Obama stresses 'we the people' in second inaugural address
BY World's Editorials Writers
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
1/22/13 at 8:11 AM
President Barack Obama began his second term in office with an inaugural speech that challenged Americans to remain true to the principles of our Founding Fathers while embracing "new responses to new challenges."
The 51-year-old, 44th president used the recurring theme of "we the people" - a direct nod to the Preamble to the Constitution - to make many of his points.
As he stressed that all Americans must work together to solve our problems, it was clear that he was speaking directly to the middle class. He reminded Americans that it is a strong and growing middle class that is the key to economic recovery and survival.
His speech was not without controversy. He spoke of keeping our children safe without directly addressing the coming weapons debate. He mentioned the need for equality for all including equal pay for women. He called for gay men and lesbians to be treated equally under the law.
He took on the climate change deniers and made the salient point that climate change will lead to new technology and that the United States ought to be on the cutting edge of such technology.
The president also brought up the need for immigration reform. This is an issue that he put off in his first term but cannot ignore again.
The president also mentioned that the country should not have to choose between taking care of our elderly or our children. He quite correctly pointed out that both deserve our attention and care.
As inaugural speeches go, it was good but not great. The president does seem determined. The next four years will test that determination.
Original Print Headline: Obama's tests
