President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech portrays him as the champion of economic growth, cheap energy and widespread prosperity, even though his first three years are ending with a stalled economy, record debts, rising energy costs and spreading poverty.
“We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while a growing number of Americans barely get by,” Obama will say, according to an excerpt of the speech released by the White House.
“Or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules,” says the draft speech, which is expected to be watched by roughly 40 million people almost 10 months before the November ballot.
The excerpt offers only broad campaign-style themes, not any details, policy priorities, or offers of bipartisan deal-making.
It also excludes any reference to Obama’s own policies, even though he’s expected to tout many of those existing policies, such as the 2010 health care reform law and the federal bailout of General Motors and Chrysler.
Some people who gained from these policies are among the 21 guests slated to sit alongside the first lady this evening, giving Obama the opportunity to personalize his programs.
White House officials have already hinted that the president will present proposals related to manufacturing, energy and education.
These themes are cited in the excerpts.
“Tonight, I want to speak about how we move forward, and lay out a blueprint for an economy that’s built to last — an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values,” says one passage.
His discussion of values, however, has been focused on a call for increased taxes on high income earners.
For several weeks, he’s been using variations of the “fair shot … fair share … same set of rules” theme to portray the GOP as out-of-touch, elitist and corrupt.
That claim also helps Obama blame the GOP’s post-2010 majority in Congress for the failures of his policies since 2009.
According to the excerpts, Obama will suggest the GOP is responsible for the high unemployment rate, $15 trillion federal debt, downgraded credit rating and stalled economic growth.
“I intend to fight obstruction with action, and I will oppose any effort to return to the very same policies that brought on this economic crisis in the first place. … No, we will not go back to an economy weakened by outsourcing, bad debt, and phony financial profits,” says the excerpt.
The thematic excerpts released by the White House are somewhat duplicative, and cover much the same ground.
“Think about the America within our reach: A country that leads the world in educating its people. An America that attracts a new generation of high-tech manufacturing and high-paying jobs. A future where we’re in control of our own energy, and our security and prosperity aren’t so tied to unstable parts of the world. An economy built to last, where hard work pays off, and responsibility is rewarded,” says one passage.
“Let’s never forget: Millions of Americans who work hard and play by the rules every day deserve a government and a financial system that do the same. It’s time to apply the same rules from top to bottom: No bailouts, no handouts, and no copouts. An America built to last insists on responsibility from everybody,” says another passage.