As expected, President Obama focused heavily on the economy in his 4th State of the Union address. While his tone was moderate and collaborative, he argued forcefully for an agenda that Republicans have already rejected.
The president faces significant political challenges in implementing his second term agenda. While he achieved a decisive reelection victory in November, little has changed in Washington. Republicans are undergoing some degree of soul searching and are having the standard internal debate for all losing parties. Did we lose because of our policies were rejected? Or did we lose due to our failure to communicate? Or was our candidate flawed? The questions remain unresolved.
There were early signs that the Republicans were beginning to shift on policy. After almost twenty years of outright rejection of any tax increases whatsoever, some Republicans agreed to Obama’s taxes on the rich in order to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff. Even more significantly, Republicans have moved dramatically on the issue of immigration reform in recognition of the political threat posed by the 40 plus margin that Obama scored among the growing population of Hispanics in November.
As the election fades into memory, however, Republicans are reverting to form on the fiscal issues. Publicly, they are as dug in as ever in rejection new taxes, even as the next fiscal cliff looms. The President chose not to engage in the game of chicken in which both sides claim to be ready to accept going over the cliff in hopes the other side will blink. Obama described the consequences in stark terms and demanded a balanced response.
The President’s speech offered few, if any, surprises. The policy prescriptions were familiar. But the ending was an unusually emotional appeal on the issue of gun control. It was timely in that, at the same time he was speaking, it was reported that the former Los Angeles police officer that was terrorizing the city was found dead in a burned out cabin in the woods outside of the city.
With his inaugural address and state of the union speech behind him, the President now moves from rhetoric to the hard work of governing. While Republicans are divided internally, they remain fairly united in opposition to President Obama. Thus, the partisan struggles and brinksmanship will likely continue in Washington.