Evaluating President Obama President Barack Obama is the first African American president of the United States of America. President Barack Obama addressed Congress and the fellow citizens of the United States of America on the current State of the Union. The President enlightened America on multiple issues concerning the economy, education, jobs, foreign affairs and more. Obama’s goals were to end discrimination in government contracts, close inhumane immigration detention facilities, stop unlawful targeted killings, stop warrantless GPS tracking, stop government surveillance of Americans, adjust unfair crack cocaine sentences, bar racial profiling in federal law enforcement, end discriminatory school discipline policies, and end religious discrimination in government funded programs. Obama’s first issue addressed was that the current period of time reflects back to the market crash, the origins of the nation, and other difficulties that "tested the courage of our convictions", according to President Obama. President Obama says that we are tested at this moment of time, one year after he took office. He says that the worst of the crisis is over, but there is still devastation. He also said that the recession has Perez 2
Compounded the burdens families have faced for decades, like the costs of retirement and a college education. According to the article by Lizza, The fourth momentous decision of Obama’s political career provided the financial boost that made him President. On June 19, 2008, he announced that he would be the first Presidential candidate since 1976 to forgo public funds, which allow candidates to run in the general election while limiting the corrupting influence of fund-raising. (Lizza) In the Frontline video, He Said, “there is no liberal America, there is no conservative America, and there is the United States of America. He also said there is no red states and blue states, only the United States of America. He even mentioned that for many people, "change has not come fast enough", which I found a memorable quote from the speech. He recognizes that Americans are tired of the partisanship from elected officials. He stressed that all Americans share the nation's difficulties, and should work together to fix them. He finished his speech by saying that he had never been more hopeful about America's future as he was at that moment. The second issue Obama focused on was Economic Growth, according to the President, unemployment benefits have been extended, and twenty-five tax cuts have