Obama urges resilience
President Barack Obama's campaign message of hope carried over into Tuesday's congressional address.
Seeking to inspire an increasingly anxious and downtrodden national populace, Obama referred to this day as one of "reckoning" during his speech before a joint session of Congress.
He spoke of finding a way out of the worst economic disaster in a quarter-century by embracing sacrifice and new endeavors to improve health care, schools and the environment.
"Tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before," the president said.
Obama's speech was punctuated by standing ovations from members of Congress at the mention of health care, the economy, education, energy and national security.
Investment was a recurring theme in the address. Not just investment in the failing economy through the $787 billion stimulus package, but investment in laboratories, universities, fields, factories and imaginations of the American landscape and people.
For students having problems with making tuition payments, Obama said new non-specific options will be available for assistance.
He said by 2020, the U.S. will have the highest proportion of college degrees in the world, and volunteering in communities or serving the country will provide financial benefits.
Student
partisan reaction
Spokesman for Campus Conservatives and Topinabee senior Dennis Lennox said he was encouraged by Obama's commitment to national security, but was not confident Obama's numbers add up to relief.
Lennox said he believes Obama plans to raise taxes in order to help trim the budget deficit, a move he describes as "confusing."
Matt Sous, former president of College Democrats and Students for Barack Obama, said Obama's focus on education and energy showed he is committed to both short- and long-term success for the policies being made.
"They're really good points for a long-term strategy, not just for the next one or two years and not for just the next decade," the Freeland senior said. "These are strategies that are going to keep our country going into the next century."
Lennox said Obama's strategies are not new, nor have they been successful in the past.
"These ideas aren't going to work," he said. "(They are) the same tax and spend liberal policies of yesteryear."
Not taking action is not an option, though, Sous said.
"We need to end this recession on our own terms. We can't just tolerate letting (it) run its course," he said.
Obama's speech echoed the same message.
"None of this will come without cost, nor will it be easy," he said. "This is America. We don't do what is easy, we do what is necessary to move this country forward."
metro@cm-life.com
