State of the Union Address 2013 BBC News Special

In a few minutes President Obama will appear before the American

public to report on the State of the Union. He is pretty much bound

to say it is strong, that's what tradition dictates, but with troops

still at war, and the American economy still suffering, he has to

lay out his plans for making it even stronger. Well joining me to

take us through the proceedings is Alexis Simendiger, White House

correspondent with Real Clear Politics. They key figure in my. --

thank you for joining me. This will be a domestic base to speech.

President wants to talk about jobs and the economy. A lot of what we

are able sounds familiar. The international segment of the speech

will focus on cyber security, north Korea, trade. Very much a domestic

agenda in the speech. We're watching the pictures coming to us

live from Capitol Hill. You're seeing at the moment, all the

members of the cabin at -- cabin it's coming into the rotunda. This

is very formalised. There we see the new chief of staff, the UN

ambassador. John Kerry just came in, the Attorney General, they all

shake hands. They are waiting for the President. In the US, because

of the national security issues since the Cold War days, one

Cabinet Secretary it is invited. This evening it will be the

outgoing energy secretary. He will be missing in case something

occurred and the government had to reform. There are so many important

people there tonight. Members of Congress leaders saw, the Supreme

Court justices. The Supreme Court justices, it is up to them whether

they want to attend. They traditionally do. They sit right

under the President. A lot of important people gathered. Very

tense security. Standing room only. As protocol dictates, there is a

lot of intense... Some people sitting on the sides of the picture,

are waiting for the President, they hope to shake his hand. They have

been sitting there for hours, waiting to shake the President's

hand. There has been some interesting discussion over sitting

there for hours. They do not drink a glass of order because they have

to sit there for so long. A This is why we have the one, for these

details. You have to hold your seat. You have to physically be there all

day. Or someone else will take it. We now hear the vice-president's

wife. She is up in the balcony with the First Lady. We saw her come in

earlier. It has become a focus of attention, he was up in the First

Lady's box. There is a tradition we sudsy sea after President Reagan.

He had been an actor. He used to be first lady's box to great effect.

They are the American people sitting there, the people but the

President wants us to see. To the extent that the people in the First

Lady's box are markers to what we may be hearing, what are you

reading in these people? President may not. Acquire them,

but it runs the gamut, from the head of Apple to a 102-year-old

woman who had to wait in line to vote in October. She is the emblem

of the President's desire to see election day reform. He has workers

who got into manufacturing through retraining, he has a teacher from

Newtown, Connecticut. The President has a range of folks who are

pointing our attention to what it is he is talking about, whether it

is construction workers antique is -- and teachers. He will point we

unperson brought to the battered states by an undocumented parent.

It all looks terribly jolly, looking at those pictures. They all

look quite happy to be there. always interesting to see how

people of both parties enjoy being part of history. They looked

forward to being part of the evening. They actually like the

elements of it. There is some mixing up, we have the senator from

New York standing next to John McCain. They have been some

attempts's the new Secretary of State standing after the Chief

We would get a set of them fairly soon, we should point out that the

members of Congress, some of them are wearing green ribbons in memory

of be shooting at Sandy Hook. sure the President will look out at

the by Paras and wearing those Some are wearing orange pins as

well. There we have the joint chiefs. It is the entire US

government. One member of the Cabinet will not be there tonight.

He goes to a retreat in Virginia. I was told this by a member of the

Cabinet. The Sears they got there and then at an emergency drill. He

says they had to pretend that it was an emergency and they were

taking over the government. They're called designated survivors. It is

a grim title. For a few hours they are the most important person in

the US. He said it was very strange. You had to tell people we have the

job of taking over the government. These themes we have talked about,

we have talked about gun-control, but having looked at the excerpts

we were sent, a lot will be about economic focus. Trying to get

growth and jobs for middle class Americans. The White House is very

aware that the President's inaugural address was not about

jobs and the economy, they are turning back to a theme that has

been with the prison since he was inaugurated the first time. The

American people are still mostly concerned about jobs and economic

growth. The President has designed a speech to focus on the policy

nuggets that he will try to end at. That he would try to explain that

these are issues supported by the majority of US people. He will urge

Congress to look at the political ramifications if they go against

this. It was nice of you to point out the international audience, but

I think the White House is nicely focused on middle class America. We

have an image of the President in the doorway. He is just about to

come in force of the President of This is President Obama's 6 State

of the Union. It is his first address where he does not have to

worry about whether he will be re- elected. In the US, the first

address of a president is not considered a State of the Union.

The first is considered a speech to a joint session of Congress.

felt the same. It always fills the same. When the wire a new President

to a responsible for the state of It always strikes me, this is our

elected members of Congress, they have been sitting there for hours

just to shake hands with the President. Some lawmakers have

talked about really planning out what they will say to the President.

They rehearse what they will say. They try to get his attention with

some there may have to say. There was a congressman who wished

President Bush to issue peace. He said, they do, I'd think you mean

that. There is a small transaction Does he know in advance who he will

be saying hello to as he comes down? He does not. There are some

recurring faces because there are some members who love to sit on the

Isle. Behind him we have the Democrat and Republican leaders.

Senior members of Congress come in beside the President. Smiling very

big behind the President is the majority Leader of the House. He

just gave a speech trying to recast where the Republican Party is going.

We will hear that in some of the rebuttals. It is always interesting

to see him shaking hands with people he has had a political

struggles with. We just saw a couple of Republicans he has been

tussling with over the economy and immigration. There he is, the new

Secretary of State, waiting to have his handshake with the President.

These are all people the President knows so much better. He has

interacted with them for four years. Just before the President starts it

is worth three cabin that he will speak to this audience on Capitol

Hill. This is his chance to lay out his priorities for his second term

to the American people watching in their millions on television. He

will try to rally support for his second term agenda. He is very much

speaking to American voters, trying to get them to pressure their

members of Congress to raise public awareness for his issues. He will

try to sell his agenda and to buy support for it. An important speech

he has to give at the beginning of his second term. The White House

considers this an opportunity to speak unfilled third. He will

continue to travel this week to re The President will now take the

podium. He will shake a last a few hands. The vice-president, the

Speaker of the house, the Republican Leader of the House.

Although this is the tradition of Congress. The theatre and the stage

craft of this sets a very clearly. We listen to the President gave his

Members of Congress, I have the honour of presenting to you, the

President of the night of states. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Thank you so much. Mr Speaker, Mr vice-president, members of Congress,

fellow Americans. The 51 years ago, John F Kennedy declared to this

chamber that the constitution makes us not rivals for power, but

partners for progress. It is my task, he said, to report the state

of the Union. To improve it, is the task of assault. Tonight, thanks to

the grit and determination of the American people, there is much

progress to report. After a decade of grinding war, our brave men and

women in uniform are coming home. After years of gruelling recession,

our businesses have created over 6 million new jobs. We buy more

American cars that we have in five years. We were less foreign oil the

Home owners enjoy stronger projections than ever before.

Together, we have cleared a way the rubble of crisis. We can say with

renewed confidence, that the state But, when we get here knowing that

there are millions of Americans whose hard work and dedication have

been rewarded. Our economy it is adding jobs but to many people

cannot find full-time employment. Corporate profits have skyrocketed

to all-time highs. For more than a decade, wages and in comes have

barely budged. It is our generation's task to reignite the

true engine of America's economic growth. A rising, thriving middle

class. It is hour unfinished task to restore basic Biden are built as

country. The idea that if you work hard end meet responsibilities, you

can get ahead, no matter where you come from and what she look like.

It is our unfinished task to make sure this government worked on

behalf of the many, not just the few. That it encourages free

enterprise, rewards individual initiative and opens the doors of

opportunity to every child across this great nation. The American

people do not expect government to solve every problem. They do not

expect those of us in this chamber to agree on every issue. They do

expect us to put the nation's They do expect asked to forge

reasonable compromise where we can. Bano America moves forward only

when we do so together. The responsibility of improving this

union remains the task of us all. Our work must begin by making some

basic decisions about our Budget. Decisions they will have a huge

impact on the strength of our recovery. Over the last few years,

both parties have worked together to reduce the deficit by more than

2.5 trillion dollars. Mostly through spending cuts but also by

raising tax rates on the wealthiest 1% of Americans. As a result, we

are more than halfway towards the goal of four trillion dollars of

deficit reduction economists say we need to stabilise our finances. Now

we need to finish the job. The question is, how. In 2011, Congress

passed a law saying if both parties could not agree on a plan to reach

the dips at goal, a trillion dollars worth of Budget cuts would

automatically go into effect this year. These sudden, harsh arbitrary

cuts would jeopardise our military readiness, they would devastate

priorities like education, energy and medical research. They would

certainly slow our recovery and cost us hundreds of thousands of

jobs. That is why Democrats, Republicans, business leaders and

economists have Rory said these cuts no in in Washington as the see

Questor are a bad idea. Some in Congress have proposed preventing

only the defence cuts. By making even bigger cuts to things like

education and job training. Also to Medicare and social security

The biggest drive of our long-term debt is the rising cost of

healthcare for an ageing population. Those of us who care deeply about

programmes like Medicare must embrace the need for modest reforms.

Otherwise, our retirement programmes will crowd out the

investments we need for our children and jeopardise the promise

of a Secure Retirement for future generations. We cannot ask for

senior citizens and working families to shoulder the entire

burden of deficit reduction while asking nothing more from the

wealthiest and most powerful. We will not grow the middle class by

shifting the price of healthcare on to families already struggling for

by forcing communities to lay out more cops and firefighters. Most

Americans, democrats Republicans and independence understand we

cannot just cut our way to prosperity. They know that broad-

based economic growth requires a balanced approach to deficit

reduction was spending cuts and revenue and with everybody doing a

fair share. That is the approach I offer tonight. On Medicare, I am

prepared to enact reforms that will achieve the same amount of

healthcare savings by the beginning of next decade is the reforms

proposed by the bipartisan commission. Already, the affordable

care actors hopping to slow the growth of healthcare costing. The

reforms I am proposing go even further. We will produce taxpayer

subsidies to prescription drug companies and ask more from the

wealthier seeds. We will bring down cost by changing the way the

government pays for Medicare. They should not be based on the number

of days spent in a hospital but on the quality of kier our seniors

received. -- care. I am open to additional reforms from both

parties. So long as they do not violate the guarantee of the Secure

Retirement. Our government should not make promises we cannot keep,

but we must keep the promises we To hit the rest of the deficit

reduction target, we should do what leaders in both parties have

already suggested and save hundreds rid of tax deductions for the up

well off and well connected. Why would we choose to make deeper cuts

to education and Medicare just to protect special interest tax

breaks? How is that fear? Wise the deficit-reduction is a big

emergency justifying making cuts in social security benefits but not

closing some loopholes? How does that promote growth? Now is our

best chance for by Patterson, comprehensive tax reform the entire

carriages job creation and helped bring down the deficit. We can get

this done. The American people deserve a tax code that help small

businesses spend less time filling up complicated forms a more time

expanding and hiring. The tax code that ensures billion --

billionaires cannot work the system and pay a high of -- lower rate

than their secretaries. A tax code that lowers tax rates for

businesses and manufacturers creating jobs in the US. That's

what tax reform can deliver. That is what we can do together. I

realise that tax reform and entitlement reform will not be easy.

The politics will be difficult for most sides. None of us will get a

hundred % of what we want. The alternative will cost us jobs. It

will hit the economy, there is at hardship on millions of hard-

working Americans. Let us set party interests aside and worked to pass

a Budget that replaces reckless cuts with smart savings and wise

investments in the future. It us to it without the brinkmanship that

stresses consumers and skiers off investors. The greatest nation on

earth, the greatest nation on it cannot keep conducting its business

by drifting from one manufactured crisis to the next. We cannot do it.

Let's agree, to keep the people's government open and pay the bills

on time. Always uphold the full faith and credit of the United

States of America. The American people have worked too hard for too

long rebuilding from one crisis to see elected officials caused

another. Most of us agree that a plan to reduce the deficit must be

part of our agenda. Let us be clear, deficit-reduction alone is not an

economic plan. A growing economy that creates good middle class jobs,

that must be the North starred that guides our efforts. Every day, we

should ask ourselves three questions as a nation. How do we

attract more jobs? Harder we equip our people with the skills they

need to get those jobs. How do we make sure that hard work leads to a

decent living? The year and a half ago, I put forward an American jobs

at that an independent economists said would create one million new

jobs. I think the last Congress for passing some of that agenda. I

encourage this Congress to pass the rest. Tonight I will lay out

additional proposals that are fully paid for inconsistent with the

Budget framework both parties We need to invest in growth. Our

first priority is making America a magnet for new jobs and

manufacturing. Our manufacturers have added about 500,000 jobs in

the past three years. We're bringing jobs back from Japan. Back

from Mexico, this year, Apple will start making computers in America.

There are things we can do right now to accelerated this trend. Last

year we created our first manufacturing innovation is a cheat.

It is a state-of-the-art lab when EU -- when you work is a revolution

in the All -- revolutionising where we make everything. There is no

reason we cannot do this elsewhere. Tonight I am announcing three more

of these manufacturing hard sweat businesses will partner with the

Department of Defence and energy to repair regions left behind. I asked

the Congress to create a network of 15 of these hubs. It will guarantee

that the next revolution in manufacturing is here in America.

If we want to make the best products, we also have to invest in

the best ideas. Every dollar we invest to map the human genome

returned $140. Today, our scientists are mapping teaching and

brain. They are developing drugs to regenerate damaged organs, devising

new materials to make batteries ten times more powerful. Now is not the

time to get these job-creating investments in science and

innovation. Now at a time to reach a level of research and development

not seen since the height of the space race. We need to make those

investments. Today, no area holds more promise than our investments

in American energy. After years of talking about it, we're finally

poised to control Aran Energy Future. We produce more at home

than we have been 15 years. We have doubled the distance our cars will

go on a gallon of gas, and the matter of an -- renewable energy we

produce. We produce more natural gas than ever before. Nearly

everyone's Ng Bill is law because of it. -- Energy Bill. For the sake

of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate

It is true that no single event makes a trend. The fact is that the

12 hottest years on record have all come in the past 50. Heat waves,

droughts, wild fires, floods, they are all more frequent and more

intense. We can choose to believe that horror came Sandy and the most

severe drought in decades, and the worst wildfires we have seen a

relay coincidence, or we can choose to believe in the overwhelming

judgement of science, and act towards it is too late. -- before

it is too late. The good news is that we can make progress on this

issue while driving strong economic growth. I urge this Congress to get

together. If Congress will not act soon to prove it does make protect

future generations, I will. -- protect future generations. We will

produce plans to prepare for climate change. Four years ago,

other countries dominated the clean energy movement. We have begun to

change that. Last year, wind energy to generate more. Solar energy gets

cheaper every year. We will drive down the costs further. As long as

countries like China go all in on clean energy, we need to do with as

well. The natural gas boom has led to cleaner power. We need to

encourage that. That is why the administration will speed up new

gas plants. We will also encourage the research and technology that

helps us to burn cleaner and protect our air and water. What

about new-found energy is drawn for land and water that we, the public,

owned together. Tonight I propose that we use these revenues to fund

-- fund and energy security trust. If a non-partisan coalition of C

iOS can get behind the idea, so can we. -- CEOs. We will free ourselves

from the painful prices we have put up with for too long. A new goal

for America, will cut in half the energy wasted in the next 20 years.

We will work with the states to do buildings. America's energy sector

is just one part of an ageing infrastructure, badly in need of

repair. Ask anyone where they would rather locate and higher, one with

deteriorating road, or one with hi- tech schools and internet? The head

of CNN's -- Siemens. Said that they Tonight, I propose a programme to

put people to work as soon as possible on our most urgent repairs,

like the 70,000 struck fully deficient bridges across the

country. -- structurally. (APPLAUSE) To make sure taxpayers

do not shoulder the whole Bernard, we will attract private capital to

upgrade Would businesses need most - modern ports, modern pipelines,

modern schools. We will prove there is no better place to do business

them here in the US. We can get this done. Part of the effort must

also involve the housing sector. The good news is the housing market

is healing from the collapse of 2007. Home prices are rising at the

fastest pace in six years. Purchases are up 50%. Construction

is expanding again. Even with rates near a 50-year low, too many

families with solid credit, who want to buy a home, are being

rejected. To many families who never missed a payment are being

told no. That is holding the entire economy back. We need to fix it.

Right now, there was a bill in Congress that will give every

responsible homeowner or the chance to save $3,000 a year by

refinancing at Today's race. Democrats and Republicans have

supported it before. What are we waiting for? Take a vote and send

me the bill me the billld we be against that? Why would that be an

issue? Right now, overlapping regulations keep responsible young

families from buying a first time. It is holding us back. We need to

streamline the process and help the economy grow. These initiatives in

manufacturing, edgy, infrastructure, housing, there will help

entrepreneurs and small business owners expand and create new jobs.

None of it all matter unless we also equip citizens with the skills

and training to build those jobs. - - to fill those jobs. That has to

start at the earliest possible age. Study after study shows that the

sooner a child begins work, the better he or she does. Fewer than

three in 104-year-olds are involved in a pre-school programme. Most

middle class parents cannot afford the costs. For the kids who need

help the most, this lack of education can shatter them for the

last of their lives. I propose to work with states to make high-

quality pre-school in available to every child and America. There is

something we should be able to do. Every dollar we invest in high

quality education can save more than $7 later on. It will boost

graduation rates, reduce teen pregnancy, it or even reduce

violent crime. States that make it a priority to educate the young Mr

children -- and the youngest children, those students grow up

more likely to read and graduate high-school. There will form a more

stable families of their own. We know that this works. We need to do

what works. Make sure children do not start t not start tehind. Give

We will also make sure a high- school diploma or puts our kids on

a path to a good job. Right now, countries like Germany focus on

graduating students with the equivalent of a technical degree

from one of our community colleges. Those German kids are ready for a

job when they graduate Heysel. They have been trained. -- when they

graduate high school. Students will graduate with a high-school diploma,

and an associate degree in computers or engineering. We need

to give every American student opportunities like this. Four years

ago we started race to the top, a competition to convince almost

every state to develop smarter curriculum and higher standards.

Tonight, I am announcing a new challenge, to redesign America's

high schools so they are better equipped for the demands of a hi-

tech economy. We will reward schools. They will create classes

that focus on science, technology, engineering and Mathew. Those are

the skills that employers are looking for to fill jobs. Even with

better high schools, most young people will need some higher

education. It is a simple fact, the more dedication you have got, the

more likely you are to have a good job. Today's sky Ruthin's sky

rocketing costs put too many people out of an education. Through tax

credits, grants and better loans, we have made college more

affordable for millions of students and families. Taxpayers cannot keep

subsidising higher costs. Colleges must do their part to keep costs

down. It is our job to make sure Tomorrow, my administration will

release a new college scorecard that parents and students can use

to compare schools based on a simple criteria, will you can get

the most bang for your educational bark. To grow the middle class, our

citizens have to have access to the education and training that the

jobs of today need. We need to make sure America remains a place where

everybody is willing to work hard has the chance to get ahead. Our

economy is stronger when we harness the talents and ingenuity of

striving hopeful immigrants. Right now, leaders from the business,

labour law enforcement and faith communities agree that the time has

come to pass comprehensive Now is the time to get it done.

Real reform means stronger border security and we can build on the

progress my administration has already made, putting more broods

on the southern border than in any time in our history and reducing

illegal crossings to the lowest levels in 40 years. Real reform

means establishing a responsible pathway to in citizenship. That

includes passing a background check, playing taxes, learning English and

going to the back of the line behind the folks trying to come

here legally. End, real reform means fixing the legal immigration

system to cut waiting periods and attract a highly skilled

entrepreneurs and engineers they will help create jobs and grow the

We no-one needs to be done. As we speak, by parties and groups in

both chambers are working diligently to draft a bill. I

applaud their efforts. Send me a comprehensive immigration reform in

the next few months and I will sign a writer way and America will be

better for it. Let us get it done. We cannot stop there. We know our

economy is stronger when our wives and mothers and daughters can live

their lives free from discrimination in the workplace and

free from the fear of domestic violence. Today the Senate passed a

violence against women is at that Joe Biden originally wrote 20 years

ago and I encourage the house to do I ask is Congress to declare that

women should earn a living equal to their efforts and finally passed

the page it fairness Act this year. We know that our economy is

stronger when we reward an honest a's work with honest wages. Today

for a full-time worker making the minimum wage burns $14,000 a year.

Even with the tax relief report in place. A family with two children

that earns the minimum wage still lives below the poverty line. That

is wrong. That is why since the last time Congress raised to the

minimum wage, 19 states have chosen to pump these higher. Tonight, let

stickier it in the wealthiest nation on earth, no-one who works

full-time should have to live in poverty and raise the federal

minimum wage to $9 an hour. We should be able to get that down.

This single step would raise the incomes of millions of working

families. It could mean the difference between groceries or the

food bank. Rent or eviction, scraping by or finally getting

ahead. For businesses across the country, it would mean customers

with more money. Many folks would lead less help from government.

Working folks do not have to wait a year after year for the minimum

wage to go up while C E okays never been higher. This is an idea that

Governor Romney and I agreed on last year. We should tie the

minimum wage to the cost of living so it becomes a wager you can live

Tonight let's recognise the right communities in this country where

it no matter how hard you work it is almost impossible to get ahead.

Factory towns demurs decimated from years of plants picking up,

inescapable pockets of poverty. We are young adults are fighting for

their first job. American jobs -- America is not a place where

circumstance should decide our destiny. We need to build new

ladders of opportunity into the middle class. Let us offer

incentives to companies that hire Americans to people who have been

out of work sown long that no-one will give them a chance any more.

It does give people work building homes in run-down neighbourhoods.

We will begin to partner with 20 of the hardest-hit towns in America to

get the communities back on their feet. We will work with local

leaders to target resources in public soapie and education. We

will give tax credits to businesses that higher and invest and we will

work to strengthen families by removing the deterrents for

marriage for low-income couples. A man must have the courage to raise

a child and we want to encourage Stronger families, stronger

communities, be stronger America. It is this kind of prosperity,

broad, shed, built on a thriving middle class that has always been

the source of progress at time. It is the foundation of our power and

influence throughout the world. Tonight we stand united in saluting

the troops and civilians to sacrifice every day to protect us.

Because of them, we can say with confidence that America will

complete its mission in Afghanistan and achieve our objective of

Already, we have bought home 33,000 of our servicemen and women. This

spring forces will move to a support role while Afghan security

forces take the lead. Tomorrow I can announce over the next year,

34,000 American troops will come home from Afghanistan. The draw

down will continue and by the end of next year, the war in

Afghanistan will be over. The on 2014, America's commitment to a

unified Afghanistan will endure. The nature of our commitment will

change. We are negotiating an agreement with Afghan government

which focuses on two missions, training and equipping Afghan

forces so the country does not slip into chaos and counter-terrorism

efforts that a loss to pursue the remnants of al-Qaeda and their

affiliate. Today the organisation that attacked us on 9/11 is a

shambles of its former self. It is true different al-Qaeda filly is

sand extremist groups have emerged from the Arabian peninsula to

Africa. The threat these groups pose is evolving. To me this threat

we do not need to send tens of thousands of our sons and daughters

of Roar to occupy other nations, we need to help countries like Yemen

and Libya and Somali fight for their own security. And when

necessary, through a range of capabilities we will continue to

take direct action against those Terrace to pose the gravest threat

As we do, we must enlist our values in the fight. That is why my

administration has worked tirelessly to forge a verbal, legal

and policy framework to guide our counter-terrorism effort.

Throughout we have kept Congress fully informed of our efforts. I

recognise that in our democracy none should just take my word for

it that we are doing things the right way. In the mum said I will

continue to engage Congress to insure that the prosecution of

terrorists many minds consistent with our laws and system of checks

and balances. So our efforts up even more transparent to the

American people and the world. Our challenge is to not the end with

al-Qaeda. America will continue to lead the effort to prevent the

spread of the world's most dangerous weapons. Regime in North

Korea must know they will only achieve security and prosperity by

meeting international obligations. The provocations we saw last night

will only further isolate them. As we strengthen our muscle defence

and the bewildered in taking firm action in response to these threats.

The leaders of Iran must recognise that now's the time for a double

and it solution because the Coalition stands united in

demanding that they meet their obligations. We will do what is

necessary to prevent them from If at the same time, we will engage

Russia to seek further reductions in our nuclear arsenals and

continue to lead the club will it fit to secure a nuclear materials

they could fall into the wrong hands. Our ability to influence

others depends on our ability to meet our own obligations. America

must face the rapidly growing We can't look back tears from now

and wonder why we did nothing in the face of real threats to our

security and economy. That is why earlier today, I signed a new

executive order that will strengthen our side the defences by

developing standards to protect our national security, jobs and privacy.

APPLAUSE. But now Congress must act as well. By passing legislation to

give our government a greater capacity to secure and networks and

deter attacks. This is something we should be able to get down on a

bipartisan basis. APPLAUSE. -- done. Even as we protect our people, we

should remember that today's world presents not just threats but

opportunities. To boost American exports, support American jobs and

level the playing field in the growing markets of Asia. We intend

to complete negotiations on a trans-Pacific partnership. Tonight

I announce that we will launch talks on a comprehensive

transatlantic trade partnership with the European Union because

trade that is fair and free across the Atlantic supports billions.

APPLAUSE. We also know that progress in the most impoverished

parts of our world in which has us all. Not only because it creates

new markets, more stable order in regions of the world, but because

it is the right thing to do. In many places, people live on little

more than $1 a day. The US will join without allies to eradicate

such extreme poverty in the next two decades by connecting more

people to the bloke -- global economy, by empowering women and

giving young minds new opportunities to serve and helping

communities to feed and educate themselves. By saving the world's

children from preventable deaths and five realising the promise of

an Aids free generation, which is within our reach. -- AIDS. APPLAUSE.

America must remain a beacon to all who seek freedom during this period

of historic change. I saw the power of hope last year in Rangoon in

Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi welcomed an American President into the home

where she had been oppressive -- prisoner for years. Thousands of

people lined the streets waving American flags. Including a man who

said, there is justice and war in the United States. I want this

country to be like that. -- law. Defence of freedom will be the

anchor of alliances to -- from America to Africa, the Middle East.

We will stand with citizens as they demand their rights and support

stable transitions to democracy. We know the process will be messy.

We can't presume to dictate the course of changing countries like

Egypt. But we can and will insist on respect for the fundamental

rights of all people. We will keep the pressure on the Syrian regime

that has murdered its own people and support opposition leaders that

respect the rights of every Syrian. We will stand stead fast with

Israel in pursuit of security and lasting peace. APPLAUSE. These are

the messages I will deliver when I travel to the Middle East next

month. And all of this work depends on the courage and sacrifice of

those who serve in dangerous places at great personal risk. Our

diplomats, intelligence officers and the men and women of the United

States armed forces. As long as I am Commander In Chief, we will do

whatever we were asked to protect those who serve their country

abroad and we will maintain the best military the world has ever

known. APPLAUSE. We will invest in new capabilities. Even as we reduce

wartime spending. We will increase treatment for servicemen and their

families, gay and straight. APPLAUSE. We will draw upon the

courage and skills of our sisters and daughters and mothers because

women have proven under fire that they are ready for combat. We will

keep faith with our veterans, investing in world-class care,

including mental healthcare, four Supporting a military families,

giving veterans the benefit of education and job opportunities

that they have earned. I want to thank my wife and Jill Biden for

their continued support for those families. Thank you. APPLAUSE.

Defending our freedom, though, is not just the job of our military a

loan. We must all do our part to make sure our God-given rights are

protected here at home. That includes one of the most

fundamental rights of democracy - the right to vote. APPLAUSE. When

any American, no matter where they live or what their party, I have

denied that right, because they can't afford to wait for five or

six or seven hours just to cast their ballot, we are betraying our

ideals. APPLAUSE. So it... Tonight, I am announcing a non by -- non-

partisan commission to improve the boating experience in America. And

it definitely needs improvement. -- voting. I am asking two experts,

who recently served as the top attorney's for my campaign and for

governor Romney's campaign, to lead it. And we will fix it. The

American people demand it and so does our democracy. Of course, what

I have said tonight matters little. If we do not come together to

protect our most precious resources. Our children. It has been two

months since Newtown. This is not the first time the country has

debated how to reduce gun violence. But this time it is different.

Overwhelming majorities of Americans, Americans who believe in

the second amendment, have come together around common sense reform.

Like background checks that will make it harder for criminals to get

their hand on a gun. APPLAUSE. Senators of both parties are

working together on tough new laws to prevent anybody from buying guns

for resale to criminals. Police chiefs are asking our help to get

weapons of war and massive ammunition magazines off the

streets because these police chiefs are tired of seeing girls and guys

been outgunned. Each of these proposals deserves a vote in

Congress. APPLAUSE. If you want to vote no, that is your choice. But

these proposals deserve a vote. Because in the two months since

Newtown, more than 1,000 birthdays, graduation, anniversaries have been

stolen from our lives by a bullet from a gun. More than 1,000. One of

those we lost was a young girl. She was 15 years old. She loved life.

She was so good to her friends, they all thought they were her best

friend. Just three weeks ago, she was here in Washington with her

classmates. Performing for her country at my inauguration. One

week later, she was shot and killed in a Chicago park after school.

Just one mile away from my house. Her parents are in this Chamber

tonight, along with more than 24 Americans whose lives have been

warned apart by gun violence. They deserve a vote. -- torn apart.

APPLAUSE. They deserve a vote. APPLAUSE. Debbie Giffords deserves

the vote. -- Gabrielle Giffords. The families of Newtown deserve a

vote. The families of Aurora deserve a vote. The countless other

communities deserve a simple vote. APPLAUSE. They deserve a single

vote. Our actions will not prevent every senseless act of violence in

this country. In fact, no laws or initiatives, no administrative acts

will perfectly sold all of the challenges I have outlined tonight.

-- perfectly sold. But we never said we would be perfect. We were

sent here to make what difference we can to secured this nation,

expand opportunity, uphold ideals through the hard often frustrating

but absolutely necessary work of self government. We were sent here

to look out for our fellow Americans. The same way they look

out for one another. Every single day. Usually without fanfare, all

across this country. We should follow their example. We should

follow the example of the New York City nurse who, when Hurricane

Sandy plunged her home into darkness, she devised a rescue plan

to say if the children in a hospital. A woman from north Miami.

When she arrived at her polling place, she was told to wait for up

to six hours. As time ticked by, her concern was not her tired body

or aching feet, or whether folks like her would get to have her say,

hour after hour, people stayed in line to support her because she is

102 years old and they erupted in cheers when she finally put on a

sticker that read, I voted. APPLAUSE. We should follow the

example of one police officer. When a gunman opened fire on a temple in

Wisconsin, he was the first to arrive and he did not consider his

own safety, he fought back until help arrived. In order to protect

the safety of the fellow Americans worshipping inside. Even as he lay

bleeding from 12 bullet wounds. When asked how he do that, he said,

"that is just the way we are made". We may do different jobs and with

different uniforms and hold different views than the person

beside us. -- wear. But as Americans we all share the same

proud title. We are citizens. A word that not just -- does not just

describe and nationality, it describes how we are made and what

we believe. It captures the enduring idea that this country

only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and

future generations. That our rights are wrapped up in the rights of

others and that well into our food century as a nation it remains the

task of us all. -- third century. To be the authors of the next great

chapter of our American story. Thank you. God bless you and God

bless the United States of America. There we have President Obama

wrapping up his stage of the Union address. One hour, he spoke for.

With a long list speaking about his agenda. The main focus of his

speech was the economy. The state of the middle class, how to get it

jobs growing again. He also touched on immigration, foreign policy, the

need for investment and manufacturing and ended on what was

a fairly workmanlike list of what he wants to do with a rousing

appeal for gun control in the country. I am joined by the White

House correspondent for real clear politics. You're listening to that

speech with me. What were your first impressions of it? For the

kick-off of his second term, one of the things I was listening to was

the dramatic differences from the first turn. -- idiomatic. Did he

evolve for a loan? In some ways, it was the a bummer we have heard from

the beginning. -- Obama. The economy and jobs has been the

anchor, in some ways, to his presidency if all the way it from

the beginning. It was inescapable tonight. He tried to talk up new

programmes. This is not an era of spending more money. He is working

with a divided government, Congress, that is not interested in spending

more money. He did a lot of evoking the private sector or encouraging

the business community or putting together commissions or the kinds

of things that would inspire. That is what he President does. It was

very slim on the big new government. We were expecting to hear Florida

Senator speech in response. He wants to pass to the President as a

big government kind of precedent in his second term. He was trying to

restrain some of that. He was making a fairly unapologetic case

for the need for investment in America. As well as spending cuts.

He said America has a long-term spending problem. He talked a lot

about Medicare and the proposals he has put forward. He also said that

you cannot cut your way to growth in the country. This was not in

response to the immediate crisis, this is what he thinks is the long-

term strategy. The President has the belief like many before him

that government is a wonderful instigator of good things in the

economy. He tried to provide that fuel for economic growth. We have

had such a slow growth. He was also trying to sound like a President

who is finished with healthcare. He is talking about a much more

balanced way, thinking about adjusting Medicare. He talked about

that. Leaving the chamber, he is now shaking hands with everybody.

He is shaking hands with both Democrats and Republicans. Members

of Congress as well before he takes the journey. There is the

Democratic leader of the Senate. There is an old friend of Obama's

from Illinois. He says good night to them all before getting back to

the White House. He is probably hoping that it is not just the

people in this room he is saying good might to, but Americans around

the country. Who will have stuck with him through an entire hour of

policies. What are the chances that Americans watched, in their

millions, and stayed with this speech? We will find out soon

enough. One of the King's the President has learnt from the first

term and we will see him do, he adjusted during his campaign to

figure out how to campaign on the outside. To pressure Congress on

the outside. He is telling the American people, I will be calling

on you. I will be asking you to do this. He kept using phrases in his

speech of a certain urgency. We can do this, let us do this. They are

very quick to concede that he has about a year to get Major's

legislation like immigration reform done. -- major legislation.

Republicans were hoping for a conciliatory tone. I think they

will have been disappointed. This was a President who was calling out

Congress and effectively calling out Republicans for blocking things.

And we noticed that the President, in that way of attacking them, was

also saying that Mitt Romney, who was his opponent in the election,

he agreed with me on this. On minimum wage. He agreed with me on

some of the election reform. He is trying to talk about sweeping them

into his circle. Encouraging the American people to think that he is

arguing for common sense solutions. Let us too quickly about a couple

of the things that he raced in the coast to gun control. It was, in a

way, it was the most emotional part of the speech. He left it at the

end. Members of the audience were holding photographs of relatives

who had died. This was when he went to the heart of the American public

to make his case. He understands what a tough sell this is going to

be on everything he wants in terms of legislation. He emphasised the

kinds of things that he wants and thinks that the Congress might go

for. He was also talking about it right after this very emotional

recitation of the horrors that have come from gun massacres. He was

really trying to encourage the American people to think that he is

with them, with these families, with these teachers and schools.

And that Congress should be as well. Does it help his agenda? Gun-

control was this poignant moment in his speech, with families who, God

knows how they do it, the parents of the little girl who was killed

last week, they were listening to what. Incredible fortitude and

courage to stand there are national television. Do you think the way

that the President says, even then they deserve a vote, get this done,

does that help is agenda? It helps his agenda in terms of who he is

speaking to. He is speaking to the House Republicans there. The Africa

get legislation passed starts in the Senate. IT is also calling them

out and saying, listen to the American people. If we have let

this go, we have led the American people down. We have let the

families and children down. He came back to that. We can fix this. We

can get this done. A very emotional at the end, compared to the rest of

the speech. It was a list of things. And there we see President Obama

weaving the rotunda on Capitol Hill. Seeing his final farewells. Getting

back to the White House. Take a last look at that. He has several

more of these to give in his turn. He will be back. President Obama on

his way back from his fourth stage of the Union. -- stage of the Union.

What are the chances are for the legislation of the policy agenda

that he laid out? The bits he has a chance of seeing turned into

legislation? He will get background checks for guns. I fear she will do

well on trying to ban the implication of weapons. -- I think

he will do. Also, high-capacity clips and ammunition. That will be

a much tougher sell. Immigration reform, the White House is very

optimistic that this is too well this year in the Senate and the

house. -- possible. They have a good ground game going with

bipartisan support and legislation writing involving the Senate and

the house. We have seen immigration reform stumble and fall and get

blocked before. It will take a lot of pressure on the President's Park.

He will have to wrestle with the fiscal budget issues. He will have

a succession of hurdles that he has to get through. He is concerned

that the frustration he had to explain to people, that is already

in the law. He expected will go into effect. The White House says

they will tie that around the Republican's Mac. -- neck. He is

already laying the predicate for that. He has got a few more

deadlines. That is in terms of the fiscal situation. He was trying to

put forward this deficit-reduction deal that has escaped him for years.

It looks that is not going to happen any time soon. But looking

at the number of pages and words, he really did focus so much on the

manufacturing, investment, education and the need to prepare

the American workforce. He kept insisting this will not cost us a

dime. At the same time he is talking about investment strategies.

He is talking about investments in partnership. He is talking about

adding some new money and paying for it in the Budget. but we have

not seen any details. Very few numbers. It is interesting who the

senator we will hear from is actually trying to set a growth

target. He is talking about seeing the American economy to 4% gross.

The American President did not set targets for unemployment. He did

not talk about where to show gross. He is trying to go away from

numbers he does not control. It is a very nebulous kind of Howard

comes together. On foreign policy it seemed pretty nebulous as well.

He said we stand by our allies in the Middle East. They are going to

engage Russia to see production of nuclear arsenals. The regime in

North Korea must know that they will only achieve security and

prosperity by meeting international obligations. But he did not lay out

how he is going to do it. This has eluded him for the last four years.

We were led to believe that perhaps the President might be more

specific about nuclear reduction. The White House was clear to say

today that he was not going to get too specific about that. He is

leaving himself a lot of room. With Congress and with allies abroad.

Also, with any of our opponents. The Administration was asked what

they would do in the UN to try and deal with the North Korean

situation, and his ambassador to the UN was pretty vague about that.

This is not life. We are not starting the State of the Union

again. That would be another hour. This is just 10 as he came in to

deliver this very long State of the Union address. Every area of

American policy was touched on. I was looking to see if he left out