In an attempt to show the world that he has no plans to be a lame-duck president, Obama went on the offense in his sixth State of the Union address Tuesday night – promising to push for tax increases, promote college and child-care "freebies," double down on America's battle against the Islamic State, shut down the Guantanamo Bay prison camp and support laws to combat cyber-attacks.
He also declared victory over the economic recession in his speech – which talk-radio legend Rush Limbaugh blasted as "a vote-buying scheme" full of "empty promises.
"We are 15 years into this new century. Fifteen years that dawned with terror touching our shores; that unfolded with a new generation fighting two long and costly wars; that saw a vicious recession spread across our nation and the world. It has been, and still is, a hard time for many," Obama said.
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"But tonight, we turn the page.
"Tonight, after a breakthrough year for America, our economy is growing and creating jobs at the fastest pace since 1999. Our unemployment rate is now lower than it was before the financial crisis. More of our kids are graduating than ever before; more of our people are insured than ever before; we are as free from the grip of foreign oil as we’ve been in almost 30 years.
"Tonight, for the first time since 9/11, our combat mission in Afghanistan is over. Six years ago, nearly 180,000 American troops served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, fewer than 15,000 remain. And we salute the courage and sacrifice of every man and woman in this 9/11 Generation who has served to keep us safe. We are humbled and grateful for your service."
Obama declared that the state of the union is "strong."
"At every step, we were told our goals were misguided or too ambitious; that we would crush jobs and explode deficits," he said. "Instead, we’ve seen the fastest economic growth in over a decade, our deficits cut by two-thirds, a stock market that has doubled and health-care inflation at its lowest rate in 50 years."
Members of Congress, Supreme Court justices and the Obama's Cabinet packed into the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives to listen to the commander in chief reveal his 2015 plans.
At one point, Obama ad-libbed a joke after urging Republicans to "join me in the work at hand" to implement his agenda.
"I have no more campaigns to run," he said, adding, "I know, 'cause I won both of them."
'Middle-class economics'
Obama unveiled a number of proposed tax increases, calling it "middle-class economics," "the idea that this country does best when everyone gets their fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules."
While critics say his policies would be dead on arrival in a Republican-controlled Congress, many speculate that Obama is laying the groundwork for a middle-class economic agenda for a future Democrat presidential candidate to pursue in the 2016.
"At this moment – with a growing economy, shrinking deficits, bustling industry, and booming energy production – we have risen from recession freer to write our own future than any other nation on Earth," Obama said. "It's now up to us to choose who we want to be over the next 15 years, and for decades to come.
"Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well? Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort?"
Obama said helping middle-class families "means helping folks afford child care, college, health care, a home, retirement – and my budget will address each of these issues, lowering the taxes of working families and putting thousands of dollars back into their pockets each year."
The Washington Post recently reported that the middle class is poorer today than it was in 1989.
And American voters now trust Republicans (49 percent) more than Democrats (42 percent) on the economy, according to a 2014 George Washington University Battleground Poll.
What did you think of Obama's address? Sound off in today's WND poll!
Community college
Arguing that too many "bright, striving Americans are priced out of the education they need," Obama declared, "That’s why I am sending this Congress a bold new plan to lower the cost of community college – to zero."
"Forty percent of our college students choose community college," he said. "Some are young and starting out. Some are older and looking for a better job. Some are veterans and single parents trying to transition back into the job market. Whoever you are, this plan is your chance to graduate ready for the new economy, without a load of debt. Understand, you’ve got to earn it – you’ve got to keep your grades up and graduate on time. Tennessee, a state with Republican leadership, and Chicago, a city with Democratic leadership, are showing that free community college is possible. I want to spread that idea all across America, so that two years of college becomes as free and universal in America as high school is today. And I want to work with this Congress, to make sure Americans already burdened with student loans can reduce their monthly payments, so that student debt doesn’t derail anyone’s dreams."
Obama recently announced his proposal, called America's College Promise, to give students free community college as long as they attend part time and maintain a 2.5 grade-point average. The plan would cover both certificate programs and credits earned toward an associate's degree. The White House claims the plan would cost an estimated $60 billion over 10 years and benefit 9 million students every year if it is implemented by all 50 states.
According the National Center for Education Statistics, the average total of tuition, fees and room and board rates at a two-year public institution in 2012 was $8,561. But that rate doesn't take into consideration increased college costs resulting from a spike in demand among students who choose to attend college primarily because it is "free."
As economist Richard Vedder explained in Forbes, "[T]he poor already get essentially free community college education, and others do not need 'free' tuition to support their college; too many go to college anyhow and the community colleges have a terrible dropout problem, etc., etc. Similarly, to want to prop up and perpetuate tuition tax credits is a bad idea. These credits have prompted colleges to raise tuition fees aggressively, leading to an unproductive academic arms race."
Read the full text of Obama's State of the Union address.
Terrorism
In his speech, Obama also asked for a use-of-force resolution to counter ISIS.
"In Iraq and Syria, American leadership – including our military power – is stopping ISIL's advance," he said, despite reports this week that ISIS is gaining ground in Syria despite U.S. air strikes.
"Instead of getting dragged into another ground war in the Middle East, we are leading a broad coalition, including Arab nations, to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist group."
Obama continued, "We're also supporting a moderate opposition in Syria that can help us in this effort, and assisting people everywhere who stand up to the bankrupt ideology of violent extremism. This effort will take time. It will require focus. But we will succeed. And tonight, I call on this Congress to show the world that we are united in this mission by passing a resolution to authorize the use of force against ISIL."
A full 76 percent of Americans now say defending the U.S. against terrorism is a top policy priority, according to the Pew Research Center.
Cybersecurity
Obama called on Congress to pass legislation to "better meet the evolving threat of cyber-attacks."
"No foreign nation, no hacker, should be able to shut down our networks, steal our trade secrets, or invade the privacy of American families, especially our kids," he said. "We are making sure our government integrates intelligence to combat cyber threats, just as we have done to combat terrorism. Tonight, I urge this Congress to finally pass the legislation we need to better meet the evolving threat of cyber-attacks, combat identity theft and protect our children's information."
As WND recently reported, hackers purporting to be affiliated with the Islamic State seized control of social media accounts of the U.S. military's Central Command on Jan. 12, posting messages such as "CyberCaliphate" and "i love you isis."
One message posted on Twitter warned, "AMERICAN SOLDIERS, WE ARE COMING, WATCH YOUR BACK. ISIS."
The hackers uploaded propaganda videos titled, "Flames of War ISIS Video" and "O Soldiers of Truth Go Forth," and military documents with contact information for senior military personnel, including the name of a service member's child and the school the child attends. They also posted a list of generals with the title, "Army General Officer Public Roster (by rank) 2 January 2014."
Other Twitter posts stated, "Pentagon Networks Hacked! China Scenarios" and "Pentagon Networks Hacked. Korean Scenarios."
News outlets have been reporting for months that ISIS has planned a "cyber caliphate" against U.S. technology using encrypted software. In September, the FBI warned of possible cyber attacks in retaliation for U.S. air strikes against ISIS.
Other issues
- Trade promotion authority: Obama also requested "trade promotion authority to protect American workers, with strong new trade deals from Asia to Europe that aren’t just free, but fair."
- Medicine: He announced a "new Precision Medicine Initiative to bring us closer to curing diseases like cancer and diabetes – and to give all of us access to the personalized information we need to keep ourselves and our families healthier."
- Mars: He proposed "pushing out into the solar system not just to visit, but to stay." He said, "Last month, we launched a new spacecraft as part of a re-energized space program that will send American astronauts to Mars."
- Cuba: Obama touted his shift in Cuba policy. "We are ending a policy that was long past its expiration date," he said. "When what you’re doing doesn’t work for 50 years, it’s time to try something new. Our shift in Cuba policy has the potential to end a legacy of mistrust in our hemisphere; removes a phony excuse for restrictions in Cuba; stands up for democratic values; and extends the hand of friendship to the Cuban people. And this year, Congress should begin the work of ending the embargo."
- Iran-sanctions veto threat: 'We’ve halted the progress of its nuclear program and reduced its stockpile of nuclear material. Between now and this spring, we have a chance to negotiate a comprehensive agreement that prevents a nuclear-armed Iran; secures America and our allies – including Israel; while avoiding yet another Middle East conflict. There are no guarantees that negotiations will succeed, and I keep all options on the table to prevent a nuclear Iran. But new sanctions passed by this Congress, at this moment in time, will all but guarantee that diplomacy fails – alienating America from its allies; and ensuring that Iran starts up its nuclear program again. It doesn’t make sense. That is why I will veto any new sanctions bill that threatens to undo this progress."
- Ebola: Obama touted America's success in combating Ebola in West Africa with the help of U.S. troops, scientists, doctors and other health-care workers who are "saving countless lives and stopping the spread of disease. I couldn’t be prouder of them, and I thank this Congress for your bipartisan support of their efforts. But the job is not yet done – and the world needs to use this lesson to build a more effective global effort to prevent the spread of future pandemics, invest in smart development and eradicate extreme poverty."
- Climate: Obama declared, "The best scientists in the world are all telling us that our activities are changing the climate, and if we do not act forcefully, we’ll continue to see rising oceans, longer, hotter heat waves, dangerous droughts and floods, and massive disruptions that can trigger greater migration, conflict and hunger around the globe. The Pentagon says that climate change poses immediate risks to our national security. We should act like it.
- Guantanamo Bay prison camp: Obama vowed to shut down the prison camp, saying, "As Americans, we have a profound commitment to justice – so it makes no sense to spend $3 million per prisoner to keep open a prison that the world condemns and terrorists use to recruit. Since I’ve been president, we’ve worked responsibly to cut the population of GTMO in half. Now it’s time to finish the job. And I will not relent in my determination to shut it down. It’s not who we are."
Tax-and-spend policies
On Jan. 18, the White House announced initiatives to increase taxes on the "wealthy."
A White House announcement said Obama plans to reform the following to implement his tax-and-spend policies:
- The trust fund loophole: The single-largest capital gains loophole, the Trust Fund loophole lets hundreds of billions of dollars escape taxation each year. The president wants to close this loophole to ensure the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share on inherited assets.
- The top capital gains rate: The president will return the top capital gains rate [currently 24 percent] – or the rate at which the value of a capital asset like an investment or real estate property is taxed – back to 28 percent, the rate under President Ronald Reagan.
- Fair share from the biggest financial firms: The president will continue to reform the way the largest financial firms do business by proposing a fee on the biggest financial firms, making it more costly for them to borrow heavily.
The Manhattan Institute reported that the capital gains rate prior to 2013 was just 15 percent, and nearly doubling that rate "would have negative effects on investment and economic growth."
"Raising capital gains taxes will never pass the Republican Congress. Mr. Obama knows this, and he is putting forward the proposal to make it appear that Republicans are protecting the rich while he stands up for the middle class," the Manhattan Institute explained. "In reality, the middle class would be harmed by higher capital gains tax rates, because capital would be more likely to go offshore."
According to Obama's announcement, he plans to do the following with "savings" from these changes:
- Help working families: The president will lay out a new $500 second-earner credit to help cover the additional costs faced by 24 million families where both spouses work.
- Address the cost of child care: The president is proposing to triple the child care tax credit to $3,000 per child under 5, which would help 5.1 million families cover child care costs for 6.7 million children.
- Make college accessible and affordable: The president's plan reforms the education tax system by consolidating six overlapping education provisions into just two, and providing students up to $2,500 a year toward completing a college degree. His proposal cuts taxes for 8.5 million families and students, and simplifies taxes for the more than 25 million families and students that claim education tax benefits.
- Help Americans save for retirement: The president's plan makes it easy and automatic for workers to save for retirement – giving 30 million more workers the opportunity to easily save for retirement through their employer.