Opinion

Obama’s plan still lacking details

Martin Luther, the father of Protestantism, once said, ‘You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say.’

With these words in mind, I settled down to listen to President Obama’s first speech to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night.

Only 44 percent of Americans anticipated President Obama’s speech to be ‘good,’ according to CNN Opinion Research Corporation survey conducted on the eve of the occasion.

However, in another CNN ORC poll taken just minutes after Tuesday night’s speech, nearly 85 percent of viewers felt ‘more optimistic about the direction of the country.’

The question remains, though: did our new president say enough?

In his speech, which focused around the $787 billion stimulus bill he recently signed-off on, Obama touched on many topics, including health care reform and a modernization of our educational system.

‘This budget creates new teachers,v new incentives for teacher performance, pathways for advancement and rewards for success,’ he said.

‘We’ll invest in innovative programs that are already helping schools meet high standards and close achievement gaps. And we will expand our commitment to charter schools.’

Many claimed a lack of firm details hindered the nearly hour-long oration.

‘I agree with the president that we need to address education and energy, housing and health care, but right now the American public is hungry for details,’ Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said. ‘Unfortunately tonight we didn’t get those answers.’

The majority of reactions, though, were favorable – even from the right.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) lauded Obama’s goal for a more transparent government, saying that he was ‘ready to assist him to that end.’

Even California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was on board.

‘President Obama is right to seize our global economic emergency as a time to lay a more solid foundation for our nation’s growth,’he said.

It is still too early to determine whether Obama’s words will make the necessary changes to our country he touted so highly on the campaign trail. For the time being, the American public has no option but to wait and see what tomorrow brings.

In the words of Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., ‘more important than anything President Obama says tonight is what the budget he unveils will look like.’

Jason Bess is a communication junior and may be reached at [email protected].

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