If you were too consumed with reality television last night, you missed President Obama's State of the Union Address in Washington. This was much more ambitious than the last address, as the president focused on economic inequality among Americans, job creation, energy, and education. And as usual, there was little to no applause from the Republican party. After the jump, check out the most profound statements!
Accomplishments in the War on Terrorism: "For the first time in nine years, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq. For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a threat to this country. Most of al Qaeda's top lieutenants have been defeated. The Taliban's momentum has been broken, and some troops in Afghanistan have begun to come home."
Economic inequality: "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. 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."
Unemployment and job creation: "In the six months before I took office, we lost nearly four million jobs. And we lost another four million before our policies were in full effect. Those are the facts. But so are these. In the last 22 months, businesses have created more than three million jobs. Last year, they created the most jobs since 2005. American manufacturers are hiring again, creating jobs for the first time since the late 1990s."
Promising action: "As long as I'm president, I will work with anyone in this chamber to build on this momentum. But 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."
Rebirth of auto industry: "On the day I took office, our auto industry was on the verge of collapse. Some even said we should let it die. ... Today, General Motors is back on top as the world's number one automaker. Chrysler has grown faster in the US than any major car company. Ford is investing billions in US plants and factories. And together, the entire industry added nearly 160,000 jobs."
The tax code: "Right now, companies get tax breaks for moving jobs and profits overseas. Meanwhile, companies that choose to stay in America get hit with one of the highest tax rates in the world. It makes no sense, and everyone knows it. ... From now one, every multinational company should have to pay a basic minimum tax. And every penny should go towards lowering taxes for companies that choose to stay here and hire here."
Education: "At a time when other countries are doubling down on education, tight budgets have forced states to lay off thousands of teachers. ... Most teachers work tirelessly, with modest pay, sometimes digging into their own pocket for school supplies - just to make a difference. ...let's offer schools a deal. Give them resources to keep good teachers on the job, and reward the best ones. So tonight, I call on every state to require that all students stay in high school until they graduate or turn 18."
College tuition: "Extend the tuition tax credit we started that saves middle class families thousands of dollars. And give more young people the chance to earn their way through college by doubling the number of work study jobs in the next five years. So let me put colleges and universities on notice: if you can't stop tuition from going up, the funding you get from taxpayers will go down."
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