Reaction to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address:
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“We hope the president will join us in a year of real action – by empowering people, not making their lives harder with unprecedented spending, higher taxes and fewer jobs. As Republicans, we advance these plans every day because we believe in a government that trusts people and doesn’t limit where you finish because of where you started. That is what we stand for – for an America that is every bit as compassionate as it is exceptional.” — Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., in the official GOP response.
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“The president’s willingness to take bold executive action on immigration reform is an important step, but Congress must act to take the broader, permanent action that is needed. Beyond the important result of keeping families together, immigration reform will strengthen our economy and allow law enforcement officials to focus on catching real criminals.” — Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo.
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“He was talking about me but he has no ability to help me. … When we look back 40 years from now and say, ‘that Obama initiative in 2014 led to some change,’ well, I’m sure that will happen. But I need a job now.” — Scott Valenti, 41, an unaffiliated voter from Woodland Park, Colo.
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“After five years, President Obama is clearly out of ideas. With few bipartisan proposals, Americans heard a president more interested in advancing ideology than in solving the problems regular folks are talking about.” — House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
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“Americans know in their hearts that something is wrong. Much of what is wrong relates to the sense that the ‘American Dream’ is falling out of reach for far too many of us. … We are facing an inequality crisis — one to which the president has paid lip-service, but seems uninterested in truly confronting or correcting.” — Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, speaking on behalf of the Tea Party Express.
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“Today, the American people saw two very different visions for America. President Obama laid out a bold, proactive plan to improve the lives of millions, while the Republican Party in the House of Representatives spent the day rolling back basic freedoms for women across this country.” — Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.
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“On floor of house waitin on ‘Kommandant-In-Chef’ … the Socialistic dictator who’s been feeding US a line or is it ‘A-Lying?'” — tweet from Rep. Randy Weber, R-Texas.
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“The way he used regular people to make his points was incredible and effective.” — tweet from Richard L. Trumka, AFL-CIO president.
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“While the president’s policies are proving to be some of the most blunder-prone in history, the 59 state legislative chambers led by Republicans are implementing major reforms that are having a positive impact and statewide Republican officials across the nation are leading with decisive action. No matter how hard President Obama tries to claim that 2014 will be a ‘year of action’ his track record of lies to sell Obamacare and his botched leadership of a dysfunctional Washington make us hope his actions will be limited at best.” — Rep. Bill McCollum, R-Fla.
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“Tonight, President Obama laid out a bold, optimistic agenda that challenged us to reward hard work, renew economic security for middle-class families and keep faith with our senior citizens. … I am hopeful that Congress can build on recent bipartisan agreements to move this progressive agenda forward to benefit all Americans.” — Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay, D-Mo.
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“We were hopeful that President Obama would outline an ambitious new plan or offer more forms of executive relief to stop deportations. The president did not even mention a word on deportations. Although Obama had sympathetic rhetoric, we have seen this fall through before when he was not able to reform immigration in his first year as promised.” — Cesar Vargas, co-director of the Dream Action Coalition.
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“Political partisans are throwing punches when they should be reaching for common ground on issues where Democrats and Republicans can agree_issues like advancing equality and opportunity for women and girls around the world.” — Ritu Sharma, president and co-founder of Women Thrive Worldwide.
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“Tonight, we heard the same old promises from President Obama. Promises for a better economy. Promises for better health care. Promises for a better government. But after five years of promises, what do we have to show for it?” — Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus.
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“While the president’s call for additional support for broadband infrastructure in schools and libraries is welcome, any update by the FCC of E-Rate must provide the necessary long-term funding to secure a sustainable future for the program.” — Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.
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“Our debt has nearly doubled during @BarackObama’s time in office. Shame is due, not credit.” — tweet from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.
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“Tonight, the president talked of the many things that could be accomplished with bigger government through more regulations and spending. However, his solutions are just more of the same failed policies that have left Americans facing looming uncertainty, shrinking paychecks, rising costs, and greater dependency on the federal government.” — Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas.
