I give the speech an A. I thought it was a center-left speech that had some slaps across the aisle and I wasn't really expecting that. In a couple instances he used their rhetoric against them. They complain so much about what the debt is doing to our kids and grandkids, well having a second class infrastructure and losing out on emerging industries isn't gonna do the kids and g-kids much good either. Same goes for burning foreign and fossil fuels.
I know there are some things we're going to have to trade if we want new infrastructure spending; and I thought he picked well among the choices. The President chose tort reform, regulation and education reform and budget spending level freezes. That is the least painful path. Some on the left think this budget freeze is the worst capitulation in there. But seriously, did they think they were going to get a budget passed the GOP controlled House with more spending than in last year's budget?
I did appreciate Obama's push to reform the corporate tax code, closing offshore loopholes and cutting subsidies to Big Energy. I was positively surprised he mentioned the DREAM Act, which would provide a path to citizenship for the children of undocumented workers. It is a major injustice that the innocent are made to pay a severe price or live in fear for something their parents' did. It's not right to ship off adults who were brought here as children back to countries they've never lived in. I'm glad our President mentioned this awful practice and I hope something can be done about it.
One last point about education. Today, there are hundreds of thousands of students excelling in our schools who are not American citizens. Some are the children of undocumented workers, who had nothing to do with the actions of their parents. They grew up as Americans and pledge allegiance to our flag, and yet they live every day with the threat of deportation. Others come here from abroad to study in our colleges and universities. But as soon as they obtain advanced degrees, we send them back home to compete against us. It makes no sense.
Now, I strongly believe that we should take on, once and for all, the issue of illegal immigration. And I am prepared to work with Republicans and Democrats to protect our borders, enforce our laws and address the millions of undocumented workers who are now living in the shadows. I know that debate will be difficult. I know it will take time. But tonight, let's agree to make that effort. And let's stop expelling talented, responsible young people who could be staffing our research labs or starting a new business, who could be further enriching this nation.
Crossposted to the Progressive Electorate