Obama: State of the Union speech to focus on jobs.

In this Dec. 6, 2010, file photo President
Barack Obama, visiting Forsyth Technical
Community College in Winston-Salem, N.C.,
speaks about the key to boosting American
competitiveness, that it rests in the nation's
willingness to invest in a more educated
workforce, a deeper commitment to research
and technology, and improvements in
infrastructure, from roads and airports to
high-speed internet. Under pressure to boost
the economy the same message will likely be
at the center of his State of the Union address
Tuesday, Jan. 25.
President Barack Obama said Saturday he
would use his annual State of the Union address
to urge both parties to act to lift U.S. growth
and create more jobs.
“My number one focus is going to be making
sure that we are competitive, that we are
growing, and we are creating jobs not just now
but well into the future, ” he said in a video e-
mailed to members of his Organizing for
America grassroots movement.
Obama plans State of Union speech
for Jan. 25th
Obama’s press aide Gibbs departs the
White House
Republican Boehner sworn in as
Speaker for new U.S. Congress
Mr. Obama’s speech Tuesday to a joint session
of the U.S. Congress will show how he plans to
rise above the political gridlock that marked his
first two years in the White House, shaping his
2012 re-election prospects.
With U.S. unemployment at 9.4 percent, Mr.
Obama said deficits and debt must be dealt with
in a “responsible way,” acknowledging the need
to cut spending without undermining the
country ’s gradual recovery.
“We’re up to it, as long as we come together as
a people - Republicans, Democrats,
Independents - as long as we focus on what
binds us together as a people, ” the Democratic
president said.
Mr. Obama’s approval ratings have improved in
recent weeks, in part because Americans seem
pleased with his decision to strike deals with
Republicans to extend tax cuts and spur growth
after his party ’s heavy losses in the Nov. 2
elections.
Republicans took control of the U.S. House of
Representatives and gained seats in the U.S.
Senate.
Fiscal Discipline
But voters are also worried by the U.S. budget
deficit and rising debt, and the White House has
said fiscal discipline will be an important part of
Mr. Obama ’s speech.
Republicans have called for $100-billion in cuts
to government spending, and a bipartisan
presidential debt commission has urged a bold
overhaul of the U.S. tax code, alongside stiff
curbs on federal spending.
The White House will lay out its full fiscal plans
in an annual budget expected during the week
of Feb. 13. It has emphasized the need to make
targeted choices that protect priorities like
education, infrastructure investment and
innovation.
Mr. Obama, whose video gave no details of
measures to be outlined during his speech, has
been pushing for ways to spur job creation and
ease unemployment in the wake of his party ’s
recent election defeat.
He stirred some Democratic opposition by
agreeing with Republicans to extend Bush-era
tax cuts, while making several key staffing
choices that signaled a shift toward the political
center.
On Friday, he named General Electric Co Chief
Executive Jeffrey Immelt as his top outside
economic adviser in a bid to improve strained
White House ties with big business.
Mr. Immelt, whose appointment was cheered
by the powerful U.S. Chamber of Commerce,
will chair a presidential council on
competitiveness and jobs that is designed to
encourage private investment and hiring.
“We’re going to have to out-innovate, we’re
going to have to out-build, we’re going to have
to out-compete, we’re going to have to out-
educate other countries,” Mr. Obama said.


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