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Obama’s Final SOTU Address: ‘I Want to Focus on Our Future’

Follow the latest updates on President Barack Obama’s final State of the Union address here. 

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President of The United States of America, Barack Obama delivered his final State of The Union Address at The White House, Tuesday (EST). (Photo: AP)
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President of The United States of America, Barack Obama delivered his final State of The Union Address at The White House, Tuesday (EST). (Photo: AP)
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Important Pointers From Obama’s Final Address

Barack Obama delivered his final State of the Union address, as the second term of his presidency nears its end. Here are some key points he made during his speech.

Republicans Vs Democrats

The two major political parties in the US will almost never see eye-to-eye on important issues that concern the people of the country. People are reacting via social media and politicians are taking a stand.

At least we have Joe Biden, who is excited and ready to go.

Congratulations to President Barack Obama on his final State of the Union Address.

Gov Nikki Haley’s Rebuttal

<p>Rather than just thanking our brave men and women in uniform, we would actually strengthen our military.</p>

Compliments, But With Doubt

<p>Barack Obama’s election as president seven years ago broke historic barriers and inspired millions of Americans. As he did when he first ran for office, tonight President Obama spoke eloquently about grand things. He is at his best when he does that.<br></p><p>Unfortunately, the President’s record has often fallen far short of his soaring words.</p>

Crushing national debt, a healthcare plan that has made insurance less affordable and doctors less available, Nikki Haley states what has gone wrong with Obama’s presidency.

‘Obamacare Will Be Gone’: Paul Ryan

Reactions to Haley

Hillary Clinton on Republicans ‘Ripping us Away’

Obama’s Closing Remarks

Obama ended his speech with rights to vote and the American society building a future together.

<p>That’s the America I know. That’s the country we love. Clear-eyed. Big-hearted. Optimistic that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. That’s what makes me so hopeful about our future. Because of you. I believe in you. That’s why I stand here confident that the State of our Union is strong.</p>
‘Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.’

Hillary Clinton Pro-Obama

Mission Control Joe

“I’m putting Joe in charge of NASA’s Mission Control” 

Rand Paul on Obama’s State of the Union Address

Obama on Democracy

“I will try to keep getting better.”

<p>Most of all, democracy breaks down when the average person feels their voice doesn’t matter; that the system is rigged in favor of the rich or the powerful or some narrow interest. 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.</p>

He pleads to the Americans that changing politicians will not solve all the problems, he says to have better politics, a system change is required.

<p>Voices that help us see ourselves not first and foremost as black or white or Asian or Latino, not as gay or straight, immigrant or native born; not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans first, bound by a common creed. Voices Dr. King believed would have the final word  —  voices of unarmed truth and unconditional love.</p>

Donald Trump clearly did not like the speech.

Obama on Religion

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.”

A Snub At Trump

<p>When politicians insult Muslims, when a mosque is vandalised, 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.</p>

Obama on ISIL

<p>That’s exactly what we are doing. For more than a year, America has led a coalition of more than 60 countries to cut off ISIL’s financing, disrupt their plots, stop the flow of terrorist fighters, and stamp out their vicious ideology. With nearly 10,000 air strikes, we are taking out their leadership, their oil, their training camps, and their weapons. We are training, arming, and supporting forces who are steadily reclaiming territory in Iraq and Syria.</p>

Obama on Africa

<p>When we help African countries feed their people and care for the sick, that prevents the next pandemic from reaching our shores. Right now, we are on track to end the scourge of HIV/AIDS, and we have the capacity to accomplish the same thing with malaria — something I’ll be pushing this Congress to fund this year.</p>

Obama on Cuba

<p>Fifty years of isolating Cuba had failed to promote democracy, setting us back in Latin America. That’s why we restored diplomatic relations, opened the door to travel and commerce, and positioned ourselves to improve the lives of the Cuban people. You want to consolidate our leadership and credibility in the hemisphere? Recognize that the Cold War is over. Lift the embargo.</p>

Obama on Iran

<p>As we speak, Iran has rolled back its nuclear program, shipped out its uranium stockpile, and the world has avoided another war.</p>

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has some comments on the Iran nuclear deal.

Obama on Commitment and Progress

<p>If you doubt America’s commitment  —  or mine  —  to see that justice is done, ask Osama bin Laden.</p>
President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, January 12, 2016. (Photo: AP)
<p>As we speak, Iran has rolled back its nuclear program, shipped out its uranium stockpile, and the world has avoided another war.</p>

Obama on Revamping the System in Place

<p>It’s up to us to help remake that system. And that means we have to set priorities.</p>

“But as we focus on destroying ISIL, over-the-top claims that this is World War III just play into their hands. Masses of fighters on the back of pickup trucks and twisted souls plotting in apartments or garages pose an enormous danger to civilians and must be stopped. But they do not threaten our national existence. That’s the story ISIL wants to tell; that’s the kind of propaganda they use to recruit. 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.”

Climate Change

<p>We’re taking steps to give homeowners the freedom to generate and store their own energy  —  something environmentalists and Tea Partiers have teamed up to support. Meanwhile, we’ve cut our imports of foreign oil by nearly sixty percent, and cut carbon pollution more than any other country on Earth.</p>
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Joe Biden In Charge of Mission Control

<p>Tonight, I’m announcing a new national effort to get it done. And because he’s gone to the mat for all of us, on so many issues over the past forty years, I’m putting Joe in charge of Mission Control. For the loved ones we’ve all lost, for the family we can still save, let’s make America the country that cures cancer once and for all.</p>

Healthcare and Education

Stats on Healthcare.
High school graduation rate has increased to 82 percent. 

Obama’s Pressing Questions

  • 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?

Obama on South Asia

<p>Our foreign policy must be focused on the threat from ISIL and al Qaeda, but it can’t stop there. For even without ISIL, instability will continue for decades in many parts of the world  —  in the Middle East, in Afghanistan and Pakistan, in parts of Central America, Africa and Asia. Some of these places may become safe havens for new terrorist networks; others will fall victim to ethnic conflict, or famine, feeding the next wave of refugees. 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.</p>

Reactions

Opening Statements

Obama’s opening statement on prescription drug abuse and justice reforms were received with great honour.
<p> Tonight marks the eighth year I’ve come here to report on the State of the Union. And for this final one, I’m going to try to make it shorter. I know some of you are antsy to get back to Iowa.</p>

The Eagle Has Landed

President Barack Obama has entered the venue and is being greeted with roaring applause. With his trademark smile, thumbs ups and kiss on the cheek, Obama is making his way to the podium.

US President Barack Obama will deliver his final State of the Union address at the White House today. The speech is scheduled to begin at 7.30 am IST.

Arrival

The Chief Justices of the Supreme Court have arrived at the White House for his final State of The Union Address.

First Lady Michelle Obama has also arrived and is seen settling in her viewing box.

The President’s cabinet is walking through the aisle greeting fellow attendees of the SOTU address.

Witty Moments With John Kerry

Final Thoughts

Via his Facebook page, President Obama shared his thoughts before his final address.

President Barack Obama will present an agenda for his final year in office in his last State of the Union address, aimed at generating support for a Pacific trade pact, tighter gun laws and closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison.

The speech to a joint session of Congress will be one of Obama’s few remaining chances to capture and hold the attention of millions of Americans before he is eclipsed by his would-be successors.

Obama to Stick to Legacy Themes in His Address

  • Politics will loom over the address. He is expected to stick to legacy themes and steer clear of new legislative proposals that his fellow Democrats on the presidential campaign trail are laying out for themselves.
  • Obama is likely to tout the Iran nuclear deal and improved US-Cuba relations as achievements, while urging Congress to back criminal justice reform, support the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact and close the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
  • He will also likely discuss the US fight against ISIS, which has generated criticism from Republicans as being too meagre.

Setting The Agenda

The White House wants to portray Obama as setting the agenda, even on the campaign trail, with goals such as gun control that will reverberate past his time in office. He announced executive actions last week to tighten gun rules.

The speech could also be an indirect repudiation of Republican front-runner Donald Trump’s call for the US to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the country.

As usual, first lady Michelle Obama will host people in her seating area during the speech who reflect the president’s priorities. This year’s guests include Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella and a Syrian refugee who now lives in Michigan.

The First Lady’s Guest List

The White House on Sunday announced the complete 2016 list of Lenny Skutniks, including veterans, volunteers, college students, small business people, immigrants, activists and the CEO of Microsoft.

The guest list suggests that Obama will look back on how the country has changed during his presidency — the expansion of health care, deferred deportations, gay marriage and increasing use of clean energy. He’ll also likely promote what he sees as unfinished business — criminal justice reform, the opioid crisis, more affordable higher education and ending veterans homelessness.

In a conspicuous display of political symbolism, Obama is leaving one seat in the first lady’s box empty to illustrate “the victims of gun violence who no longer have a voice.”

(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)

Published: 13 Jan 2016,07:24 AM IST

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