American Morning
Obama delivers first State of the Union
Washington (CNN) - Citing a "deficit of trust" in government by the American people, President Obama's first State of the Union address urged Congress to erode the influence of special interests and work together to confront the nation's most pressing problems.
In the nationally televised speech Wednesday night to a joint session of Congress, Obama sought to reassure Americans angry and nervous about the pace of economic recovery that his government understood the challenges and would act boldly to meet them.
The president offered populist proposals that some say could reconnect his administration with middle-class Americans, and he offered a plea to end the partisan stalemate in Washington and work for the common good. FULL STORY
Full coverage | Speech transcript | GOP response
Full video: Part one 
| Part two | GOP responds to Obama speech
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I know why but question your attempt to appear non=partican but it appears that you have gone too far. Non-partican should not mean that you fail to report the news because the news may look like you are partisan. Non partisan is important for credability but the news is more important.
Your fame is as a 24 hour news source. Please, news first and partisonship second.. I f the news favors one party vs. the other, please eror on the side of bringing us the news.
Thanks, Charles Harkness, you are 100% right. I turn on CNN everyday, and most of the coverage on stimulus was negative, and so was health care. When the town hall meetings were taking place, 8 out of ten reports were about people screaming out against health care. They interviewed few people that were in favor of it, and maybe one or two of the actual 47 millon people without health care. This is not balanced news coverage, and I think CNN helped to stop health care. CNN has joined the Repuplicans, and Mr. Limbaugh, in talking the American people into shooting themselves in the foot, while they laugh all the way to the bank. CNN should be proud.
It's interesting to me that there are still gullible people in this country that believe Obama is going to take care of them. He's only in this to take care of himself. The speech was up a little from his normal campaign speeches. He says he wants the Republicans to offer suggestions, yet he, Pelosi and Reid have to have their back room meetings without Republicans.
He said he is not giving up on government run health care. If it goes through along with everything else he wants to do then we will be well on our way to being a bankrupt and socolist nation with the highest tax rate on the planet.
President Obama has great ideas. He is working for the people. I honestly believe that. Rome was not built in a day, so yes; he will need time. His biggest obstacle is the Republican Party. I am totally ashamed of them, and they should be ashamed of themselves. First and foremost, they are protecting their interests not the interests of the people. Their interests being Big Business, like the Banks and the Oil Companies and the Insurance companies. Just as the Financial Institutes need regulations so do the Insurance Companies. This has nothing to do with Socialism, it has to do with protecting the consumer.
Now;... Republicans in the House and Senate....if you can't play nice then get the hell out of Dodge....we don't need you! Don't let the MA Senate election fool you.....either, the American people are not stupid. By the Way....Your Ads are not helping they are confusing the issue. STOP!!!! If not for yourself then for America
Last night's performace was a dismal failure. As smart a man as he is supposed to be, he still does not get it. The majority of Americans do not want his socialist agenda and are amazed at who he has surrounded himself with–the radical, liberal left.
Its too bad. We expected much but only got a big deficit and 17% unemployment when you correctly count everyone out of work..
We would all agree that health care needs an overhaul but not the major one the Democrats continue to push down our throats.
As in previous elections–IT'S THE ECONOMY STUPID. Obama is ineffective to handle one task at a time let alone the number of balls he is trying to juggle.. Perhaps if he quit the daily roadshow and stayed in the White House he could save the taxpayer money and focus on the important issues we depend on him to solve.
I do not believe he should continue to blame Bush for anything. He ran for office. He won. The ball is in his court–take responsibility for it.
I also do not believe any President should be allowed to fly around the world spending taxpayer dollars for frivolous bs like elections in NJ, VA and his latest fiasco, MA.
Senator Scott Brown's voice speaks for the majority of Americans and the reasons he was elected to office in the "PEOPLE'S SEAT" should not be ignored less to the peril of upcoming elections.
I listen to your program first thing every morning and then other programs during the day, but today, I did not understand the point of your coverage. Your reporters went to great lengths to show a project within the Stimulus program that appeared to not provide the benefits that we were all expecting. To be sure, there must be more effective ways to spend the federal monies, but remember when approving over 56, 000 projects, the Federal Government must rely on information provided by the States making the requests. Given the number of projects, I would expect there to be some projects which provide a lower impact than others.
Your program did not show other projects which will provide the benefits the President intended and therefore was not a balanced view on the Stimulus program. All your program did was to increase distrust in the efforts the President is making to improve our economy. If I wanted to hear this kind of biased news coverage, I would listen to Rush Limbaugh, or Bill O’Riley or other FOX commentators.
I listen to CNN almost exclusively because I believe you normally provide balanced news coverage. I expect your news coverage to improve our understanding of issues so that we can make intelligent decisions. I am disappointed at what I believe is slanted coverage on events related to Health Care Reform, the Stimulus, the Financial Bail Out and other efforts by the President to pull our country out of the problems the Bush Administration created. Slanted coverage just adds to the bi-partisanship that is hampering our government and country.
Was just a whole lot of nothing, more empty promises. Time to recall him. So far all he has accomplished is saddle us up with more debt, big government and nothing else. I bet those Nobelprize judges feel pretty stupid by now. And Geitner? Why is he still at his post? Isn't there enough about this moron already to kick his bum to the curb? The only trust worthy member of Obama's democratic administration happens to be a republican, how's that for a laugh. And didn't Obama get the message people send him when they replaced Kennedy with a republican, the people don't want his dumb and expensive healthcare plan.
The speech was excellent, tell the Republicans to work with us or get the hell out of the way. This is not the 1800s. This Country needs fixing, and saying no to everything is not going to fix anything.
The speech was excellent, tell the Republicans to work with us or get the hell out of the way. This is not the 1800s.
When one watches & sees what is going on you realize that our President, whoever it is, is only a figurehead. The real power is with those "old fuddy duddy" politicians who have been there so long that they have a hard time walking or talking, yet these few can control our future!
President Obama, again, any president, could have the best plan ever for our country, but if you do not "roll over" to kiss the feet of the powerfull few, put money in their pockets to get votes, etc., etc. then nothing gets done. I would love to see the vast majority of these officials get thrown out of office and we start all over.
The President's speech covered all of the major concerns affecting every American. What puzzles me is how can he be accused of not getting things done, when he has to rey on other people. If there are people who stand firmly and not be willing to cooperate, how can the President be blamed for their being unwilling to act or cooperate. This is so silly. Also, the President is only one man and the ills of this nation were created by many. This just stands to reason that it will take many to make corrections of those ills. I'm not sure how many there are in this nation are still stuck in the muck and mire of racism and trying to manufacture a scenerio of depicting the as a President can't do person, when in reality – they don't want him to do, then they would have to give up their old beliefs in negative stereotypes that they hold because to lose them would plunder them into a world where they would have to expose their fears and explain their fears. I Share the President's faith in our nation, that we will rise above all of this. Remember that if we make our people strong, then our nation will be strong. If we make our people healthy, then we will have a healthy nation. If we educate our people, then we will have an educated nation. If we make opportunities to build businesses (large & small) – then we will have a nation that works, creates and is prosperous.
Good concept, Joseph Daniel. Quality control. That's one of my pet peeves. Too much of our society is built on cheap mass production instead of quality products. I bought a fireplace insert for I think it was around $1500.00 or so and I distinctly remember asking the salesman that I didn't want to spend that kind of money on it if it wasn't going to last ten years. You buy a washer or refrigerator for that kind of money and it last ten years or more. Well, this was my third season and this past Thanksgiving I had to quit using it, cause it has a rip through the metal all along the back side. And, I bought this at a well known place. I was so freaking mad. I still haven't take it back to them, cause of the work it would take to get it out and I'd get mad again. And when I get mad, bad things can happen.
So I'm all for quality control and putting the words into action on all fronts.
How can America get better when we the people send the same elected officials back to office to just vote no. Republicans and Democrats who donot do their job should loose their job. Republicans knowingly avoided getting involved in health care and now cry fowl. Kira you are not professional when you make your political affilation known instead of reporting the news. CNN your so called journalist as Kira, C Brown, and sometimes John King promote their idea instead of giving the facts and letting us decide. Blitzer, Candy Crowly, and Gergen understand real journalism. Why does CNN allow the journalist to show their party affiliation?
If you wish to avoid lawsuits improve the quality control that is lacking in all aspects of society from recalls for cars and parts to doctors not fit to practice in the first place. Quality control are words used to promote a concept but lacking in the physical application of those words are they not. Wise up Peoples. That lacking causes the lawsuits and the number of lawsuits gives us an indication where the level of "quality control" stands currently and not seen as a passing grade.
After '8' years of GRAND OLD (PARTY). It is hard to wake up.(REP) are affraid to agree with Obama. He's BLACK. They don't want their friends to see them on his side,Even the black politicians are afraid to lose their jobs if they help Obama., They all hate Obama because he's black. Our country will crash and they don't care,Heck they would like that, They have plenty of money.Poor whites like me will go under and no one cares. I'm 75 and in poor health, I might not see the end of AMERICA!!!
I really enjoyed the President's speech, particularly his proposal to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." I would have gladly served in the military, but didn't want to go through the grief and anquish 20 years ago when it was "Do Ask, Do Tell". Gay and Lesbians are already in the military, and it wouldn't be able to function if everyone who serves AND is in the closet were drummed out. Otherwise, I was happy to hear the President's proposal to tax the mega-banks, provide stimulus for community colleges as well as tax credits for 4 year college educations. Go Mr. President, Go!!!
Is there going to be an unemployment extension being considered for people whose benefits will end and have no other place to live?
Thank you
Immortal words of Michael Jackson;
all i want to say is 'They don't really care about us'.
I am watching the Kiran showing the 84 percent approval rating for G.W.Bush..and look what her did to a nation under his watch. I would not put too much in rating coming from a narrow minded Peoples to begin with.
Republicans are claiming that they know the best way to help middle class Americans.
Yes they do. The Republicans are very good at helping middle class Americans right out of their homes and into the street with no roof over their heads.
Republicans are now claiming that they are the ones who fight for our jobs and know just how to get our jobs back.
Yet it was the Republicans in 2001 who signed into legislation the fiancial government incentives for Businesses to take American middle class jobs and outsource those jobs to other countries.
Republicans are claiming that they belive in Health Reform, but they also claim that malpractice law suits are to blame for the rise in medical health insurance cost and that the law suits should Not be permitted. And Republicans will only except Health Reform that has a clause stopping or banning law suits.
I have never sued anyone in my life, but if Republicans think they can put a clause in the Health Reform to take away my right to sue if the medical profession messes up on me or my family, then Republicans are out of their minds.
Brilliant speach.I just hope the GOP is up to His challange.It's time to get people back to work.Stop the bickering!
We're sick and tired of putting people in office for them to be there for their own agenda.It's time they start listening to us and get something done.We got them in there and This year we can get them OUT!
Too much hypocricy.John McCain campaigned that the surge worked yet on Larry King last night he said it didn't.Which is it?
Each community needs power for the community body to work. Develop the power needs for the community where Government within the community brings in Industry who pay for their power need to the community itself. Government is administration to the physical needs of the Peoples and has no business in Business and Industry yet it must monitor business and industry to ensure the body is not producing too little or too much which could lead to or cause harm to the community body as a whole.
If big time energy producers went back to redevelop the local level in partnership with these communites all benefit. To have big time energy go in and try to secure it all for themselves ensure the removeal of their heads in the very very near future. The development of individual choice and the consequences that follow. Choose.
I am a lifelong Republican but considered changing my party affiliation before the next election as a result of watching the Republicans vote against everything and their refusal to do the jobs we've hired them to do. Instead, I've decided to use my vote in the primaries to stop the naysayers and elect, instead, people who are willing to unite with other Americans to actively work for the citizens of this great country.
So, beware incumbents, both Democratic and Republicans. If you can't reach across the table and work for the good of America to accomplish worthwhile projects for average American citizens, I will be actively examining your voting records to make sure I help elect someone who can actually earn their salary and represent their constituents, both rich and poor. (Thank you, Bill Gates, for developing the technology that will allow me to do this!)
Naysayers, take a last look around Washington. I don't believe I'm alone in my disgust for lawmakers who have no vision and no desire to do their jobs. I believe that the American people are smarter than you, so I won't expect to run into you on the streets of Washington after the next election (unless of course you are working as a lobbyist, which is a subject for another day.)
Chris Matthews: I forgot He was Black. if you have to make a statement like that- it's obvious you DID not forget. I am a lil pissed at CNN for not talking about THIS issue. I had forgotten POTUS's race mattered until Chris Matthews reminded me.
Great on stimulus reporting, but there must be some positive stories. Also, are some of these bridge to nowhere stories in red states, where they want to do harm to any Democratic program. Governors run the show. What was in it for them?Show the Republicans for the obstructionists they really are!!! Also NH Independent analyst was a Republican in disguise. I live there and she was definitely a Republican leaning Independent. Way too negative to be objective!!!!!
There is NO FIX in store for the the United States until the fix is implemented globally. Government, Industry, Finance, Academic, Military, Media, Religion(spirituality+ETHICS) and the Peoples.
Government=nervous system administering to the physical needs of the body. Industry=arms and legs administering to the supply and demands of the body. Finance=arteries and veins with money acting as the currency/blood flow. No flow no go Peoples so wise up. Academic=brains with each a devloping brain cell to the forming brain of Humanity itself. Impressive body Peoples not yet seen for what it will be. Military=immune system administering to the security needs of the body. Media=growing ears, eyes and voice to the body. Religion =heart with the Peoples=acting as the skin holding it all together.
Like flakes of skin as we age and die we fall from the body and as new life is born new flakes form on the body. As time progresses some will become absorbed within the body to take their positions within Government, Industry, Finance, Academic, Miltary, Media and Religion.
" we shall come to the unlearned(we the Peoples) before coming to the learned(leaderships)".......CNN...reader...you now know more than all global leaderships what this is all about.
President Obama delivered an interesting SOTU speech in that he gave me hope for future political dealings in Washington. Now, as a Republican, that was very difficult to say. However, I do believe the President is tired of the partisanship, as are most Americans, and would like to put an end to it. As to Republicans trend of "voting no" to any Democratic proposal... I can only say that I too would tend to vote no if my ideas were not included in the discusion and at times... totally excluded. If the President follows through with his "offer" to meet with Republican leaders once a month, and their voice is not stifled, things could start happening... O.K. I'll say it... we might get a change we can believe in.
He said what needed to be said. As an independent I will NOT vote Republican OR Democratic until they start working together. So Republicans and Democrats, the 48% majority say "if you do not work together or just sit and say NO, you will lose your job". We are not paying you to do nothing. And put it on the web site, what special interest lobbiest are visiting my Congress person and Senator. Disclosure goes beyond Obama's door. Health care is broken....You don't like the plan, then let us see you "better" plan. Don't like what is being done on Unemployment "Let us see your PLAN". I am not paying you to be stubborn or to sit. I would rather see Obama stay strong and lose the next election, than let U.S. citizens down. "GET er done".
If only the whimpy democrats will just get off their scared behinds and unite to pass all of Obama`s agenda, we will be ok. Forget the republicans, they already say that they want him to fail! Who cares about bipartisanship?
I voted for President Obama and I still stand by him, even though there are differences in some of his ideas. Especially when it comes to energy. But, let's leave that alone for now.
I was taken aback when President Obama talked of using the money that the banks paid back which should be used to pay down the debt, but instead he offered to put it back into a jobs bill. Now, I'm sure not all the money has been spent in the stimulus bill and so, knowing how politicians are, if they don't put the money back into the taxpayer's coffer, their just going to spend the rest of the stimulus anyway. A method I would use is to get the banks to start lending to small businesses again.
Overall, I liked what President Obama stated. But, he is confronted by a divided nation a divided congress and anger that clouds the American people's ability to think clearly about where we are and where we came from. Just for a little reminder, if AIG went belly up, all you independents would be picking food from a garbage can. Just remember that gut feeling you had over a year ago and what was happening to your 401k's. Now, granted when your dealing with the devil (elitist in AIG, banks, insurance companies) you know you're going to get screwed somewhere along the line.
What is irritating to me the most is when President Obama made reference to the Supreme Court decision to allow corporations, multi national corporations, like say from China, Saudi Arabia and possibly Iran to dump their dirty money into our political system. In essence giving corporations individual rights. It's not a block party! And, then you have Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito shaking his head in defiance. And that shows that he has politicized the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court Justices are sworn in using a Bible, by doing so they are being Judged by God Almighty. And his Judgment is final.
obama had good delivery but no follow through for main street. I don't buy the doomsday scenario as being the reason for wall street and main street bailouts. As long as he has bernanke, geithner, and summers advising him he will not help main street. I would like him to declare an economic state of emergency for main street and appoint former gov spitzer the independent prosecutor to go after the banks and wall street firms that committed grand theft and fraud.
Allowing the top tax rates to increase from 36% to 39% is a joke. Top tax rates need to go up to 90%, and corporate welfare needs to be eliminated not increased. The national debt will be 35 trillion within 10 years but I heard no sense of emergency. The government is broke but obama does not seem to know it.
Listening to Kiran talking with Giuliano. To make a claim that this President brought up the deficit a false claim.The past President brought up that deficit with the war to which the current President is caught up in . To interview these peoples with self serving agendas influencing their words CNN as well is guilty of promoting a falsehood. Consequences will follow.
When are the Peoples going to force Democrats and Republicans to work it together for the wellness and betterment of the Peoples as a whole. Each like an arm to the same body that chooses to work it one arm at a time which we see is lacking and bringing further discomfort to the body they are in representative of.
The job creation will come...to start from the loval level developing what each community needs to become more self sufficient. Our grandparents and those before them were more self sufficient than we are as big business bought out the local owners and had it all centralized. Now the Peoples are just like the Indians who were put on reserves taking their abilty to be self sufficient away from them as it was done to we the Peoples as a whole.
The body of Humanity the Primary Patient/Student witrh the bodies within used towards the growth and development of that Primary. CNN reported a ship over Texas over two mile long. They are already developed Primaries who have already resolved that which affects us all today.
The President has impressive back up coming in so both parties better wise up quick or fall to the sword real time real time.
Haiti and developing properly their Government, Industry, Finance, Academic, Military, Media, Religion(spirituality+ethics) and the Peoples themselves. Do it wrong...I dare you Humanity.....to do it wrong when wrong was thought right different than doing wrong after knowing what right was and is.
Government hindered in performing properly because of those self serving agendas of Industry and Finance that go against the wellness and betterment of society as a whole.Short term gain for long term loss coming their way....quick to claim God on their side...false claim with consequences to follow real time real time.
It amazes me how the media and Democrats believe that we as Americans,have no sense,that we are nothing but a bunch of backwoods,uneducated people.We gave Democrats full control of our country since the 2008 elections.A year and three months later what do we hear.It's the Republicans fault,it's Bush's tax cuts,stimulus plans and wars,which was voted by the majority of both parties before it took effect.Our media is a joke,our government is a joke and people are getting sick of it.Look,why don't they just put marshal law into effect,take away all our rights and force us into labor camps,where we work for soup and bread and let's become the communist country that these clowns seem to want us too become.Hell,we are all stupid according to the media and government,so why not.I say that it is time that we gave the Independent party a chance and I am not talking about voting for these clowns who switch parties because of popularity.I am talking about people that we never heard of,running as an independent,not some wolf in sheeps clothing.What other choice do we have?Are we going to keep playing power ping pong with the Democrats and Republicans until someone gets it right?We can't afford to wait that long.Our children can't afford to wait that long.I thought the constitution says that we can remove people in our government,we feel is not in the best interest of our country as a whole.I say we fire every single one of them and show these people who they work for and who's money they keep wasting.But you'll have people say,that is what elections are for.Yeah,we'll that doesn't seem to be working and I think it's about time we laid off our government and put them on the unemployment line.
Richard Souza Jr
Orlando,Fla
I think that Presudent Obama delivered a great speech because ge displayed real action toward real issues. I an a student at Spartanburg High School and South Carolinia has reached an all rime high with unemployment,and what America needs is for Washington to stop having a war between political parties and get the job dine.Another thing us to stop playing the blame game this is not President Obamas fault and Instead of watching what he says and do use that same energy to create jobs and better the economy.
I thought he spoke very well as usual. But this means nothing unless he follows through with helping the middle class. I`m afraid it was another attempt to push the focus off of him and his fellow democrats! He clearly stated that now that they didnt have the super majority that the responsibility falls back on the Republicans! UUUmmmm NO, his party must follow the middle class and fix it or they will lose their seats! Its that simple! Enough of spend spend spend borrow, borrow, borrow, enough! Working people in this country are getting sick of having to go to work everyday for little reward and watch the others take advantage of the tax payer! Bare neccessaties is all anyone who does not contribute full time wages in taxes! That means no cell phones, no internet, no cash for clunkers and the list goes on! These people do not deserve this, work for what you want instead of expecting the tax payer to do it.
I'm a bit dismayed as I watch the early morning pundits quarterback the SOTU speech. Obama finally cast down his cheerleading pom-poms foregoing the roll of cheerleader and began assuming the roll of coach, spending a good deal of time dressing down Congress for its partisanship, earmarking practices and their siding with lobbyists ... instead of p...rotecting those whom they were elected to represent. However, both the media and the politicians seem to have completely missed the dress-down and all sides are pissin' and moanin' about what wasn't in it for them and they're digging in deeper, entrenching themselves even further into their own partisan ideologies. If this continues, ordinary Americans will continue to lose as the war of ideologies rages on.
When will Americans get real? Where in the world or what human being has the power to fix eight years of rot in just one year?
We see to be missing something here, and it is the fact that if Obama fails, it is America that fails, and we'll only go deeper down the drain. How can you criticize his policies, when you have not even given it time to work? No one knows for sure if they'll be spot on or not. These same guys in Washington who are getting people fired up with their negativity, are the same ones who showed Bush unrelenting support when he was dragging us into the ground. Now, all of a sudden, they are economic experts. How I wish they had brought their expertise to the table somewhere in the last 8 years, that way, we'd never have gotten to where we got.
If we are going to criticize, I think it should be objective criticism, and not some of the stunts some people are pulling off in Washington. It is time that we Americans start to think.
I am an independent. I would like to know if I am I the only one who remembers Obama saying things will get done but they take time and we might not see it in 2009 and umemployment might raise in 2009. I am not endorsing this nor am I happy about it but he was honest to admit it. After 8 year of NO domestic policy, do you expect everything to be overturned in 1 year? I do not agree with some of the President's agenda but I will give him time to clean up a economic mess which I am sure was a lot worse than advised.
What literrally disgusts me where the scare tactics and fear instilled tones of the Republican Party ad campaigns..using his name to raise racist tones and deceipt ads..such as death panels...was fear the only hope they had to gain American support?
I am not saying the Democrats were the best either but they tried. the Republicans were like spoiled children who did not get their way so the voted against everything this President wanted to do...discussion and agruments are not bad but really was there absolutely nothing in any of the bills for the Ameican people that might have been positive but because it came from a democrat, it was mandatory to vote it down?
I am so sick of politics and their commericals and now we get to hear more...
I remain an independent and try to understand both sides but I am only left with disillusionment on the whole system.
How about addressing companies which outsource? here are jobs going away because someone in India or Mexico is cheaper...These companies should be fined every year for this action.
I know many will disagree with me but I appreciate this forum to express my views.
I've stopped paying much attention to coverage about politics for about two months now...I really doubt i'm an anomaly. The horse race style coverage of politics, as in framing every political debate in the terms of a win or a loss for the President, Democrats or Republicans, does nothing but feed into the partisan divide that the media claims to be disgusted by. Honestly, whether the President lost the day due to word choice in a sentence in a speech, does nothing to keep an average young american like myself employed or able to make monthly student loan payments. Bitter partisanship is high atop the list of those things stalling progress in this country. Until the media in particular, stops its fascination with wanting to see an institution in power or a powerful idea crash and burn, "nothing" will continue to be the agenda of our legislators. Yep. Nothing.
Sorry, I fell asleep 20 Minutes into it, I guess that is how exciting Obama really is.
Did Obama connect? I cannot believe the comments of Jennifer Donohue for the Independents about what did he do this year! He did save the country from a great depression. Perhaps she should point the finger at the Senate and the partisanship – you let Donohue off the hook too easy. Passing health care reform is a key issue that will help the economy. She is over the top in the category of "wing nut" for skepticism! She should direct her negativity at the obstrucionists, not Obama; and at the Senate Dems who lack the courage to do the right thing and have moved away from Obama's agenda – they are shameful.
it's a shame he couldn,t give the speach from the rose garden, at least it might have kept congress&seneta awake .and the smell of the up roses would have covered the the crap that he was shovelen