I watched the State of the Union and everyone seemed to immediately ask for my opinion. It was a little weird. I had no idea as many of my friends would be watching it as did. And for some reason they all wanted to know what I thought. Here are some of the things that came out of my mouth immediately. Then there are some things I thought longer about.
That is the man who made me postpone grad school to go to long shot Georgia and most important swing state Florida.It's been awhile since I saw him, but I saw him tonight.
I don't quit.That has been my feeling for a long time about certain things.It does not mean that I don't fail.It just means that I don't quit.It took me 7 years, off and on, to finish my undergraduate degree.Some thought I was a failure, but I didn't quit.I first went to Florida thinking I could have an impact on an election, but that campaign did not work out for me.I didn't quit though....the day after I drove back to Arkansas is when I got the call to come work for Senator Obama and that led me back to Florida and I had an impact.
After the SOTU, an ex started texting me.He is 31, total corporate guy, making big money, never cared at all for politics, but thought that it was neat that I always was involved and aware and passionate.We dated like three years ago.Anyways, he starts texting.About how he watched...evidently really for the first time....and he cried...he bawled.I only choked up a bit, but had not cried.Then he sent me this: "Thx for doing what you have for him and all of us."That's when I cried.Obama moved a self-centered, corporate consumer to tears.I couldn't get through to this guy why I cared so much about everything.I had to go to Florida and put Obama in the White House so it would finally sink in.
My oldest brother dared to edge into discussion of the speech during dinner last night.I don't think his wife wanted us to start down that road but we did.All in all it was a calm and respectful discussion.My brother thought it is was ridiculous that the President so thoroughly called out the Republicans on their obstructionism.I thought it was completely appropriate.He didn't get one House Republican vote on the stimulus bill, but plenty of them have been all over those check presenting ceremonies when they "deliver" funds and jobs in their districts.Congressional Republicans have adopted a level of obstructionism that is unprecedented.It is not hyperbole.In the Senate the Republicans have threatened to filibuster EVERYTHING the President has attempted.
My brother said everything they (the Democrats) have presented has been unworthy.Well that is certainly how the Republicans have treated it.I don't buy the "they are jamming health care reform through too fast" argument.We are generations behind our peer nations in providing a minimum level of health care to ALL Americans.FDR tried, Truman tried, Johnson tried, Clinton tried, and Obama is trying now. Oddly enough, what little Johnson achieved in the field has become one of the most cherished social programs in American history.This should not be a bipartisan issue.
My brother was impressed by one particular part of the speech.He really liked that Obama explained his small business credit effort by describing that this would be from funds that the Big Banks have returned to the government.(Note: not only have funds been returned, but the FEES paid to the government in 2009 were XXX BILLION)This kind of reasoning and communication about it really connected with my brother and he expressed that more things like this should be done.I politely added that when President Obama gets to actually talk to the American people rather than Fox News "reporting" on it, it all makes better sense.(okay, now I sound like Sarah Palin with her "take it straight to the American people" line!)
Fox News provides a decent segue to the events surrounding the SOTU.The following day the House Republicans allowed President Obama to speak to them and answer questions.Don't ask me why the party that accuses Obama of being an expert orator allowed him to get up on national television and lecture their party.Anyways, if you didn't watch the entire thing, you really should.
Now back to the SOTU. I was particularly moved by President Obama's emphasis on repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I especially like that he makes it an appeal to the humanity and patriotism of all Americans. I think the tide is turning in a very big way on DADT. I think it will be gone by 2012 for sure. No promises, but huge majorities of Americans support the repeal, so you would think things would start to move. An interesting thing about this polling is that when LGBT Americans are described as "gay men and lesbians" as opposed to "homosexuals" the strongly favor repeal category sees a 17% increase (thank you CBS). I guess this little change in wording might be the reason why more people support allowing women to fight in our armed forces than allowing "individuals prone to bleeding out of one of their orifices every 28 days" to do so. I think LGBT people should demand to be described in ways that are less de-humanizing than the very clinical approach of "homosexual."
