Viewers anticipated Obama’s proposed “economic blueprint,” he mentioned in video sent to followers over the weekend.  However, the President chose to start by mentioning a need for teamwork among congress; the same teamwork displayed by the troops he’s bringing home.  

“At a time when too many of our institutions have let us down, [American’s Armed Forces] exceed all expectations,” said Obama.  “They’re not consumed with personal ambition.  They don’t obsess over their differences.  They focus on the mission at hand.  They work together.”

The President’s choice to commence his State of the Union address tonight with a mention of a positive element to his past four years in the Oval Office does not come as a surprise.  

Tonight’s address came at a critical time for Obama. He faces re-election in November after a term plagued with public scrutiny for alleged unmet promises he made during his 2008 campaign.  

His speech tonight walked the border between legislative agenda and re-election commitment.  
“The state of our Union is getting stronger.  And we’ve come too far to turn back now,” said Obama.  “As long as I’m President, I will work with anyone in this chamber to build on this momentum.”

Obama’s started discussing the economy by mentioning the importance of manufacturing.  He claimed a prosperous return from the recession lies in the “ingenuity” of American workers.

Citing the success of General Motors and the American auto industry, he believes jobs need to be brought back home.  In tonight’s speech he spoke directly to business leaders by asking them to think of ways to bring jobs back to the United States and promising them rewards in the form of tax breaks return.

“My message is simple.  It’s time to stop rewarding businesses that ship jobs overseas, and start rewarding companies that create jobs right here in America,” said Obama.  “Send me these tax reforms, and I’ll sign them right away.”

The President’s declaration, “I’ll sign them right away,” became a theme in his address to congress.  He urged the audience to take action and he would do same—cooperation accenting each statement.  

Obama announced the creation of a Trade Enforcement Unit in his speech tonight; an effort to investigate trade practices with countries like China and reinforce American manufacturing.  

“Our workers are the most productive on Earth, and if the playing field is level, I promise you – America will always win,” he said.
At this point, the President transitioned into his concerns with education, mentioning the invited guest sitting next to his wife Michelle, a single mom from North Carolina who lost her job as a mechanic.

Citing her story of returning to school to receive specialized training and noting the company who paid her way, Obama argued for a reform to turn community colleges into career centers.

The transition led to an issue he has spoken publicly about in the past, the importance of teachers, and he wants to offer schools a deal.

“Give them the resources to keep good teachers on the job, and reward the best ones,” said Obama.  “In return, grant schools flexibility:  To teach with creativity and passion; to stop teaching to the test; and to replace teachers who just aren’t helping kids learn.”

A progression into his concerns with higher education, the President spoke poignantly about states making universities a priority in their budget.  

“Higher education can’t be a luxury – it’s an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford,” he said.
Acknowledging current state debates around the Dream Act, Obama expressed his support for granting American citizenship to students upon graduation.  He said the current system of offering them education and sending them home with a degree “doesn’t make sense.”

Again, Obama came back to the support needed behind American innovation and industries.  He sees the epitome of this gain in American-made energy.

After tonight, he claims his Administration will be directed to open more than 75 percent of offshore oil and gas resources, citing the American oil production rate at the highest in eight years.

“But with only 2 percent of the world’s oil reserves, oil isn’t enough,” Obama said.  “This country needs an all-out, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy – a strategy that’s cleaner, cheaper, and full of new jobs.”

Towards the end of Obama’s speech and “blueprint” for a changing the economy, he defended his opposition to tax cuts for the wealthy; a mention of Warren Buffet’s tax rate being lower than his secretary was made with her in attendance tonight.

The President argued the positive change that can be made for the country and the sacrifices that need to be made to pay down U.S. debt; tax codes were his solution to both these problems.  

“With or without this Congress, I will keep taking actions that help the economy grow,” said Obama.  “But I can do a whole lot more with your help.  Because when we act together, there is nothing the United States of America can’t achieve.”

Below is a cloud chart of the most-used words during the State of the Union speech, followed by the most-used words in the Republican rebuttal:

A breakdown of the most-used words during the State of the Union speech.

Wordles created by Neon Tommy Graphics Editor Jaclyn Wu