Bob McDonnell's GOP Response: Full Text

(CBS)  Immediately following President Obama's State of the Union address, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell will deliver the Republican response. McDonnell will speak from the floor of the House of Delegates at the Virginia State Capitol tonight. Below is the full text of McDonnell's prepared remarks:

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Full Coverage: Obama's 2010 State of the Union

Good evening. I'm Bob McDonnell. Eleven days ago I was honored to be sworn in as the 71st governor of Virginia.

I'm standing in the historic House Chamber of Virginia's Capitol, a building designed by Virginia's second governor, Thomas Jefferson.

It's not easy to follow the President of the United States. And my twin 18-year old boys have added to the pressure, by giving me exactly ten minutes to finish before they leave to go watch SportsCenter.

I'm joined by fellow Virginians to share a Republican perspective on how to best address the challenges facing our nation today.

We were encouraged to hear President Obama speak this evening about the need to create jobs.

All Americans should have the opportunity to find and keep meaningful work, and the dignity that comes with it.

Many of us here, and many of you watching, have family or friends who have lost their jobs.

1 in 10 American workers is unemployed. That is unacceptable.

Here in Virginia we have faced our highest unemployment rate in more than 25 years, and bringing new jobs and more opportunities to our citizens is the top priority of my administration.

Good government policy should spur economic growth, and strengthen the private sector's ability to create new jobs.

We must enact policies that promote entrepreneurship and innovation, so America can better compete with the world.

What government should not do is pile on more taxation, regulation, and litigation that kill jobs and hurt the middle class.

It was Thomas Jefferson who called for "A wise and frugal Government which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry ….and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned…" He was right.

Today, the federal government is simply trying to do too much.

Last year, we were told that massive new federal spending would create more jobs 'immediately' and hold unemployment below 8%.

In the past year, over three million Americans have lost their jobs, yet the Democratic Congress continues deficit spending, adding to the bureaucracy, and increasing the national debt on our children and grandchildren.

The amount of this debt is on pace to double in five years, and triple in ten. The federal debt is already over $100,000 per household.

This is simply unsustainable. The President's partial freeze on discretionary spending is a laudable step, but a small one.

The circumstances of our time demand that we reconsider and restore the proper, limited role of government at every level.

Without reform, the excessive growth of government threatens our very liberty and prosperity.

In recent months, the American people have made clear that they want government leaders to listen and act on the issues most important to them.

We want results, not rhetoric. We want cooperation, not partisanship.

There is much common ground.

All Americans agree, we need a health care system that is affordable, accessible, and high quality.

But most Americans do not want to turn over the best medical care system in the world to the federal government.

Republicans in Congress have offered legislation to reform healthcare, without shifting Medicaid costs to the states, without cutting Medicare, and without raising your taxes.

We will do that by implementing common sense reforms, like letting families and businesses buy health insurance policies across state lines, and ending frivolous lawsuits against doctors and hospitals that drive up the cost of your healthcare.

And our solutions aren't thousand-page bills that no one has fully read, after being crafted behind closed doors with special interests.

In fact, many of our proposals are available online at solutions.gop.gov, and we welcome your ideas on Facebook and Twitter.

All Americans agree, this nation must become more energy independent and secure.

We are blessed here in America with vast natural resources, and we must use them all.

Advances in technology can unleash more natural gas, nuclear, wind, coal, and alternative energy to lower your utility bills.

Here in Virginia, we have the opportunity to be the first state on the East Coast to explore for and produce oil and natural gas offshore.

But this Administration's policies are delaying offshore production, hindering nuclear energy expansion, and seeking to impose job-killing cap and trade energy taxes.

Now is the time to adopt innovative energy policies that create jobs and lower energy prices.

All Americans agree, that a young person needs a world-class education to compete in the global economy. As a kid my dad told me, "Son, to get a good job, you need a good education." That's even more true today.

The President and I agree on expanding the number of high-quality charter schools, and rewarding teachers for excellent performance. More school choices for parents and students mean more accountability and greater achievement.

A child's educational opportunity should be determined by her intellect and work ethic, not by her zip code.

All Americans agree, we must maintain a strong national defense. The courage and success of our Armed Forces is allowing us to draw down troop levels in Iraq as that government is increasingly able to step up. My oldest daughter, Jeanine, was an Army platoon leader in Iraq, so I'm personally grateful for the service and the sacrifice of all of our men and women in uniform, and a grateful nation thanks them.

We applaud President Obama's decision to deploy 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. We agree that victory there is a national security imperative. But we have serious concerns over recent steps the Administration has taken regarding suspected terrorists.

Americans were shocked on Christmas Day to learn of the attempted bombing of a flight to Detroit. This foreign terror suspect was given the same legal rights as a U.S. citizen, and immediately stopped providing critical intelligence.

As Senator-elect Scott Brown says, we should be spending taxpayer dollars to defeat terrorists, not to protect them.

Here at home government must help foster a society in which all our people can use their God-given talents in liberty to pursue the American Dream. Republicans know that government cannot guarantee individual outcomes, but we strongly believe that it must guarantee equality of opportunity for all.

That opportunity exists best in a democracy which promotes free enterprise, economic growth, strong families, and individual achievement.

Many Americans are concerned about this Administration's efforts to exert greater control over car companies, banks, energy and health care.

Over-regulating employers won't create more employment; overtaxing investors won't foster more investment.

Top-down one-size fits all decision making should not replace the personal choices of free people in a free market, nor undermine the proper role of state and local governments in our system of federalism. As our Founders clearly stated, and we Governors understand, government closest to the people governs best.

And no government program can replace the actions of caring Americans freely choosing to help one another. The Scriptures say "To whom much is given, much will be required." As the most generous and prosperous nation on Earth, it is heartwarming to see Americans giving much time and money to the people of Haiti. Thank you for your ongoing compassion.

Some people are afraid that America is no longer the great land of promise that she has always been. They should not be.

America will always blaze the trail of opportunity and prosperity.

America must always be a land where liberty and property are valued and respected, and innocent human life is protected.

Government should have this clear goal: Where opportunity is absent, we must create it. Where opportunity is limited, we must expand it. Where opportunity is unequal, we must make it open to everyone.

Our Founders pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to create this nation.

Now, we should pledge as Democrats, Republicans and Independents--Americans all---to work together to leave this nation a better place than we found it.

God Bless you, and God Bless our great nation.

More Coverage of Obama's State of the Union:

Obama Vows to Fight for Jobs
Bob McDonnell: The Government Is "Trying to Do Too Much"
Poll: 83% of Viewers Approve of Obama's Plans
Obama Priorities Revealed in State of the Union Speech
Obama's Speech Leveraged His Strengths
Key Quotes from the State of the Union
Obama 2.0: Pressing the Reset Button
What you Might Have Missed
Leaders Promote Bipartisanship... In Their Wardrobe?
Poll Questions: You Vote on Obama's Plans

Photo Galleries:

The State of the Union
Watching the State of the Union

Video:

Full Video of Obama's State of the Union
Analysis: Bob Schieffer and Jeff Greenfield
Obama Calls For New Jobs Bill
Valerie Jarrett Defends Obama
An End To "Don't Ask Don't Tell"?
What Keeps Obama Fighting
Obama on Health Care: Finish the Job
Obama Criticizes Supreme Court
State of the Union: America's Wars
Obama: We All Hated Bailout
Obama on Government Spending Freeze

[annabelle2023]

Can we all stop acting like children? how about we stop trying to blame the recession and government debt on a party. It wasn't the Republicans or the democratic parties alone who have caused our problems. It is the AMERICAN PEOPLE. As a nation we spend, spend, spend, and expect our government to keep us from suffereing the consequences. So lets listen to what the republicans have to say, and lets listen to what the democrats have to say. Let's compromise. Name-calling isn't going to get us anywhere.

[tami4126]

This republican response was a discrace. It took all the positives of this speech and hit them with negativity. Blaming President Obama for our deficate is a joke. Our previous president and his vice did this to our country and these republicans choose to lie to the United States citizens and try to blame President Obama. Shame shame shame on you. Put the blame where the blame belongs; republicans republicans republicans!

[Josephferraro]

I am a small business owner employing 24 architects and professional staff. I have been in business for 22 years and reside and work in one of the most expensive states in teh country, Hawaii.
I am sick and tired of listening to both parties bicker, especially the Republicans with their NO response to everything. I am turning off my TV and radio from now on unless I hear positive ideas.
Healthcare costs are killing business and my employees. I have two employees who have major illinesses. After two months of being out of work their healthcare costs are impacting their lives and they may be forced to make tough decisions. I feel powerless to help them.
Guess what? I AM WILLING TO PAY MORE TAXES to get our country out of this mess. At the same time I applaud the president for initiating tax incentives for small business.

[ll2owt]

I admit..I have not read ONE word of this republicker's rebuttal, but I would bet it was written FOR him by republickers who promised he would not be supported in the future unless he read it word for word. has no idea what he said...

[P0ST1ING_AWAY]

by fxr60 January 30, 2010 11:38 AM EST
I'am glad you seen through Obama's agenda's. I can't believe so many people bought in to it from the beginning. Any man that sits in a church for twenty years and hears a man spew all kinds of racist rhetoric and then tells people he" didn't hear anything" can't be believed. I never bought it for a minute!!!
=========================================
You are what is commonly referred to as a "Troll".
People are judged by their actions ... not just their words.
Your B. S. about Democrats and the banking system is just that - B. S.
It was Phil Gramm, A REPUG_LICAN, that pushed the legislation that
deregulated the banking / financial industries. Do some research
on "Glass-Steagall". You will be amazed. Oh ... and BTW ......
STOP BEING A TROLL.

[SueZeeeQue]

If Republicans had ANY clue how to run the country, they wouldn't have left the country in the worst recession since the great depression, up to it's ears in debt, and bogged down in TWO endless wars that are draining us of blood and money.

[fxr60]

If Gov. Bob McDonnell or Scott Brown ran today for president, they would beat Obama hands down! The people have had enough of Obama's lies, taxes, give-a-aways, bribes, payoffs, wall street bail-outs, takeover of Gen. motors, stimulus plans and tarp money all to the expense of the taxpayers!!! Terrorist being tried in an American court which will cost us millions and millions of dollars-again at the expense of the taxpayers. I seen on TV he has spent more in one year than money spent from George Washington up to Ronald Reagan-all presidents combined in that time period. That is a lot of money!!!!

[SueZeeeQue]

There is no substance to your post.

You're just parroting Limbough talking points that have no basis in reality.

[soundloud]

I do not want to go through everything, but just some examples, then again how much will get through to you, I am not sure.Any way Bush did the first wall street bailout, without any accountability. GM, what was the alternative, country would have been in deep depression without stimulus, and all the other countries are not fools to give the stimulus. Can you tell us about these taxes clearly.
At least you are smart in dropping Bush when quoting George Washington up to Ronald Reagan period, as Bush spent 6 Trillion dollars during his years. But you made a mistake, with Reagan-Sr Bush time, in fact during their time National debt hiked up, look at National debt curve by presidents.
You are not ignorant, but conveniently lied, (this is not unusual for republicans) to make Obama look bad.

[ockham500]

"A child's educational opportunity should be determined by her intellect and work ethic, not by her zip code." A direct quote from Bob McDonnell--Opportunity based on 'intellect', keep in mind 50% of Americans score 100 or below on intelligence tests. Are 50% of Americans not deserving of quality education. Hitler wanted the 'superman', it appears McDonnell wants the 'intellectual man.'

[prffsrx]

This was an inspiring speech. As an african-american and a former college democrat, I now see the ruthlessness of Americas socialist-leaning politicians in doing whatever it takes to win an election, even if it means destroying the American economy while sacrificing the retirements and livelihood its people.

After just two years of Democrats controlling congress, they managed to loosen lending laws in banking to allow banks to fail so that the Federal Government could take them over as well as manipulate our stock market in order to take over whole industries. I use to think those republicans were crazy to suggest that Obama's Administration would ever become a stealthy Bolshevik-styled government. Then Obama did it and even set unelected Czars to run portions of our nation. I was heart-broken. Obama lied to us all, and I can't trust him anymore. Obama's father was a communist, and so I and the American people can see clearly "like father like son."

It is great to see that more Americans than ever before are no longer going to vote for smooth-talking, power-thirsty salesman as leaders over their nation. It is unlikely we will ever elect anyone to the highest executive position in the land who has NO executive experience, nor will we listen to the those who demand that we do.

How Communists Infiltrated America
http://www.cross.tv/37265


Learn How "The Soviet Art of Brainwashing" Became the chosen political and social strategy of some leaders of our government and media in America.
http://communistore.blogspot.com/

[poobahjr13]

rykatspop, what grade are you in? seriously dude you are out there. Why don't you look at the facts?? It was your Idiot president that would not even let the republicans in the secret closed door communist meetings, then he calls them out and asked for there suggestions. How many times did he say the health care was bad for his ratings, and said the republicans were opposing it for good short term politics. So any idiot could see the people don't want this health care joke, but the great one thinks that the GOP should side with him and not the people that pay them...Nice...And you all need to get off the Bush blame game. Obama said if he got the stimulus, unemployment would not go beyond 8%, now we sit over 10% but he continues to work on his own agenda. He is on a fast track out of the white house and taking his party with him, just keep watching geinus.

[fxr60]

I'am glad you seen through Obama's agenda's. I can't believe so many people bought in to it from the beginning. Any man that sits in a church for twenty years and hears a man spew all kinds of racist rhetoric and then tells people he" didn't hear anything" can't be believed. I never bought it for a minute!!!

[rykatspop]

How many Repugs does it take to fight Obama? All of them. Because they aren't real men. They have to gang up on him. They don't have the brains to go against him, one-on-one. It's just no contest. That's why all they know how to do is say "no." You can't trip over your words and policies if you don't have any. WHAT A BRILLIANT POLITICAL PLAN REPUGS HAVE. AND THEY THINK THE VOTERS ARE STUPID? REPUG LEADERSHIP IS STUPID.