Obama: Everyone deserves a "fair shot"

Updated: 7:33 p.m. ET

In his third State of the Union speech on Tuesday night, President Obama will outline an "economic blueprint" for the United States that emphasizes the need to give all Americans a "fair shot," reiterating his longstanding message that "Americans who work hard and play by the rules every day deserve a government and a financial system that does the same."

According to excerpts of the speech released by the White House, Mr. Obama will pledge his commitment to working with Republicans and Democrats alike to "build on" economic momentum - but, he promised, "I will oppose any effort to return to the very same policies that brought on this economic crisis in the first place."

"No, we will not go back to an economy weakened by outsourcing, bad debt, and phony financial profits," Mr. Obama will say. "Tonight, I want to speak about how we move forward, and lay out a blueprint for an economy that's built to last - an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values."

Invoking the image of an ideal future America - one that leads others in education and technology, and "where we're in control of our own energy" - Mr. Obama will emphasize his belief in building a nation in which "everyone plays by the same set of rules."

State of the Union 2012
Boehner to Obama: "Work with us"

"....The defining issue of our time is how to keep that promise alive," he will say. "No challenge is more urgent. No debate is more important. We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while a growing number of Americans barely get by. Or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules."

"What's at stake are not Democratic values or Republican values, but American values," the remarks continue. "We have to reclaim them."

Mr. Obama's blueprint will focus on creating jobs in high-tech manufacturing and energy, and will draw a sharp contrast between the president and his Republican rivals for the presidency, all of whom oppose raising taxes for top-earning Americans. 

He is also expected to revive his call for the so-called "Buffett rule," which implement a tax overhaul requiring that capital gains and dividends be taxed at the same rate as income earned from work. (According to a new CBS News/New York Times poll, most Americans agree with the concept of the "Buffett rule.") 

The Buffett rule was named for the billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who in an op-ed last year decried the fact that he paid a lower tax rate than some middle-income earners in his office, such as his secretary. To underscore this point on Tuesday, Warren Buffett's secretary, Debbie Bosanek, will sit with First Lady Michelle Obama at tonight's speech.

The president is expected to outline why he believes his plan will not only lead to sustainable economic growth, but will also more fairly serve average Americans who are struggling to support themselves.

President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 25, 2011.

/ Pete Souza, Executive Office of the President of the United States

"Tonight, I want to speak about how we move forward, and lay out a blueprint for an economy that's built to last - an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values," the remarks say. "Let's never forget: Millions of Americans who work hard and play by the rules every day deserve a government and a financial system that does the same. It's time to apply the same rules from top to bottom: No bailouts, no handouts, and no copouts. An America built to last insists on responsibility from everybody." 

Earlier today, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney revealed he paid a 14.5 percent tax rate on his $42 million in earnings -- most of which came from profits, dividends or interest from investments -- in the past two years. 

Romney, like several Republicans, has already delivered a preemptive rebuttal of the president's remarks, decrying the speech as "partisan planks for his re-election campaign."

"It's shameful for a President to use the State of the Union to divide our nation. And someone ought to tell him: In order for the economy to truly 'work for everyone,' everyone needs to be working," Romney told reporters on Tuesday. "If I were speaking to Congress tonight, I'd note that it's now been one thousand days since the Senate last passed a budget. That's irresponsible. It's unacceptable. And, as President, I will cut spending, cap spending, and finally balance the budget."

In an interview with "The CBS Evening News" anchor Scott Pelley, House Speaker John Boehner accused Mr. Obama of having "checked out" of the political process and instead "spent the last four months doing nothing but campaigning."

"He hasn't been engaged with the process," Boehner said. "And if the president wants to work together, it takes two to tango."

"Well, you know, the big problem is this: The president's policies have failed. And I'm afraid, based on everything that I'm hearing about tonight's speech, that he's gonna offer more of the same: higher taxes, more spending, more regulation. These policies have not only not helped the economy-- I'd argue they've made it worse," he said.

See below for the excerpts of Mr. Obama's State of the Union Address, as prepared for delivery:

"Think about the America within our reach: A country that leads the world in educating its people. An America that attracts a new generation of high-tech manufacturing and high-paying jobs. A future where we're in control of our own energy, and our security and prosperity aren't so tied to unstable parts of the world. An economy built to last, where hard work pays off, and responsibility is rewarded. "

...

"....The defining issue of our time is how to keep that promise alive. No challenge is more urgent. No debate is more important. We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while a growing number of Americans barely get by. Or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules. What's at stake are not Democratic values or Republican values, but American values. We have to reclaim them."

...

"As long as I'm President, I will work with anyone in this chamber to build on this momentum. But I intend to fight obstruction with action, and I will oppose any effort to return to the very same policies that brought on this economic crisis in the first place.

No, we will not go back to an economy weakened by outsourcing, bad debt, and phony financial profits. Tonight, I want to speak about how we move forward, and lay out a blueprint for an economy that's built to last - an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values."

...

"Let's never forget: Millions of Americans who work hard and play by the rules every day deserve a government and a financial system that do the same. It's time to apply the same rules from top to bottom: No bailouts, no handouts, and no copouts. An America built to last insists on responsibility from everybody."

[RobAla]

The most stark absence from President Obama's SOTU address was the fact that he totally ignored the massive debt we have accumulated under his administration. It grew under most Presidents, but it accelerated dramatically under him. He talked about making major cuts to defense - but did he indicate that he would use those savings to bring down the debt? NO. He talked about spending that money on other federal projects. He has NO PLAN to deal with our racing toward national bankruptcy. He has ZERO plans to stop this reckless and irresponsible nonsense.

I listened to the President Obama's third State of the Union Address, and I have come to the conclusion that he is a schizophrenic. He talked about everyone playing by the same rules, after giving out $100s of billions of taxpayer dollars to corporations of his choice while allowing other businesses to fend for themselves. He talked about reducing federal regulations on business, after burying American businesses under increased regulations contained in his disastrous health care law, He talked about national unity, after he has divided Americans and pitted one group of Americans against another for three years. He announced that "America is back", after burying the nation under deficit spending like no other President in American history. He announced "no more bailouts", after being the king of bailouts. He talked about energy independence, after stopping a oil pipeline that would have made American less dependent on middle-eastern oil and would have created more than 20,000 jobs. I have never heard a more twisted, muddled, and conflicted speech in all my life.

[noloyalisti]

Robmee makes $67,000 a day not working. He has the money and we should go after the money (whoever has it) to fund our country. Simple.

[RobAla]

Hey! It is not your money. When you go after someone else's money we have a term for that - it is called stealing.

[lucci123]

GOP and Mitt Romney said that they understand middle class; however, middle class are the one that make the different on Mitt 13.9 % tax rate, middle class make the different on his tax when he put his money in offshore accounts to avoid paying tax rate here in U.S. Mitt Romney made hundred of million on the back of American workers and now he wants ordinary American people to pay the different on his tax. In fact, he's promoting to the public that when he becomes president, he should pay half of 13.9 % while ordinary American will pay more than today tax rate. Is Mitt Romney and GOP for ordinary American or they are on the side of their elites friends?

Do you know that we borrow China $700 billion dollars a year to pay for super rich tax cut, because this is what the GOP wants? Further, in the eyes of GOP, this $700 billion dollars do not drive federal deficit, but jobs growth. Where are the jobs creations from $700 billion dollars tax cut? According to Newt, we're still affected by 911. Isn't this more than 10 years ago? Apparently, Newt, Mitt, and GOP are still in denial or in a coma. Not too long ago, GOP & Bush brought down the U.S and global economy, and now they're an expert on fixing this?

GOP and Tear Party, please stop pretending like you care about federal deficit when you're the one that drive the federal deficit sky rock--from two wars that unpaid for and borrow $700 billion dollars a year from China to pay for super rich tax cut that they don't need.

Warren Buffett told ABC that his secretary's Debbie works just as hard as he does and she pays twice the rate he pays. He thinks that's outrageous. However, GOP think working people like Debbie tax rate in compare to the super rich is fair. It's like Sadam Hussein saying that he loves his people.

[noloyalisti]

What struck me about the speech last night was just how pathetic and lost the Republicons seemed to be. They have been obstructing and trying to ruin Obama by ruining America for 3 years now. And Obama, who is really playing chess while these immature idiots are playing checkers, exposed them for the sad, sick, limp idiots they are.

Fantastic! They know that Obama is going to be President for the next 5 years and that there is nothing to stop the Democrats for being in power long after that.

[jack3478]

January 24, 2012 6:05 PM

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Obama: Everyone deserves a "fair shot"
Yes, actually try to get an education and then a job.

[noloyalisti]

And if the Top 1% paid their fair share we could support public education like we used to. Before the disaster of Ronald Reagan with his free-market junk took hold. And destroyed the commons and the middle class.

[noloyalisti]

Obama is 1,000% right. He even said that HE should be part of the Top 1% that pay their fair share.

After all why should scum like Robmee and Gingrinch pay less taxes than me or any other working person. Why are we rewarding worthless lazy corporate slaves like them for being fat lazy clowns, anyway?

[baghdadroz]

The Republican candidates all say they will balance the budget. Obama already said one way he'll do it: by raising revenue in the form of highter taxes on the mega-wealthy. In spite of their screams that there aren't enough rich people in the country to balance the budget, it was the tax cuts to the wealthy in 2001 that added 1.3 trillion to the deficit and threaten to add another trillion by 2018 if they're not phase out. Welfare only accounts for less than 1% of discretionary spending and if they ever wiped all of it out, it would only be a drop in the bucket. The only way to balance the budget would be with draconian cuts to defense spending and Medicare. And that means DRACONIAN. And that's what the candidates aren't willing to admit. Social Security is paid for by it's own separate funding. But, defense and Medicare are the biggest spenders in the budget. It's either cut those two or raise taxes. Even if we got rid of welfare completely, it wouldn't make a dent. It's kick 30% of seniors off Medicare, kick most of them off Medicaid and out of nursing homes, and cut defense by over half. We'd have a balance budget in no time. Or raise taxes. Nothing else. Difficult choice for Republicans who want to keep their billionaires in their yachts. Because there's nothing else to trim that would put us in the black without raising taxes. Absolutely nothing else.

[Psyllicon]

http://www.usgovernmentdebt.us/piechart_2012_US_fed
Welfare represents 12% of the Federal Budget, and 13% (average) or the individual States' budgets..

Research your dribble, first~

[Bubbaky]

Let's continue to borrow and spend and invent welfare programs, "Economic Fairness", to give my money away to people who won't work and who produce nothing!

Karl Marx said Democracy would fail because they can vote the Treasury dry!....We did one better Karl, we voted it dry and then borrowed more from the Communist!

One more, Communist Quote: "We will sell you the rope that you will hang yourself with"

[wdrussell1]

You sure messed up that quote.
Khrushchev actually said that Americans would sell him the rope that he would use to hang other Americans.
Wall St does that with every job they send to China.

[smittyc]

I remember hope and change. With Warren Buffet, the worlds richest man with 40 billion in his wallet, I hope Americans recognize "Everyone Deserves a Fair Shot" is nothing but another catchy phrase. Americans are here for the long haul Obama, you got your millions and you have your billionaire buddies, (Buffet) to fall back on, help us save America, resign.

[californiadreaming]

Yes, Bill Clinton has shown how. Ex-presidents can make easily $100m a year. Obama will take in many tens of millions from the start. He signed book deals right before he was inaugurated. Fair shot! What a joke!

[Bubbaky]

Who is John Gault?

[crybabyobama]

Problem is class warfare is the speech of up and coming communist and fascist dictators. Our country does not work like that, it scares away investors from investing. It is that simple, Obama uses language that implies he may decide to have the state take over the means of production, which scares away investors. They see Obama picking winners and losers, which is fascism, and that is equally as risky for investors. Comes down to risk. I would never invest money in the USA with a POTUS who uses that speech and behaves in the manner he does.

I will keep my liberty and labor, I do not want you're money.

Written by a someone living way below the poverty level.

[Bubbaky]

Who is John Gault?