Unity between parties stressed in State of the Union

President Barack Obama tried to revitalize his party, promote health care reform and reach out to the Republicans in his State of the Union speech Jan. 27. In front of Congress, the Cabinet, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Supreme Court, President Obama spoke specifically about the poor economy, the necessity of creating more jobs and recovery. Though the fourth quarter gross domestic product in the United States was 5.5 percent, the unemployment rate is more than 10 percent and the under employed is nearly 20 percent. According to journalist Bill Moyers, Obama said "jobs" 29 times in his speech. Therefore, full economic recovery, not health care reform was the more pressing issue in the speech. Ideas for protecting economic security and future of the United States revolved around re-building the American middle-class by hoping to double the child tax credit, expanding tax credits for those who begin a retirement savings and also work on refinancing to make mortgages and home owning more affordable. By strengthening the Middle Class, Obama said Americans would be investing in the education system. His hope is to renew the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, revitalize community colleges, increase Pell Grants and forgive all student debt after 20 years, after 10 years if they choose a profession in public service. The overlying fear from Americans and the criticism Obama faces is the overflow of debt the country has, and how his programs would strictly add to an already stressful financial crisis. Obama spoke about the need to eliminate programs which are unaffordable or have not made progress, extend middle-class tax cuts and starting in 2011, freeze spending by the federal government on programs which are discretionary in nature and by increasing exports, including a goal of doubling exports within five years. The White House Web site, which listed a full copy of the speech said, "In the end, it's our ideals, our values that built America -- values that allowed us to forge a nation made up of immigrants from every corner of the globe; values that drive our citizens still. Every day, Americans meet their responsibilities to their families and their employers. Time and again, they lend a hand to their neighbors and give back to their country. They take pride in their labor, and are generous in spirit. These aren't Republican values or Democratic values that they're living by; business values or labor values. They're American values." With this outlook, the country moves forward with doubt and frustration toward its political leaders, however, Obama gained a one-point increase in his approval rating following the speech, according to the Huffington Post blog. It seems as though the public is looking for inspiration, not bickering, in the upcoming year.