President Obama Focuses On Future, Sets Optimistic Tone
DETROIT (CBS DETROIT/AP) - President Obama spoke of hope and change, as he referenced some highlights of the past seven years -- while outlining a road map for the years to come in his final State of the Union address.
Mr. Obama pointed to a recovering economy, improved healthcare and even marriage equality as proof of working together.
"That's how we secured the freedom in every state to marry the person we love," he said to applause.
Obama says the future that Americans want "is within our reach" only if broken politics can be fixed.
Following the State of the Union address Michigan Congresswoman Candice Miller told WWJ Newsradio 950 as she listened to President Barack Obama deliver his final State of the Union speech she felt the president doesn't take terrorism seriously enough.
The Harrison Township Republican says the president needs to be tougher on terrorism ..."the kinds of things we need to be doing to keep our homeland safe. I always think that the president should be speaking first and foremost about national defense, national security and homeland security," she said.
On the topic of clean and renewable energy Miller says she supports the idea in general but didn't think the President's ideas went far enough, saying that every kind of clean energy source needs to be considered, such as drilling for more natural gas.
Obama Focuses On Future, Calls For Cooperation In Final State Of The Union Address
U.S. Senator Gary Peters issued the following statement after President Obama delivered his last State of the Union address:
"Tonight, President Obama touched on what makes the United States so strong - the spirit of the American people. Our vibrancy and vitality and our resiliency and resolve have carried America through many victories and many challenges.
"While there is still work to be done to fully recover from the financial crisis, our economy had made significant strides over the last several years. As a Senator from Michigan, I am particularly proud of the resurgence of our auto industry, which saw record high auto sales last year and is now on the verge of a new frontier in technology. We must continue to leverage the investments being made by the private sector to ensure new technologies like connected cars that will transform the way we get around are tested and deployed here in America. However, I remain concerned that the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiated by the Administration fails to address currency manipulation and puts our auto industry and manufacturers at a disadvantage.
"I also know that at a time of great uncertainty, many Americans are anxious about our safety. I share those concerns, which is why I was pleased the President addressed the emerging security threats facing America and our allies. The United States must ensure proper implementation of the nuclear agreement reached by the P5+1 last year, and work to hold Iran accountable for not only compliance with the terms of the agreement, but their other activities that contribute to further instability in the region.
A new CBS News/New York Times poll shows as Obama begins his last year in office, Americans are divided about the job he's doing.
According to the poll, 46 percent approve of how he's doing, while 47 percent disapprove.
The numbers haven't changed much in the last year.
Compared to other presidents, Obama is ahead of George W. Bush when he gave his final state of the union. Public dissatisfaction with the Iraq War dragged down Bush's numbers — it was at 29 percent.
A good economy and relative peace helped Bill Clinton with his 60 percent approval rating and half of Americans thought Reagan was doing a good job at the beginning of his last year as president.
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