...On January 12, 2016, President Barack Obama presented the State of the Union Address to the American people. In this speech, President Barack Obama spoke about many different issues. In this paper, I will review and evaluate President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address using the two checklists from Catherine Smith’s book entitled, Writing Public Policy. I will evaluate if President Obama’s speech addresses a specific audience about a specific problem, the purpose related to a specific policy action, that it represents authority accurately, uses the appropriate form and design for use. I will also review the clarity, correctness, conciseness and credibility of President Obama’s State of the Union Address. Features of Effectiveness President Obama’s State of the Union speech addressed a specific audience about specific problems. The audience is composed of Senators, Democrats, and Republicans. The President’s speech is the final report on the State of the Union. President Obama’s speech...
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...In delivering his State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama made a point to touch on nearly every relevant modern day political subject. Some of his most hard pressed issues included tax hikes on the wealthy, the expansion of publicly funded education to include two years of community college, and a call for cyber security measures well beyond anything enacted to date. Actually his new budget will provide an expanded tuition tax credit. After critical backlash from students, parents, and both partied, Barack Obama decided to drop his proposal that would have ended the popular 529 college savings accounts. Barack Obama stated, “In Iraq and Syria, American leadership, including our military power, is stopping ISIS’s advance.” This is half true, as the U.S. has built a coalition of counties, including Arab nations, with the goal of destroying the group, however ISIS continues to advance in Syria. Obama vowed to fight terrorism tactfully and justly, which might have gotten his most well rounded approval over the course of his hour-long speech. He also expressed intentions to improve diplomatic relations with Cuba/enact major trade agreements with Asian nations and the European Union and improve the state of childcare (for working families specifically) in the...
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...has the Obama administration departed from traditional Democratic values and policies? The 2015 state of the union address, Barack Obama had stated ‘after a breakthrough year for America, our economy is growing and creating jobs…shrinking deficits…things like childcare and sick leave and equal pay; things like lower mortgage premieres and a higher minimum wage- these ideas will make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of families. Like any Democratic President, Barack Obama had commented on traditional aspects of the Democratic Party, however there are parts of Obamas administration that has departed from some traditional Democratic values and policies. These will be explained further. Firstly, signs that Obama has not departed from key traditional Democrat values and policies is Obamas intervention in the economy to promote growth. In the recent state of the union address, Obama had mentioned the economy and its growth several times, which portrayed how important the president had found this issue; sounding finally like the president that his liberal supporters want him to be. Traditionally, the Democrats believe in building a stronger economy by raising the minimum wage, giving equal pay for equal work, and reforming student loan debt. This is highlighted by Obama, with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, most commonly referred to as the ‘stimulus bill’. The bill was a direct response to the economic crisis and at the urging of Obama. The act...
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...Despite the employment of writers Barack Obama wrote this speech himself. In the speech “A more Perfect Union” Barack Obama wants to locate the truth in his own up comings and also in the audience. He discusses the race in America in a logical manner but is also very sinecure at the same time. He needs to clear the air with the American people. With previous information involving the church that Barack Obama attends there was an issue with his pastor Rev. Wright. The comments made by him did not go well with others and these statements reflected back on Obama in a negative way. His pastor made comments about race and discrimination some even said he is a racist. In the speech he is connecting the past with our present time. Presidential candidate Barack Obama came across a problem that some may say he would not be fit for precedence because of this situation. He wanted to clear the air up with the American people. He first established this with the use of irony to the constitution. This is effective because we have a black man running for president. In our constitution they state that they wanted to be free from England, but once they came to America there were people who purchased other people. In the constitution...
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...Kevin Richards Ms.Battle English 10 (3A/B) 1/5/13 My Essay This speech speaks about racial tension, white privilege, and race inequality and how the United States is not the union we want it to be. This speech was delivered by Senator Barack Obama, a father to two daughters and a husband to a wonderful woman. Senator Barack Obama feels that the United States is not how it said it will be due to racism, unfairness to each other races and privileges white people had over races, he felt that it was unbalanced and needed to make a change right away. I think he wanted to tap in to the audience emotions, so for them, they can make a change to form a more perfect union, he also explained that with enough effort, anything can happen as he made an example towards Ashley. One of the significant phrase a, liked was when he said “I am the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas. I was raised with the help of a white grandfather who survived a Depression to serve in Patton’s Army during World War II and a white grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line at Fort Leavenworth while he was overseas.” He is saying that he was raised by both African and White, so he is confused to why the United States is like this? Senator Barack Obama was arguing about racial issues that was occurring in the United States, and why is not everyone treated equality. In his speech h often switch to topic to topic, for example. He talked about the racial issues to Reverend Wright to...
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.... ‘A More Perfect Union’ is a speech that was delivered by the then US Senator for Chicago, Barack Hussein Obama, in response to criticism and condemnation that was hurled at him due to his association with Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Reverend Wright had come under attack from many corners of American society due to what people termed as ‘anti-American’ sentiments that Reverend Wright shared with his congregants, the most prominent of them being Senator Obama. (Obama, B. 2008) Obama’s speech will give insight on rhetorical appeal, pattern of development, context, and intended audience to educate it’s reader.. Senator Obama, who was then running for presidential nomination by the Democratic Party, was accused of tolerating anti-American sentiments. People, politicians and academics wondered how he could put up with such sentiments yet he hoped to lead a society as diverse ethnically and racially as America. This speech, ‘A More Perfect Union’, was Senator Obama’s response to these accusations. The speech has been hailed by many people as being the one that won him not only the Democratic Party nomination but also the U.S Presidency. For instance, the speech played a role in prompting New Mexico governor Bill Richardson to back Mr. Obama for the Democratic nomination. Governor Richardson was courted by both Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton as he was America’s only Latino governor and as such, whoever he supported may have won most of the Latino votes. Many people, including rivals...
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...Further Oral Activity: Barack Obama 2012 Victory Speech Task: Analyze the rhetoric used in the speech. This is a Special News report on the 7th of November - President Obama has won second term the elections for president of the USA - we are now live in Chicago at the McCormick Centre , where President Obama just held his victory speech, and I am going to do a quick analysis of what the newly re-elected President said. It is an absolute pandemonium after Barack Obama has just delivered a 20 minute speech, during which he expressed his gratitude towards his family, his friends, his supporters, and laid out his vision of what America has already achieved, what it can achieve and what it will achieve after he has been re-elected President of the United States to Mitt Romney with 281 electoral votes to 191. Through the use of various rhetorical tools like Anaphora, rhetorical term for the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or verses, President Barack Obama delivers a speech through which he fully expresses ideas like the American dream and the future. Similarly to other speeches of his from the past, as for example the 2008 speech at the Democratic Convention, this one contains different forms of repetition and "between the line political views" - for example in the first paragraphs he purposely begins his sentences with the same couple of words - "You'll hear", "We want...", "That's ", followed by his ideas for the future of...
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...previous pastor, commented on Barack Obama, calling him racist. This was in 2008. To prove to the American people that, he is a candidate that stands for all, he delivered a speech called “A More Perfect Union”. The immediate purpose of this speech was to prove that Wright's’ comments are invalid, but it effectively delivered so much more. In “A More Perfect Union”, candidate Obama proves his understanding and support of all American cultures and values. During the speech, Barack Obama refers to the Constitution, mentioning the changes...
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...POTUS" Introduction Barrack Obama became the 44th President of the United States of America on January 20th, 2009. He is the first African American to take office and with his presidency he promised to make changes to America that would liberate the American people from crisis into a bright new beginning. In his Inauguration speech, he claimed to mend the financial crisis by stimulating jobs and laying a “new foundation for growth” (Naughton, “Inauguration speech”). He promised to rebuild the Nation’s foundations such as roads, bridges, electric grids, and digital lines, to revive the prosperity and importance of science, to increase the care and lower the cost of health care, to mend the threat of global warming, to enact peace with Afghanistan, to withdraw from Iraq, and to transform the educational system to meet the conditions of a new era (Naughton, “Inauguration speech”). Throughout his first year as president Obama has enacted many policies and regulations such as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and Health Care Bill. However, has Obama stayed true to his original promises stated throughout his campaigns, in his Inauguration speech, as well as his first State of Union speech. Has Obamba’s first year been a success or a failure? This essay will explore the history of Obama’s ascend to presidency, his success and failures, and an overall evaluation of Obama’s first year in office. The Rise of Barrack Obama Obama was born on August 4, 1961...
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... Barack Obama Barack Obama Biography U.S. Representative, U.S. President, Lawyer (1961–) Early Life Barack Hussein Obama was born on August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii. His mother, Ann Dunham, grew up in Wichita, Kansas, where her father worked on oil rigs during the Great Depression. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dunham's father, Stanley, enlisted in the service and marched across Europe in Patton's army. Dunham's mother, Madelyn, went to work on a bomber assembly line. After the war, the couple studied on the G.I. Bill, bought a house through the Federal Housing Program and, after several moves, landed in Hawaii. Barack Obama's father, Barack Obama Sr., was born of Luo ethnicity in Nyanza Province, Kenya. Obama Sr. grew up herding goats in Africa, eventually earning a scholarship that allowed him to leave Kenya and pursue his dreams of college in Hawaii. While studying at the University of Hawaii in Manoa, Obama Sr. met fellow student Ann Dunham, and they married on February 2, 1961. Barack was born six months later. Obama did not have a relationship with his father as a child. When his son was still an infant, Obama Sr. relocated to Massachusetts to attend Harvard University, pursuing a Ph.D. Barack's parents officially separated several months later and ultimately divorced in March 1964, when their son was 2. In 1965, Obama Sr. returned to Kenya. In 1965, Dunham married Lolo Soetoro...
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...than choosing a side, will be a more successful leader. Gil Troy picks George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy because of their achievements made from leading from the center. I would evaluate President Barack Obama as a good leader because he has made the United States more secure. President Obama has ended two wars, took out Osama Bin Laden and ended the controversial war on terror. Barack Obama saved the economy and unemployment is now low. I think President Obama is always going to have a special spot in history because he was the first African- American President that led two terms in office and has accomplishment a lot between the times. Some people might think different about President Barack Obama if he was a good leader or not. He has done so much for us Americans and still is. He has done a great job trying to keep other countries save and the United States. And he is helping the people get the rights they deserve. History teaches us that winning an election or re-election does not guarantee presidential success. Citizens in a democracy get the leadership they deserve, for better or worse as said in the reading. After reading Gil Troy “From Leading from the Center” I think President Barack Obama would be a good example of a good...
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...When will we see Change? A Critical look at Barack Obama and the democratic party. Charles Kerber POLS 202 9AM American Government Livingston This paper will take a critical look at the history of the democratic party, its most recent 2012 election, its current presidential candidate Barack Obama, and the latest platform. While the paper may read as being highly critical of President Obama, it should be caveated by the fact that this is an extremely trying time in the history of the United States, and the government is under considerable pressures from outside terrorism threats and international relations, to severe recession and domestic economic concerns. Nevertheless, one must look critically at President Obama, and answer has he really given us “change we can believe in”? Biography & history The Democratic party went through a number of iterations before it became the current democratic party. The party began as the anti federalists under the leadership of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Thomas Jefferson a former secretary of state under George Washington's administration who had resigned to protest the fiscal policies of Alexander Hamilton. These two rivals would become the basis of the first two political parties of the United States. Alexander Hamilton favored the constitution, the creation of a national bank and repayment of the revolutionary war debt with federal funds. Under this philosophy they would name themselves Federalists, for their leaders support of ratifying the constitution...
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...Obama speech The speech, ”A more Perfect union” is spoken by Barack Obama, the president of the united states. He states in his speech that he didn’t win the election because he is black and potential could be the first black president, but because of his hard work and political statements. His main point in the speech is to illuminate the racial issues due to making a more perfect union. Obama states that in order to make a perfect functioning country everybody, no matter age, race and religion needs to incorporate together in order to make it work optimally. He consumes that America can’t make a perfect union if everybody aren’t willing to work. “And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American.” These quotes support the importance of Obama’s statements and shows that everyone in America needs to be together in order to make a perfect union. Obama also claims that racism has been and still is a huge problem – and with active racism in America it hampers the target, which is America to be function as a perfect union. “It's a racial stalemate we've been stuck in for years. And contrary to the claims of some of my critics, black and white, I have never been so naive as to believe that we can get beyond our racial divisions in a single election cycle or with a single candidate”. In order to make America a perfect...
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...A Team of Two In 2008, Barack Obama was elected as president of the United States of America making him the first non-Caucasian president in United States history. Barack Obama ended an era that spanned over 200 years taking what has been called the largest step on the road to true equality in the United States of America but what it also started was the most heated topic in recent memory by proposing universal healthcare. This issue has affected practicing doctors nationwide as well as the students working to become a doctor. Doctor K. N. is an AMA (American Medical Association) board certified urologist that graduated from the University of Texas Medical School in Houston. He opened his practice in 1989 and continues to practice in the Greater Houston Area with four separate practices that employ the nation’s leading healthcare professionals in every medical specialty. With “Obamacare” on the horizon, Dr. N. explains the impact it would have on practicing physicians (which includes himself), those who own or run any type of medical facility, and the positive and negative aspects when it came to how it would affect the general population. This past year over 50 % of doctors are employed by the government. As healthcare becomes a regulated industry, most doctors that are currently self-employed will no longer be able to effectively run a practice. Large insurance companies will be able to assert even more control of the nation’s healthcare industry. The confusing issue is if...
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...Am. Gov 12/10/13 American Government The American government is made up of three distinct parts; executive, legislative and judiciary. The President is head of the Executive government, whereas the Congress heads the legislative and judiciary government i.e. Supreme Court. The Constitution of the United States of America went into effect in 1789 and is in effect since. The powers of the President are as mentioned by Article II of the constitution. Even though the constitution itself has not changed and the powers of the President remain the same as vested by the constitution, there has been a great difference between the powers exercised by the first President; George Washington and the current President; Barack Obama. First, the powers of the President bestowed by the Constitution will be reviewed. Then a comparison of the powers exercised by George Washington and Barack Obama will be discussed. Presidential Powers according to the Constitution American politics is now dominated by the President. But the president does not govern the country. The government of America is composed of coordination of executive, legislative and judiciary bodies. The President should accept and recognize the legitimate powers of the senators and representatives for the usual day to day works. The following powers are given to the President by the Constitution: * The power to appoint members of Cabinet, ambassadors, Judges of Federal Courts and Justices of Supreme Courts (after consulting...
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