By Binneh Minteh

State of the Union Address: Presented Just like it Is If anyone should argue that the Jan 2010 State of the Union Address was presented ‘just like it is,’ such an argument would fall right along the socio-political and socio-economic realities of the world’s most enduring democracies; The United States of America (USA).

Spurring on the state of the economy – bank bailouts and job creation- education and healthcare reforms, security and foreign policy during the colorful historic occasion, President Obama presented what many analysts characterized as a further emboldening and enlightenment of his agenda of change that propelled the democratic leadership to the power house of the United States; The White House.

Amidst conflicting and differing views on the pace of change after one year of his Presidency, Obama’s acknowledgement and understanding of the citizens concern about the pace of change was indeed eye-catching. He used the Union as a platform to remind Americans that he did not promise change to happen overnight, but instead made emphasis that it was going to be a real challenge. In his own words, the President said:

“I campaigned on the promise of change — change we can believe in, the slogan went. And right now, I know there are many Americans who aren’t sure if they still believe we can change — or that I can deliver it. But remember this — I never suggested that change would be easy, or that I could do it alone. Democracy in a nation of 300 million people can be noisy and messy and complicated. And when you try to do big things and make big changes, it stirs passions and controversy.” That is exactly just how it was.

Inheriting an economy that was almost on the edge, and a national security parable that plunged the country into two wars, it is worth not only acknowledging the difficulties encompassing transformation from such impending predicaments, but patience, objectivity and a rational analysis of adopted policies and priorities under any administration facing such a political dilemma, are what is required at such crucial times. Even history has shown that throughout our evolution as societies and communities, change was never found on a silver plate, especially in the aftermath of daring real challenges.

In his January 29th Washington Post article titled The State of the Union Address Reveals a President with two minds, George F. Will, got it all wrong, when he characterized the President as having Tiptoed using The John Quincy Adams Lobe from Sigmund – an unrealistic characterization that far decries the US socio-political and socio-economic landscape. The Union instead allowed Obama to be clearer with policies, thus raising his declined approval rating to what is expected of a nation’s commander in chief. Depicting Obama as an “avenging angel of populism,” is therefore unfounded and contradictory to realities across both the national and
global political spectrum.

Chronicling the state of the economy and his administrations bail out efforts of financial institutions, President Obama could not have said it better, when he reminded the country about the state of the country before his ascension to power. He said it just like it is. He confidently argued, in his words that he inherited “an economy rocked by a severe recession, a financial system on the verge of collapse and a government deeply in debt. Experts from across the political spectrum warned that if we did not act, we might face a second depression. So we acted — immediately and aggressively. And one year later, the worst of the storm has passed.”

Even though the editors agreed that the President’s reform agenda are critical to the nation’s economy and the creation of jobs over the long term, The Salt Lake Tribunes Januray27th editorial on The State of the Union nonetheless fell short by characterizing Obama’s speech as “a combination of aspirational rhetoric and a reframing of the old agenda — health care, energy and global warming, regulatory reform of finance — to fit the theme of restoring the economy”. A careful analysis of the President’s State of Union addresses would show the regulatory reform of the economy, Healthcare, Foreign Policy, education, climate change and the environment
as the anchor of the  address; pressing policy issues that are aggressively
confronted by the incumbent democratic administration.

Taking on Job creation, Obama’s outlined plan of putting Americans back to work through infrastructural development projects – bridges, fast railroads-, green energy jobs, and a plan to stimulate small businesses could not have come at a better time, when millions of citizens are struggling to search for employment. On that token, it is worth acknowledging observations by policy analysts that Job creation should have been a major priority alongside the implemented bailout policies during his administration’s first year in office. In hindsight, it was courageous for the President to acknowledge before the union mistakes made during the first year in office- moral courage that is an important leadership trait. It was also courageous for the President to initiative a Middle Class Task Force Citing his administration’s efforts on national security and diplomacy, the President clearly outlined a blue print that will advance ‘the common security and
prosperity of all people,’ a responsible exit from Iraq, a strategic approach to the looming Afghani war, a progressive confrontation of nuclear Proliferation, and American Value’s that continues to strengthen America’s standing around the world. That is another reason why the January 2010 State of Union address could rightly be characterized as; Presented Just Like it is.

On Bipartisanship, it was a good idea for President Obama to elaborate on the importance of Republicans and Democrats working together in addressing national agendas. That will only strengthen unity and solidarity across the national political landscape. However at a time when strategic institutions are threatened with collapse or failure, President Obama must transcend bipartisanship in the name of national interest. The New York Times editors could not have said it  better in their January 28th, 2010 editorial, The Second Year, when they argued that: “We would have liked to have heard a more forceful demand — rather than a polite invitation — for the Republicans to either support his health care reform plan or produce their own plan, one that provides real security for all Americans and has a
real chance to reduce costs.”

At a time when the nations socio-economic and socio political structures are either threatened or undermined as a result of past failed policies, President Obama and the Democratic Party must fully understand their culpability for all future policy failures.

History has that our world from time immemorial, evolved around daunting challenges, propelling choices made as the driving mechanisms behind our sustenance and existence as a people, and a community. Sometimes we approach challenges by facing the hard realities-speaking openly and frankly- but at times we choose to shun those hard realities for reasons best known to us. That is just human nature. In the case of the daring real challenges we face today – threatened financial institutions , job losses, healthcare reform, national security and diplomacy, and education,
President Obama’s address about the state of the Union could best be characterized as Presented Just it is. He spoke with honesty and truthfully presented the Union with the actual realities and challenges across the economic, social and political spectrum.

It was indeed a historical anecdote that would strengthen our collective quest of strengthening all the institutions threatened as a result of previous choices made. What else could one say?