Obama Criticises Politics of Division, Anti-Muslim Rhetoric

Sanders was in the audience for Obama’s speech along with the other members of Congress. He only posted one tweet about the address, which he dubbed “important”.

Obama is peddling fiction when he lectures us on rational discussion. “It will only happen if we fix our politics”.

The president noted some outstanding promises from his own 2008 campaign.

“It’s one of the few regrets of my presidency – that the rancor and suspicion between the parties has gotten worse instead of better”, the president said. Presidents traditionally invite guests to the annual speech to reflect various policy and political priorities for the year.

Even as he expressed his regret about this shortcoming, pleading with Americans to help him strive for “a better politics”, Mr. Obama couldn’t resist diving back into the political fray with combative remarks about the GOP.

“But democracy does require basic bonds of trust between it’s citizens”. “Our public life withers when only the most extreme voices get attention”.

“When politicians insult Muslims, when a mosque is vandalized, or a kid bullied, that doesn’t make us safer”. “That’s not telling it like it is”.

Seven in 10 Americans said they see the US heading in the wrong direction, according to an NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll last month. “It makes it harder to achieve our goals”. “And it betrays who we are as a country”. Reporter: Governor Nikki Haley of SC, a daughter of Indian immigrants and a conservative star responded to president Obama on behalf of republicans.

While Mr. Obama and Haley were seemingly in agreement that the nation should reject divisive rhetoric, the president on Tuesday night took aim at the entire GOP – not just its controversial front runner. “The world respects us not just for our arsenal; it respects us for our diversity and our openness and the way we respect every faith”.

With three weeks until primary voting begins, White House aides say the State of the Union address is an opportunity for Obama to put his imprint on the race.

With that lack of support in mind you might have expected a tub-thumping final State Of The Union address – bulging with boasts about his achievements in office.

The president’s words were unlikely to satisfy Republicans, as well as some Democrats, who say he underestimates IS’ power and is leaving the United States vulnerable to attacks at home. He also defended immigrants in a year where Republican candidates have called for more border security.

“As he enters his final year in office, many Americans are still feeling the squeeze of an economy too weak to raise income levels”.

“I’ve been there”, he said with a grin.

He said that America’s foreign policy must be focused on the threat from ISIL and al-Qaeda, but it can’t stop there. “Period”, he declared. “It’s not even close”. Tuesday’s address marks the first since Ryan took the helm in the House, and he’ll assume the traditional speaker’s seat behind the president and alongside Vice President Joe Biden. Yet Tuesday night, Mr. Obama dedicated a significant portion of time to noting his accomplishments, from helping 18 million Americans gain coverage under Obamacare to killing Osama bin Laden.

The President bragged about the economic recovery: “We’re in the middle of the longest streak of private-sector job creation in history”. Much of what he has done, both in the US and overseas, could be wiped away by a Republican president, increasing his imperative to keep his party in the White House.

But Mr Obama was eager to look beyond his own presidency, casting the actions he had taken as a springboard for future economic progress and national security.