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Gun Control, Climate Change and Tax Increases: Here’s Your Recap of Obama’s State of the Union Address

Feb. 12, 2013 10:18pm
Gun Control Key Theme in Obamas State of the Union Address: The Families of Newtown Deserve a Vote

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 12: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (L) applauds as U.S. President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol February 12, 2013 in Washington, DC. Facing a divided Congress, Obama focused his speech on new initiatives designed to stimulate the U.S. economy. Credit: Getty Images

Promising to create new jobs without increasing the federal deficit, President Barack Obama on Tuesday called for a “smarter government” not a bigger one to help revive a “rising thriving middle class” during his State of the Union address.

In his first State of the Union address since winning re-election, Obama made good on his promise to make climate change more of a priority in his second term and called on Congress to do more to invest in clean energy combat global warming.

“[F]or the sake of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change,” he said. “Yes, it’s true that no single event makes a trend. But the fact is, the 12 hottest years on record have all come in the last 15. Heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and floods – all are now more frequent and more intense.”

“We can choose to believe that Superstorm Sandy, and the most severe drought in decades, and the worst wildfires some states have ever seen were all just a freak coincidence,” he continued. “Or we can choose to believe in the overwhelming judgment of science – and act before it’s too late.”

If Congress refuses to act “soon,” the president said he was prepared to go around lawmakers and act through executive orders to “reduce pollution, repair our communities from the consequences of climate change and speed the transition to more sustainable forms of energy.”

Gun control was a key theme in Obama’s State of the Union address. He invoked the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre and 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton to make his case for new gun laws.

“Of course, what I’ve said tonight matters little if we don’t come together to protect our most precious resource – our children,” the president said. “It has been two months since Newtown.  I know this is not the first time this country has debated how to reduce gun violence.  But this time is different.  Overwhelming majorities of Americans – Americans who believe in the 2nd Amendment – have come together around commonsense reform – like background checks that will make it harder for criminals to get their hands on a gun.”

He invited Hadiya’s parents to Tuesday’s State of the Union address because “they deserve a vote.” He then listed all the tragic shootings that have recently occurred in the U.S.

“Gabby Giffords deserves a vote. The families of Newtown deserve a vote. The families of Aurora deserve a vote. The Families of Oak Creek and Tucson, and Blacksburg and the countless other communities ripped open by gun violence — they deserve a simple vote.”

He admitted that no law or initiative will prevent every “senseless act of violence,” however, argued that something had to be done to make a difference.

Obama also called for closing tax loopholes for the “well off and the well connected” to help increase revenue and reduce the deficit. He did reiterate his willingness to tackle entitlement changes, particularly on Medicare, though he has ruled out increasing the eligibility age for the popular benefit program for seniors because the government shouldn’t “make promises it can’t keep.”

Obama called job creation his “North Star” and implored a divided Congress to center its work on attracting more jobs to the U.S., equipping Americans to compete for those positions and making sure hard work leads to a decent living.

“Most Americans…know that broad-based economic growth requires a balanced approach to deficit reduction, with spending cuts and revenue, and with everybody doing their fair share,” Obama said. “And that’s the approach I offer tonight.”

The commander-in-chief argued that “there is much progress to report,” with a decade-long war winding down, the American auto industry rebounding and the housing market healing.

“Together, we have cleared away the rubble of crisis, and can say with renewed confidence that the state of our union is stronger,” he added.

The president said his proposals to increase spending on manufacturing, infrastructure and clean-energy technologies would be fully paid for, though he did not specify how he would offset the cost of his proposals.

“Nothing I’m proposing tonight should increase our deficit by a single dime,” Obama said. “It’s not a bigger government we need, but a smarter government that sets priorities and invests in broad-based growth.”

Gun Control Key Theme in Obamas State of the Union Address: The Families of Newtown Deserve a Vote

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 12: House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) (R) listens as U.S. President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol February 12, 2013 in Washington, DC. Facing a divided Congress, Obama focused his speech on new initiatives designed to stimulate the U.S. economy. Credit: Getty Images

Gun Control Key Theme in Obamas State of the Union Address: The Families of Newtown Deserve a Vote

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 12: U.S. President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union speech before a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol February 12, 2013 in Washington, DC. Facing a divided Congress, Obama focused his speech on new initiatives designed to stimulate the U.S. economy and said, ‘It’s not a bigger government we need, but a smarter government that sets priorities and invests in broad-based growth’. Credit: Getty Images

Gun Control Key Theme in Obamas State of the Union Address: The Families of Newtown Deserve a Vote

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 12: U.S. President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union speech before a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol February 12, 2013 in Washington, DC. Facing a divided Congress, Obama focused his speech on new initiatives designed to stimulate the U.S. economy and said, ‘It’s not a bigger government we need, but a smarter government that sets priorities and invests in broad-based growth’. Credit: Getty Images

Gun Control Key Theme in Obamas State of the Union Address: The Families of Newtown Deserve a Vote

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 12: U.S. President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union speech before a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol February 12, 2013 in Washington, DC. Facing a divided Congress, Obama focused his speech on new initiatives designed to stimulate the U.S. economy and said, ‘It’s not a bigger government we need, but a smarter government that sets priorities and invests in broad-based growth’. Credit: Getty Images

Just as he did during his first term, Obama pledged to pursue comprehensive immigration reform in his second term. He called for stronger border security, establishing a pathway to citizenship and cutting the red tape for deserving immigrants.

“Our economy is stronger when we harness the talents and ingenuity of striving, hopeful immigrants,” he said. “And right now, leaders from the business, labor, law enforcement, and faith communities all agree that the time has come to pass comprehensive immigration reform.”

The president implored lawmakers to break through partisan logjams, asserting that “the greatest nation on Earth cannot keep conducting its business by drifting from one manufactured crisis to the next.”

“Americans don’t expect government to solve every problem,” he said. “They do expect us to forge reasonable compromise where we can.”

Yet Obama offered few signs of being willing to compromise himself, instead doubling down on his calls to create jobs by spending more government money and insisting that lawmakers pay down the deficit through a combination of targeted spending cuts and tax increases. But he offered few specifics on what he wanted to see cut, focusing instead on the need to protect programs that help the middle class, elderly and poor.

On the economy, Obama called for raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $9 by 2015. The minimum wage has been stagnant since 2007, and administration officials said the increase would strengthen purchasing power. The president also wants Congress to approve automatic increases in the wage to keep pace with inflation.

Education also figures in Obama’s plans to boost American competitiveness in the global economy. Under his proposal, the federal government would help states provide pre-school for all 4-year-olds. Officials did not provide a cost for the pre-school programs but said the government would provide financial incentives to help states.

Among the other initiatives Obama is proposing:

- A $1 billion plan to create 15 “manufacturing institutes” that would bring together businesses, universities and the government. If Congress opposes the initiative, Obama plans to use his presidential powers to create three institutes on his own.

- Creation of an “energy security trust” that would use revenue from federal oil and gas leases to support development of clean energy technologies such as biofuels and natural gas

- Doubling of renewable energy in the U.S. from wind, solar and geothermal sources by 2020

 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Comments (168)

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  • antiliberalmatter
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 12:05am

    I bet the Al-Queda, Taliban, Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, et.al. are all just SHAKING in their “collective” boots after watching this…..
    It must have been broadcast on their version of “Comedy Central”

    But seriously scary stuff …. Demise-of-a-civilization creepy, Last-days-foreboding kind of sickly.

    A room full of “Addam’s-Family” types like Lurch, Morticia’s Wednesday’s, Pugsleys, cousin Itt’s and Uncle Festers…oh, and some and some extra’s thrown in from the set of the “Night of the Living Dead”

    I really fear for this nation.

    Report this comment

    antiliberalmatter  
  • RightThinking1
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:59pm

    Couldn’t watch/listen to the address, I was mesmerized by Joe Biden’s weird eye…

    Report this comment

    RightThinking1  
  • Atrocities
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:51pm

    “Of course, what I’ve said tonight matters little if we don’t come together to protect our most precious resource – our children,” the president said.

    SO STOP ABORTION…..

    The hypocrisy of the left is simply unbelievable.

    Report this comment

    Atrocities  
  • Iam4America
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:48pm

    Spend, Borrow and Tax

    Report this comment

    Iam4America  
    • RightThinking1
      Posted on February 13, 2013 at 12:02am

      Tax, spend, spend, borrow. Tax,tax, spend, spend, spend, spend, borrow, borrow……..etc.

      Report this comment

      RightThinking1  
  • antiliberalmatter
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:43pm

    In the first few paragraph’s, the usurper said:
    “The American people have worked too hard, for too long, rebuilding from one crisis to see their elected officials cause another.”

    HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!! He’s the KING of causing multiple crises!!!! one right after another!!!!

    So isn’t this a case of the pot calling the kettle black? (oops, bad analogy I guess……)

    Report this comment

    antiliberalmatter  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:43pm

    I had a comment….it was never added. Someone is either asleep or mad.

    Report this comment

    thegreatcarnac  
  • Triple7
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:43pm

    Behold the useful idiot trolls on marching orders from their New Bolshevik handlers.
    FREEDOMLOVER_US and KEATONC333

    A fool claims to love freedom but wraps self in chains of Dear leader and the other fool is a talking point has been shown to be the blissfully ignorant useful tool several times over.

    Report this comment

    Triple7  
  • chris0m0f
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:34pm

    Maybe we’ll just have to marry our firearms, legalize polygamy, and redefine bullets as
    a healthy form of birth control. All we need is good catchphrase, like “healthcare reform”,
    “patriot act”,…

    Report this comment

    chris0m0f  
  • valiant1776
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:30pm

    Alright, so who in Congress has the balls to impeach this POS for lying about Benghazi?

    Defense Secretary Leon Panetta testified this morning on Capitol Hill that President Barack Obama was absent the night four Americans were murdered in Benghazi on September 11, 2012:

    http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/panetta-obama-absent-night-benghazi_700405.html

    Report this comment

    valiant1776  
    • valiant1776
      Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:34pm

      “In fact, Panetta says that the night of 9/11, he did not communicate with a single person at the White House. The attack resulted in the deaths of four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens.

      Obama did not call or communicate in anyway with the defense secretary that night. There were no calls about what was going on in Benghazi. He never called to check-in.

      The 5 o’clock meeting was a pre-scheduled 30-minute session, where, according to Panetta’s recollection, they spent about 20 minutes talking a lot about the American embassy that was surrounded in Egypt and the situation that was just unfolding in Benghazi.”

      Report this comment

      valiant1776  
    • richauthor
      Posted on February 13, 2013 at 10:03am

      Let’s start calling Benghazi what it really was… Obama ABANDONED Americans.

      Report this comment

      richauthor  
  • dadsrootbeer
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:26pm

    Climate change, increasing taxes and no substantial cuts in spending. Now that is leadership……..from complete ideological fools.

    Report this comment

    dadsrootbeer  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:19pm

    The whole show (I’ve seen the reruns) is sickening. The fact the democrats were chanting about taking your guns should tell you never to vote democrat again. Obama is the enemy of freedom. The democrat party has turned into the enemy of freedom and America. When will the Congress have enough patriots in it to rise up and get rid of this foreigner who has passed himself off as American? America is dying. America is dying.

    Report this comment

    thegreatcarnac  
  • sinner-saint
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:05pm

    Obama…let me tell you like it is. you are not the dictator vnor the kingt of this country. you are not this country’s leader. You are are this country’s servant….you are a servant of the people. you don’t tell us what to do – we tell you what to do. We, the people, are your boss. You are not our boss.

    Quite frankly, we don’t don’t give a rat’s a*s what you think or say. All we hear coming from your marxist/communist mouth is nothing but marxist/communist propaganda and lies. you have your stupid marxist/communist mind/head stuck so far up your as*s you can’t even see the light of day.
    So go peddle your marxist/communist ideology/agenda in some other country but don’t try peddling it here. We are sick and tired of your cr*p.

    So do us all a great big favor Obama….go scr*w yourself and get your marxist/communist a*s out of our white house.
    .

    Report this comment

    sinner-saint  
  • gryffn
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:04pm

    Where is Chris Kyle when we need his expertise??? Oh yeah, assassinated by …

    Report this comment

    gryffn  
  • dawghowse
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 11:02pm

    To all the Republicans and Conservatives grow a set and put this president in his place. What a POS!

    Report this comment

    dawghowse  
  • scrapadapolis
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:57pm

    Where was Ted Nugent?

    Report this comment

    scrapadapolis  
  • Janet056
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:57pm

    Clint Eastwood said it best in the chair routine….

    Report this comment

    Janet056  
  • lassiegirldawn
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:57pm

    This man has taken the highest office in the land and turned it into an SNL skit. He is such a lire in chief. Now he wants to brain wash preschool children just as the commie Hitler did. The only thing missing was a Swastika hanging behind him instead of the American Flag. If this doesn’t give the stupid @ss Republicans to go after, I don’t know what there is. I know they are in the same greedy corrupt society, but one would think they would try to show care for the American people. I am going to print this speech out and will not have to buy toilet paper for the next four years.

    Report this comment

    lassiegirldawn  
    • motherboard
      Posted on February 13, 2013 at 12:40am

      If you run out of paper, you can simply re-print off this speech actually then to, because without a doubt, he will just repeat this 3 more times annually.

      Report this comment

      motherboard  
  • Advection
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:53pm

    If Obama succeeds in destroying the Dollar, with his MASSIVE profligate spending, then the Union may crack. And his daddy would be so proud. His boy destroyed the Great Satan!

    Report this comment

    Advection  
  • DAYWATCHER
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:50pm

    More of the same crazy Marxist crap. O-blunder version 1.2…. Still sucks..

    Report this comment

    DAYWATCHER  
  • MartinPenwalt
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:50pm

    To what vote is he referring? To amend the Constitution? We all greatly sympathize with the families of those who have lost loved ones. But, the vote to which “he” referred is not a vote to amend the Constitution. It’s a vote of emotion focused to limit the rights of law abiding citizens, on a subject which is not the true problem.

    Report this comment

    MartinPenwalt  
  • foxrocks
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:47pm

    Why would any conservative american stand up and clap for this let’s destroy american state, more taxes, more spending, take our guns, screw up our health care, more people in poverty president speech. Boehner needs to grow some, as well as all republicans. This is exactly why we need term limits so these I just wanna keep my cush job in politics have to go away….

    Report this comment

    foxrocks  
  • John 1776
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:47pm

    Pass the Tums before I vomit acid.

    Report this comment

    John 1776  
  • brigott
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:46pm

    “If Congress won’t act, I will.”

    “Tyrannically.” “As the dictator I am meant to be.”

    “All for your own good, of course. Look, just accept the fact that I am smarter than you. I know what’s best for you.”

    “Ignore that man behind the curtain.”

    Report this comment

    brigott  
  • ObserverOnTheHill
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:45pm

    If your close to retirement, then be sure your passport is valid and start looking overseas

    Report this comment

    ObserverOnTheHill  
  • MDECKER
    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 10:45pm

    Yes, let us indeed put Newtown ahead of the rest of the Country. If it weren’t so serious, it would be funny. I have never seen a larger bunch of clowns at one time, at tonight’s State of the Union Address, since taking my boys to the Circus Parade in Milwaukee.

    Report this comment

    MDECKER  
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