Obama delivered his final State of the Union Address on Tuesday, Jan. 12, in front of a joint session of Congress. If you missed it, well, then you missed the end of an era. For his final address, Obama did not focus on simply a list of proposals for the year ahead, but on a vision for the next five to 10 years.
So what did you miss exactly? Here's the breakdown.
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1. Our Economy is not in decline.
Obama basically said those who say it is not, are basically just haters. "We're in the middle of the longest streak of private-sector job creation in history." There have been more than fourteen million new jobs and an unemployment rate cut in half!
2. Education is super important to secure your shot.
He proposed the keys to success are to provide Pre-K for all, to offer every student the hands-on computer science and math classes that make them job ready, and to cut the cost of college.
3. If we can walk on the moon, we can do so much more.
During the SOTU, president Obama talked about the American passion for innovation and progressiveness. On Tuesday, he formally announced that Joe Biden would lead the initiative to cure cancer: “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.” The VP lost his son Beau Biden to brain cancer in 2015, so this was definitely a heartwarming moment.
4. “Gas under two bucks a gallon ain’t bad either...”
But wind and solar energy have made an appearance on the main stage. The president stated, “In fields from Iowa to Texas, wind power is now cheaper than dirtier, conventional power. On rooftops from Arizona to New York, solar is saving Americans tens of millions of dollars a year on their energy bills, and employs more Americans than coal — in jobs that pay better than average.”
5. We are ‘Murica!
“The United States of America is the most powerful nation on Earth. Period…Our troops are the finest fighting force in the history of the world. No nation dares to attack us or our allies because they know that's the path to ruin.”
6. The call to stop Muslim shaming
Obama bluntly pointed out that ISIL is not representative of Islam, one of the world's largest religions. “We just need to call them (ISIS) what they are -- killers and fanatics who have to be rooted out, hunted down, and destroyed... When politicians insult Muslims, when a mosque is vandalized, or a kid bullied, that doesn't make us safer… It's just wrong.”
7. Priority number one is protecting the American people and going after terrorist networks... ask Osama bin Laden.
“If you doubt America's commitment — or mine — to see that justice is done, ask Osama bin Laden.” Ohh..burn!
8. How do we stop ourselves from becoming the world’s policeman?
Obama said the answer is simply to lead. “When we lead nearly 200 nations to the most ambitious agreement in history to fight climate change -- that helps vulnerable countries, but it also protects our children. When we help Ukraine defend its democracy, or Colombia resolve a decades-long war, that strengthens the international order we depend upon.
9. Say no to polarized politics.
Democracy is at the risk of failing if we disagree with others because we think that the “other side” has ulterior motives. Polarized politics creates the unwillingness to compromise, and then “only the most extreme voices get attention. 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.”
10. Obama: “Hmm… If only I were Lincoln.”
It is usually rare for a president to address regrets during his term, but Obama did not hold back. He said that the gaping divide between parties have gotten worse and not better. The polarization of parties is nothing new, but he said that a “Lincoln or a Roosevelt” may have better bridged the divide.
11. Obama has faith in you.
Obama's last line gripped the hearts of Americans when he said, "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!” Cue the tears of hopefuls across the nation.
