Dissecting President Obama’s State of the Union

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President Obama delivered his first State of the Union address last night, covering a broad range of issues from America's wars abroad, to the devastation in Haiti and the stalemate on healthcare reform at home.

Of the many themes in the president's speech, a recurring one was that he can't act alone in solving America's problems.

Speaking in a soft voice, President Obama seemed to be confiding in Congress and the American people, saying: "I campaigned on the promise of change — 'change we can believe in,' the slogan went. And right now, I know there are many Americans who aren't sure if they still believe we can change — or at least, that I can deliver it.

"But remember this: I never suggested that change would be easy, or that I can do it alone. Democracy in a nation of three hundred million people can be noisy and messy and complicated. And when you try to do big things and make big changes, it stirs passions and controversy. That's just how it is."

Kathleen Hall Jamieson, the director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, says the president is acknowledging the current fears, anxiety and expectations of the audience.

"But he moves from there, in that speech, to argue that some of the things that have been accomplished, you've lost track of, audience," said Jamieson.

Some of these accomplishments include tax breaks, help for troubled homeowners, and jobs generated from the stimulus package.

With a more traditional, nationalistic appeal, the president spoke about America's place in the world, and argued that the US will not retain it global competitiveness if its problems persist, saying "I do not accept second place for the United States of America."

It's a risky argument, says Jamieson, "… because the public expects to hear 'we are the best and we will be forever.' But necessary if you're going to argue for fundamental change."

And, in another risky move, the president directed this statement at Democrats and Republicans in Congress:

"Democrats, I would remind you that we still have the largest majority in decades, and the people expect us to solve some problems, not run for the hills.

"And if the Republican leadership is going to insist that 60 votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town — a supermajority — then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well. Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it’s not leadership."

Jamieson says the statement could be interpreted as the president passing the buck.

President Obama didn't make a lot of promises, as he tended to do early on in his administration, but he did make a couple. The big promise of this State of the Union: Ending the Iraq War and bringing US troops home.

"We will have all of our combat troops out of Iraq by the end of this August," he said.

Full text of President Obama's State of the Union address.

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