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State of the Union 2012: Moving Forward To An America Built To Last

Jacob Chung |
January 24, 2012 | 9:02 p.m. PST

Staff Reporter

Members of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party watch on as President Obama delivers his third State of the Union Address
Members of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party watch on as President Obama delivers his third State of the Union Address
During President Obama’s third State of the Union address Tuesday, the crux of the speech was one of economic recovery.  To that point, President Obama promised more jobs for the American public through initiatives like creating manufacturing employment opportunities, developing home-grown and alternative energy sources and training the unemployed and underemployed in usable skill sets. 

More specifically, the message from President Obama was moving forward for an “America built to last.” 

“I will oppose any effort to return to the very same policies that brought on this economic crisis in the first place,” Obama said. “Tonight, I want to speak about how we move forward, and lay out a blueprint for an economy that’s built to last — an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers and a renewal of American values.”

Having inherited an unstable and weakened economy from the George W. Bush era, President Obama has been seeking to decrease the national unemployment rate currently standing at 8.5 percent.

As compared to the national average, the latest studies for Los Angeles county state an unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted, at 11.1 percent.  In manufacturing, Los Angeles county saw a decrease of 3,700 jobs from December 2010 to December 2011. 

To combat the still slowly rebounding economy President Obama said measures must be taken to incentivize business bringing jobs back to the U.S. and setting a minimum tax for multinational businesses.

Despite unimpressive employments numbers across the nation, not to mention the L.A. county, the atmosphere at the Los Angeles County Democratic Party (LACDP) was hopeful. 

“Americans want a President that respects all Americans,” said Eric Bauman, Los Angeles County Democratic Party Chairman. “At the end of the day there is only one candidate who best reflects most of us.” 

Citing the Affordable Healthcare Act and the economic recovery as signs of progress during President Obama’s time in office, Bauman said more time will show the true success of the President’s actions. 

“Every good this man had and has enacted and passed is beginning to work,” said Bauman. “It took George W. Bush eight years to get us into a ditch so deep we couldn't’ even look up and now we’re finally starting to see the light of day.” 

But not all of the initiatives President Obama touted were considered successful. In 2011, the results from the California Clean Energy Workforce Training Program (CCEWTP) proved disappointing to many of those involved.

“We’ve seen a pattern of disappointment with promises of green jobs from both President Obama and Gov. Jerry Brown,” said Jennifer Kerns, communications director for the California Republican Party.

Others, however, were less impressed by President Obama’s outlines. 

The Chairman of the California Republican Party, Thomas Del Beccaro said though President Obama’s address was “true to form” and well written, it was filled with, “promises of government assistance.”

“Voters won’t remember the promises,” Del Baccaro said. “It’s who has the plans to revive the economy.”  

In critiquing President Obama’s plans of bringing back manufacturing to the U.S., Del Beccaro said manufacturing will not come back by implementing minor tax changes.  

“He mentioned tax cuts can help in certain instances,” said Del Beccaro. “If it works for a part of it, it should work for all of it.” 

As for the 2012 elections, “It’s for the Republicans to lose,” Del Beccaro said. 

Polling low on the latest approval ratings, Tuesday’s address was Obama’s last push before launching a full campaign for another term. In order to once again convince the nation of promises of change in the horizon, Obama will have to show the people what American manufacturing and innovation once was and can be yet again.  

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