Obama keeps focus on health care, economy

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

January 28, 2010

Jan. 28--WASHINGTON -- Saying he ran for president to do what's right, not what's popular, President Barack Obama vowed Wednesday to take the difficult steps needed to fix the economy, deliver health care reform and bring about the kind of change he so often has vowed to deliver.

"We have finished a difficult year," Obama said during his first State of the Union speech. "But a new year has come. A new decade stretches out before us. We don't quit. I don't quit. Let's seize this moment to start anew, to carry the dream forward and to strengthen our union once more."

Speaking before a packed House gallery at the U.S. Capitol, Obama asked lawmakers to take another look at the Democrats' health care proposals and finally send him a bill he can sign into law.

"Do not walk awayAfrom reform," he said.E"Let's find a way to comeItogether and finish the jobIfor the American people."E

Obama devotedEmuch of his speech detailingAhis administration'sIplans to fix the nation'sElimping economy -- anIissue that appears to be fuelingUa populist anger thatAcould create major politicalIproblems for the DemocratsAin Washington in theIupcoming midterm elections.I

"I knowEthe anxieties that are outUthere right now," he said.I"These struggles are theUreason I ran for president."E

In theARepublican response to theEpresident's address, VirginiaIGov. Bob McDonnell saidIhis party would continueUto oppose "more taxation,Aregulation and litigationUthat kills jobs and hurtEthe middle class." I

Rep. Paul Ryan,Aa Janesville Republican, summedAup Obama's speech thisEway: "a lot of rhetoric,Avery little substance toIback that rhetoric up." U

Obama's address,Awhich was expected toUreach millions of televisionEviewers, was seen as anEopportunity for him to tryUto reconnect with an increasinglyAfrustrated publicUand start a new chapterUin his presidency. And heApeppered his speech withIpopulist ideas that seemedAintended to forge a connectionEwith the public. E

Speaking aboutIthe unpopular bank bailouts,UObama argued that theyIwere necessary to keep theAeconomy afloat even whileUlawmakers "hated" the prescription:U"I hated it. YouEhated it. It was aboutUas popular as a root canal."E

Obama alsoAdetailed a series of proposalsEthat could appealIto middle-class families,Eincluding tax credits forIchild care, caps on studentIloan payments and moneyIto help families care forEelderly relatives. He wantsEto expand tax credits toAmatch retirement savings,Ucreate initiatives that wouldAencourage small-businessIowners to hire new workersAand redirect $30 billionIin federal dollars setAaside for the bank bailoutsAto spur small businessEloans.

"It'sUan agenda that builds onEthe success of the recoveryEact," said Jason Furman,Adeputy director of the president'sENational EconomicICouncil, who argues theIeconomic stimulus packageEhas contributed to strongIgrowth in the nation's grossUdomestic product. "TheIbiggest challenge we haveEnow is translating the GDPUgrowth into job growth."E

Domestic spendingEfreeze I

Obama also called forUa freeze on domestic spendingAand a fiscal commissionAthat could devise a debt-reductionEplan for CongressIto follow. E

Addressing the partisanUtone that has dominated politicsEin Washington, ObamaAcalled on Congress to setUaside differences and getAto work.

"RatherEthan fight the sameEtired battles that haveEdominated Washington forAdecades, it's time for somethingInew," he said. "Let'sEtry common sense." I

He promised toEbreathe new openness in theEgovernment to help buildAthe public's trust in electedUofficials and asked CongressEto place new limitsEon the amount of money corporationsEcan spend on electionsUafter a Supreme CourtAruling last week thatUeliminated longstanding restrictionsEon corporate spending.U

ObamaUalso promised to keepApushing for climate changeElegislation, immigrationAreform and a repeal of theEso-called "don't ask, don'tEtell" policy that he saidI"denies gay Americans theEright to serve the countryUthey love because of whoEthey are." I

Obama's speech followsEa string of embarrassing DemocraticEdefeats at the ballotIbox in Massachusetts,ENew Jersey and Virginia.AA special election victoryEby Republican Scott BrownIin Massachusetts has nowUprovided Republicans 41 votesAin the Senate -- enoughAto stymie the Democrats'Iagenda. And he acknowledgedIhis party's recent setbacks,Usaying he knows manyEAmericans wonder whetherA"they still believe we canEchange or at least thatEI can deliver it." I

"I never suggestedEthat change would be easyIor that I can do it alone,"Ihe said. "Democracy inAa nation of 300 million peopleEcan be noisy and messyUand complicated. And whenAyou try to do big thingsIand make big changes, itUstirs passions and controversy."E

Rep.UGwen Moore (D-Milwaukee)Esaid Obama deserves creditUfor his willingness to beAbold despite the problemsUfacing the country. I

"He's facing tremendousAodds with respectUto our deficits but recognizesIthe need to not be discouraged,"Ushe said, addingEthat she is concerned thatUthe spending cuts ObamaUis proposing would cut intoUfederal funding for educationAprograms. I

His proposal to freezeEdomestic spending wouldEaffect only a fraction ofIthe nation's $3.5 trillionAannual budget but is seenUas a nod to the growingUconcern about a federal deficitUthat stands at $1 trillion.U

RepublicansAsay the plan isAa start but doesn't go farEenough, especially afterAmassive federal spending onAbank and auto company bailoutsEand the economic stimulusIplan.

Obama'sIcalls for a freezeAand a fiscal commissionAalso have been met with someIresistance by DemocratsIwho say they don't wantIto abdicate their responsibilityUto control the government'sUpurse strings. E