Obama’s Priority: More Jobs for Americans in 2010
He sought to re-energise his embattled presidency with his address. He conceded that change has not come fast enough, and admitting further that he had failed to change Washington.
Pres. Obama also stated that American leaders faced a “deficit of trust”, that the country has been divided by “old battles” which have prevented him from signing some important legislative matters. He called for an end to these battles.
According to him, the worst of the storm has passed, but the devastation remains. One in 10 Americans still cannot find work, and many businesses have shuttered.
He defended early and expensive actions to save the economy, but acknowledged that he had underestimated public anger over the economy despite the official end of recession.
The President then assured the Americans he would put job creation and economic recovery at the forefront of his agenda in 2010, during his second year in office. He also promised to redirect billions of dollars from balances left in the $700 billion Wall Street rescue fund to help small businesses.
President Obama appealed for bipartisanship. He said: “Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it’s not leadership. We were sent here to serve our citizens, not our ambitions.
And he ended in a challenging tone. “We don’t quit. I don’t quit. Let’s seize this moment – to start anew, to carry the dream forward and to strengthen our union once more,” he ended.
A native of Cavinti, Lucila C. Oblena spent all her working years as an educator, beginning as a classroom teacher in 1944, then a Guidance Counselor and retired as a school Principal. She is also the founder of CLOTA (Cavinti Laguna Overseas Teachers Association). She is the Editor of Tipakan.com (Cavinti Diaspora).
