Remarks by the President in State of the Union Address. The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release January 24, 2012 United States Capitol Washington, D.C. THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Last month, I went to Andrews Air Force Base and welcomed home some of our last troops to serve in Iraq. We gather tonight knowing that this generation of heroes has made the United States safer and more respected around the world.
These achievements are a testament to the courage, selflessness and teamwork of America’s Armed Forces. Imagine what we could accomplish if we followed their example. We can do this. The defining issue of our time is how to keep that promise alive. Let’s remember how we got here. In 2008, the house of cards collapsed. It was wrong. Those are the facts. Last year, they created the most jobs since 2005. The state of our Union is getting stronger. No, we will not go back to an economy weakened by outsourcing, bad debt, and phony financial profits. Now, this blueprint begins with American manufacturing.
But challenges remain. C-SPAN: 2012 State of the Union Address. C-SPAN: 2012 Republican Response from Gov. Mitch Daniels (R-IN) Defiant Obama speech draws battle lines. 25 January 2012Last updated at 07:12 President Obama gave Gabrielle Giffords a warm hug as he approached the podium The State of the Union speech is always something of an occasion. There are those members of Congress who sit for ages in the aisle seats hoping for a presidential clap on the back or shake of the hand. But this time something was rather different. The emotional temperature soared as Barack Obama hugged Gabby Giffords, the congresswoman who was shot in Arizona, who survived against the odds, who has made a miraculous but not full recovery and who has just resigned her seat to concentrate on getting better.
He rocked her from side to side in a wordless greeting. Congress erupted in applause. As an outpouring of genuine human emotion it was moving. But not going back. “Start Quote What's at stake, he said, are not Democratic values or Republican values, but American values” End Quote It must be something of a headache for those who had to help the president write this speech. President Obama sings Al Green: Let's stay together in 2012 ;-)