In his farewell State of the Union address to Congress, President Barack Obama delivered a high-pitched message of American optimism to meet new challenges, as he rejected the alarmist approach to national and international issues, and highlighted economic, security and foreign policy achievements of his presidency.
Rising Republican politician and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, in the GOP response to the president’s address, also denounced the temptation to “follow the siren call of angriest voices during anxious times.” However, she also criticized Obama’s policies in several areas.
Obama tried to calm American voters’ fears in the charged political season over future of the country amid lingering political fights in Washington, economic and security implications of a fast-changing world, troubled by conflicts in the Middle East, political unrest, terrorist violence in Europe, Asia and Africa, emergence of new powers China and emboldened Russia, and tepid economic situation around much of the world.
The president made a strong case of Washington maintaining its primacy on the world stage under his administration with a record jobs creation stretch and robust economic recovery. He also underlined American military prowess, noting that American troops are professionally the best in the world.
Citing U.S. foreign policy successes, he listed a series of achievements including award of trade pact to Asian nations to cement American leadership in South China Sea, resolution to the contentious Iranian nuclear standoff, restoration of relations with Cuba, resolute support for Ukraine and Colombia and control of diseases like Ebola and HIV Aids. Obama said he would continue endeavors like these including closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison.
His remarks come in the backdrop of statements by the GOP presidential candidates like Donald Trump and Ben Carson, who have tried to paint Muslims, including Americans, in one broad-brush exclusionary category as others, in the aftermath of Paris and San Bernardino attacks. “The world respects us not just for our arsenal; it respects us for our diversity and our openness and the way we respect every faith.
“His Holiness, Pope Francis, told this body from the very spot I stand tonight that “to imitate the hatred and violence of tyrants and murderers is the best way to take their place.
“When politicians insult Muslims, when a mosque is vandalized, or a kid bullied, that doesn’t make us safer. That’s not telling it like it is. It’s just wrong. It diminishes us in the eyes of the world. It makes it harder to achieve our goals. And it betrays who we are as a country,” he added.
In his almost hour-long address, Obama did not name any of the Republican candidates but his remarks were clearly directed at Trump, who recently proposed a sweeping ban on entry of Muslims into the United States.
Reacting to Obama’s criticism, Republican candidates including Jeb Bush and leaders criticized his administration’s performance on several counts. They particularly targeted his policy toward tackling the threat of ISIS or Daesh terror organization in Syria and Iraq and the Obama healthcare program at home.
Obama also took a dig at another Republican Ted Cruz’s suggestion to carpet bomb places where ISIS terrorist may be operating. “Our foreign policy must be focused on the threat from ISIL and al Qaeda, but it can’t stop there.”
Obama also took a dig at another Republican candidate Ted Cruz’s suggestion to carpet bomb places where ISIS may be operating, saying there would be conflicts and instability even without the terrorist group in regions such as the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, in parts of Central America, Africa and Asia.
“The world will look to us to help solve these problems, and our answer needs to be more than tough talk or calls to carpet bomb civilians. That may work as a TV sound bite, but it doesn’t pass muster on the world stage.”
He brushed aside Chris Christie’s suggestion that the U.S. was already into a third world war, and warned such over-the-top claims just play into the hands of terrorists. While terror groups such as ISIL, and “twisted souls” plotting in apartments or garages pose an enormous danger to civilians, Obama said they pose no threat to the country’s national existence. “That’s the story ISIL wants to tell; that’s the kind of propaganda they use to recruit.”
He said:” We don’t need to build them up to show that we’re serious, nor do we need to push away vital allies in this fight by echoing the lie that ISIL is representative of one of the world’s largest religions. We just need to call them what they are – killers and fanatics who have to be rooted out, hunted down, and destroyed.”
With both presidential legacy and his future role in mind, Obama said he would continue to do what he thinks is best for America and also reflected on four priorities for America.
“First, how do we give everyone a fair shot at opportunity and security in this new economy? Second, how do we make technology work for us, and not against us – especially when it comes to solving urgent challenges like climate change? Third, how do we keep America safe and lead the world without becoming its policeman? And finally, how can we make our politics reflect what’s best in us, and not what’s worst?”
“So, my fellow Americans, whatever you may believe, whether you prefer one party or no party, our collective future depends on your willingness to uphold your obligations as a citizen. To vote. To speak out. To stand up for others, especially the weak, especially the vulnerable, knowing that each of us is only here because somebody, somewhere, stood up for us.”
Obama also vowed to push for other priorities in his last year including fixing a broken immigration system, protecting kids from gun violence, equal pay for equal work, paid leave, and raising the minimum wage.
The president, who came on the promise of bringing a change to Washington seven years ago, regretted over the state of working between the Democrats and Republicans.
“Too many Americans feel that way right now. It’s one of the few regrets of my presidency — that the rancor and suspicion between the parties has gotten worse instead of better. I have no doubt a president with the gifts of Lincoln or Roosevelt might have better bridged the divide, and I guarantee I’ll keep trying to be better so long as I hold this office.
“If we want a better politics, it’s not enough just to change a congressman or change a senator or even change a President. We have to change the system to reflect our better selves. I think we’ve got to end the practice of drawing our congressional districts so that politicians can pick their voters, and not the other way around.”
