaeda the safe-haven that served as a launching pad for 9/11,” he said.
Obama ended his speech by looking to the future.
“And tonight, more than two centuries later, it is because of our people that our future is hopeful, our journey goes forward, and the state of our union is strong.”
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