WASHINGTON — Vilified on the campaign trail by Republicans, President Barack Obama will stand before the nation Tuesday night with a State of the Union address designed to reframe the election-year debate on his terms, suggesting a stark contrast with his opponents on the economy and promising fairness and help for hurting families.
Obama is expected to offer new proposals to make college more affordable, to ease the housing crisis still slowing the economy, and to boost American manufacturing, according to people familiar with the speech. He will also promote unfinished parts of his jobs plan, including the extension of a payroll tax cut soon to expire.
In essence, this State of the Union is not so much about the year ahead as the four more years Obama wants after that.
Obama’s splash of policy proposals will be less important than what he hopes they all add up to: a narrative of renewed American security. Obama will try to politically position himself as the one leading that fight for the middle class, with an overt call for help from Congress, and an implicit request for a second term from the public.
Too often over the last few months, we've seen Congress drag its feet and refuse to take steps we know will help strengthen our economy," he said, listing his administration's action on education, government contracts, veteran employment, housing, loans and consumer protection.
He touted tourism reforms he announced at Disney World on Thursday, which the president said would make it easier for foreign visitors to travel to and spend money in the United States.
"And the more folks who visit America, the more Americans we get back to work," Obama said.
The president's annual State of the Union Address to a joint session of Congress will take place Tuesday evening. Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana will deliver the Republican response, and one-time Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain will deliver a response sponsored by the Tea Party Express.
Obama is expected to offer new proposals to make college more affordable, to ease the housing crisis still slowing the economy, and to boost American manufacturing, according to people familiar with the speech. He will also promote unfinished parts of his jobs plan, including the extension of a payroll tax cut soon to expire.
In essence, this State of the Union is not so much about the year ahead as the four more years Obama wants after that.
Obama’s splash of policy proposals will be less important than what he hopes they all add up to: a narrative of renewed American security. Obama will try to politically position himself as the one leading that fight for the middle class, with an overt call for help from Congress, and an implicit request for a second term from the public.
Too often over the last few months, we've seen Congress drag its feet and refuse to take steps we know will help strengthen our economy," he said, listing his administration's action on education, government contracts, veteran employment, housing, loans and consumer protection.
He touted tourism reforms he announced at Disney World on Thursday, which the president said would make it easier for foreign visitors to travel to and spend money in the United States.
"And the more folks who visit America, the more Americans we get back to work," Obama said.
The president's annual State of the Union Address to a joint session of Congress will take place Tuesday evening. Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana will deliver the Republican response, and one-time Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain will deliver a response sponsored by the Tea Party Express.
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