PBS - Obama address and GOP response - 2009-02-24 (partial)
Channel: malgent
Transcript
Language: English (original, YouTube automatic captions)
[0:00] Good to have a
[0:00] >> comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan
[0:02] and Pakistan to defeat al-Qaeda and
[0:05] combat extremism because I will not
[0:08] allow terrorists to plot against the
[0:10] American people from safe havens halfway
[0:13] around the world. We will not allow it.
[0:30] As we meet here tonight, our men and
[0:33] women in uniform stand watch abroad and
[0:35] more are readying to deploy.
[0:38] To each and every one of them and to the
[0:41] families who bear the quiet burden of
[0:43] their absence, Americans are united in
[0:45] sending one message. We honor your
[0:48] service. We are inspired by your
[0:50] sacrifice and you have our unyielding
[0:54] support.
[1:43] Yeah.
[1:45] To relieve the strain on our forces, my
[1:47] budget increases the number of our
[1:50] soldiers and Marines. And to keep our
[1:52] sacred trust with those who serve, we
[1:55] will raise their pay and give our
[1:57] veterans the expanded health care and
[1:59] benefits that they have earned.
[2:17] To overcome extremism, we must also be
[2:20] vigilant in upholding the values our
[2:23] troops defend. Because there is no force
[2:26] in the world more powerful than the
[2:27] example of America. That is why I have
[2:30] ordered the closing of the detention
[2:32] center at Guantanamo Bay and will seek
[2:34] swift and certain justice for captured
[2:37] terrorists.
[2:41] Because living our values doesn't make
[2:43] us weaker. It makes us safer and it
[2:45] makes us stronger.
[2:49] And that is why I can stand here tonight
[2:51] and say without exception or
[2:54] equivocation that the United States of
[2:56] America does not torture. We can make
[2:59] that commitment here tonight.
[3:20] In words and deeds, we are showing the
[3:23] world that a new era of engagement has
[3:25] begun. For we know that America cannot
[3:28] meet the threats of this century alone.
[3:31] But the world cannot meet them without
[3:32] America. We cannot shun the negotiating
[3:36] table, nor ignore the foes or forces
[3:39] that could do us harm. We are instead
[3:42] called to move forward with the sense of
[3:44] confidence and cander that serious times
[3:47] demand. To seek progress towards a
[3:50] secure and lasting peace between Israel
[3:51] and her neighbors, we have appointed an
[3:53] envoy to sustain our efforts to meet the
[3:57] challenges of the 21st century. From
[3:59] terrorism to nuclear proliferation, from
[4:01] pandemic disease to cyber threats to
[4:04] crushing poverty, we will strengthen old
[4:06] alliances, forge new ones, and use all
[4:09] elements of our national power, and to
[4:12] respond to an economic crisis that is
[4:14] global in scope. We are working with the
[4:16] nations of the G20 to restore confidence
[4:18] in our financial system, avoid the
[4:21] possibility of escalating protectionism,
[4:23] and spur demand for American goods in
[4:26] markets across the globe. For the world
[4:28] depends on us having a strong economy
[4:31] just as our economy depends on the
[4:33] strength of the world.
[4:35] As we stand at this crossroads of
[4:37] history, the eyes of all people in all
[4:41] nations are once again upon us, watching
[4:44] to see what we do with this moment,
[4:46] waiting for us to leave. Those of us
[4:50] gathered here tonight have been called
[4:51] to govern in extraordinary times. It is
[4:54] a tremendous burden, but also a great
[4:57] privilege. One that has been entrusted
[5:00] to few generations of Americans.
[5:02] For in our hands lies the ability to
[5:05] shape our world for good or for ill. I
[5:10] know that it's easy to lose sight of
[5:11] this truth, to become cynical and
[5:13] doubtful, consumed with the petty and
[5:15] the trivial. But in my life, I have also
[5:18] learned that hope is found in unlikely
[5:20] places. that inspiration often comes not
[5:24] from those with the most power or
[5:26] celebrities, but from the dreams and
[5:28] aspirations of ordinary Americans who
[5:30] are anything but ordinary.
[5:33] I think of Leonard Abbott,
[5:36] a pre a bank president from Miami who
[5:39] reportedly cashed out of his company,
[5:42] took a $60 million bonus
[5:45] and gave it out to all 399 people who
[5:49] work for him, plus another 72 who used
[5:53] to work for him. He didn't tell anyone,
[5:56] but when the local newspaper found out,
[5:58] he simply said, "I knew some of these
[6:00] people since I was 7 years old." It
[6:02] didn't feel right getting the money
[6:04] myself.
[6:06] I think about
[6:42] I think about I think about Greensburg,
[6:44] Tech uh Greensburg, Kansas, a town that
[6:47] was completely destroyed by a tornado,
[6:50] but is being rebuilt by its residents as
[6:53] a global example of how clean energy can
[6:55] power an entire community. How it can
[6:58] bring jobs and businesses to a place
[7:00] where piles of bricks and rubble once
[7:02] lay. The tragedy was terrible, said one
[7:06] of the men who helped them rebuild. But
[7:08] the folks here know that it also
[7:09] provided an incredible opportunity.
[7:13] I think about the Shaya Buffet, the
[7:17] young girl from that school I visited in
[7:19] Dylan, South Carolina, the place where
[7:22] the ceilings leak, the paint peels off
[7:25] the walls, and they have to stop
[7:27] teaching six times a day because the
[7:28] train barrels by their classroom.
[7:31] She had been told that her school is
[7:34] hopeless. But the other day after class,
[7:37] she went to the public library and piped
[7:39] up a letter to the people sitting in
[7:42] this chamber.
[7:44] She even asked her principal for the
[7:45] money to buy a stamp.
[7:48] The letter asks us for help and says we
[7:53] are just students trying to become
[7:54] lawyers, doctors, congressmen like
[7:57] yourself, and one day president.
[8:00] so we can make a change to not just the
[8:02] state of South Carolina but also the
[8:05] world. We are not quitters.
[8:08] That's what she said. We are not
[8:11] quitters.
[8:13] These words
[8:50] These words and these stories tell us
[8:53] something about the spirit of the people
[8:55] who sent us here.
[8:57] They tell us that even in the most
[8:58] trying times, amid the most difficult
[9:02] circumstances, there is a generosity, a
[9:05] resilience, a decency, and a
[9:07] determination that perseveres,
[9:10] a willingness to take responsibility for
[9:12] our future and for posterity.
[9:16] Their resolve must be our inspiration.
[9:19] Their concerns must be our cause. And we
[9:22] must show them and all our people that
[9:24] we are equal to the past before us. I
[9:28] know,
[9:32] look, I know that we haven't agreed on
[9:34] every issue thus far.
[9:40] There are surely times in the future
[9:42] where we will part ways.
[9:45] But I also know that every American who
[9:48] is sitting here tonight loves this
[9:49] country and wants it to succeed.
[9:54] I know that.
[10:13] That must be the starting point for
[10:15] every debate we have in the coming
[10:17] months and where we return after those
[10:20] debates are done.
[10:22] That is the foundation on which the
[10:25] American people expect us to build
[10:26] common ground. And if we do, if we come
[10:30] together and lift this nation from the
[10:32] depths of this crisis, if we put our
[10:34] people back to work and restart the
[10:36] engine of our prosperity, if we confront
[10:39] without fear the challenges of our time
[10:42] and summon that enduring spirit of an
[10:44] America that does not quit, then
[10:47] someday, years from now, our children
[10:49] can tell their children that this was
[10:51] the time when we performed in the words
[10:54] that are carved into this very chamber.
[10:57] something worthy to be remembered. Thank
[11:00] you. God bless you. And may God bless
[11:02] the United States of America.
[11:08] Thank you.
[11:18] And there we have it. President Barack
[11:19] Obama making his speech to the joint
[11:22] session of Congress. They stated the
[11:25] union like speech but was not officially
[11:28] won.
[11:32] Speech ran a little over 50 minutes.
[11:35] People would do these kinds of things
[11:37] and told me that he was interrupted by
[11:41] applause 52 times
[11:48] there at the end there where he was
[11:50] talking about the banker in Miami. Mr.
[11:52] Abbis that was the man who then was
[11:55] introduced there from the uh there of
[11:57] course there was Michelle Obama and the
[11:59] young girl from Dylan South Carolina who
[12:01] wrote the letter that the president was
[12:02] talking about.
[12:07] President will now work his way out of
[12:09] the chamber.
[12:12] of course is
[12:17] he's going to be coming toward John
[12:19] McCain who was just a senator from
[12:21] Arizona and as
[12:24] President Obama's Republican opponent.
[12:30] Now they missed each other.
[12:36] Senator K Bailey Hutchkins Hutch
[12:38] Hutcherson of Texas,
[12:41] Kit Bond of Missouri,
[12:46] Ron Coin of Oklahoma, of course with his
[12:49] budget director, then Ron Emanuel, the
[12:52] chief of staff, finance chief of staff,
[12:55] secretary Npalitano, Homeland Security.
[13:02] Now remember the drill. In a few moments
[13:04] when once the president leaves
[13:08] the chamber of the House of
[13:09] Representatives, the clock will run for
[13:11] five minutes
[13:13] and then Governor Jenal of
[13:17] Louisiana will deliver the Republican
[13:20] response.
[13:23] Here he is saying goodbye. There was
[13:25] again Secretary
[13:33] something.
[13:51] We stay on this until the president
[13:53] actually leaves the chamber. These these
[13:56] are interesting moments.
[14:01] for everybody who's watching, but also
[14:03] for everybody who's participating. You
[14:05] notice the man right behind him. Every
[14:07] time that is the lead, that is the
[14:10] president's lead secret service agent.
[14:13] Calm man, husky man.
[14:18] Great little hair on his head. You'll
[14:19] see him right there behind him. He's
[14:20] always slightly behind. Has been. He's
[14:23] he's he's with him just about every
[14:26] place the president goes now.
[14:31] I can't see him in that shot. Maybe
[14:33] there's he's now talking to Senator
[14:35] Fenberg of New Jersey, Democrat. Right
[14:38] there. There he is.
[14:54] Jay Rockefeller, senator from West
[14:56] Virginia.
[14:58] And there right there behind him now, of
[15:00] course, is
[15:03] associate justice, Supreme Court, Steven
[15:05] Brier.
[15:12] >> A few words right behind
[15:15] Jim Clyman
[15:19] from South Carolina.
[15:24] made a dramatic endorsement of
[15:27] >> then Senator Obama in the primary race
[15:32] against then Senator Hillary Clinton
[15:37] Doran talking to the president senator
[15:40] from North Dakota
[15:46] I've been here for 35 years
[15:51] Those
[15:53] are the Democrats. Pat Ley, senator from
[15:55] Vermont,
[16:03] >> Mr. Jackson Jr. there on
[16:16] what they'll bring on on eBay.
[16:21] I would love to
[16:26] get
[16:34] >> I saw I saw Senator Roland Boris
[16:36] earlier. I haven't seen him.
[16:39] We had a very dramatic meeting today
[16:42] with Senator Vick Durban, the other
[16:45] senator from Illinois. And the third in
[16:48] the Senate leadership on the Democratic
[16:50] side here ask Senator Boris to resign
[16:54] and Senator Bur said no thank you.
[16:58] >> I remember that guy.
[16:59] >> Absolutely.
[17:03] >> Absolutely. I love to have you.
[17:05] >> Absolutely.
[17:12] >> Here again, for the record, we're going
[17:14] to keep the camera here until
[17:16] actually leaves. That's it. There's
[17:19] Chris Harry Reed, the Senate Dor behind.
[17:21] Right behind him there is George Miller,
[17:22] the congressman from Northern
[17:24] California,
[17:28] >> Major
[17:31] Jackson.
[17:37] Technology has been a big job
[17:41] in the world of education for years.
[17:46] >> Everybody's getting sign
[17:50] only the house members. House senator
[17:52] would never do this. I wouldn't deny it.
[17:54] Elliot angel
[17:57] >> senator would send a package later
[18:00] private signatures.
[18:02] There's a there's a multitude. You
[18:04] notice that they're offered two. It's
[18:07] somebody up a
[18:17] kill from Michigan.
[18:24] >> Yeah, they're almost at the door.
[18:30] Great job.
[18:32] Chris
[18:54] Yeah,
[19:12] >> thank you. God bless you.
[19:19] >> Thank you so much. God bless you.
[19:20] Appreciate you. Appreciate your prayers.
[19:23] Great job.
[19:25] And uh
[19:27] >> I think if I correct me if I'm wrong,
[19:29] Mark and David, I haven't I think there
[19:31] are slightly more autographs and
[19:33] normally uh one of these events that go
[19:37] that goes with the territory.
[19:38] >> This is a growing trend and a lamentable
[19:41] trend.
[19:44] Once you start, that's the first one.
[19:49] >> That's right.
[19:53] >> I heard the story of President Obama
[19:56] went to a basketball game a couple
[19:58] nights ago,
[20:00] one of his daughters, and
[20:03] here in Washington, and it was just
[20:06] almost impossible to move around because
[20:08] everybody wanted to see him and talk to
[20:10] him and and get his autograph. and all
[20:13] he wanted to do was see the basketball
[20:16] to try to lead a normal life in a very
[20:18] abnormal
[20:20] >> situation.
[20:23] Next, they'll start bringing little
[20:24] cameras and want their picture taken
[20:26] with him as he walks in.
[20:29] Cassini here. Dennis Cassini ran for the
[20:32] Democratic nomination for president
[20:34] himself. Congressman from Ohio
[20:37] mayor of Cleveland.
[20:38] >> Now
[20:49] I'll give you
[20:52] reminder in a few moments. As soon as
[20:54] the president leaves,
[20:57] there will be a 5m minute uh
[21:01] break and then we will hear the
[21:03] Republican response from the independent
[21:06] agenda of Louisiana.
[21:20] >> Are you guys having fun?
[21:24] He believers the obvious to say that
[21:26] yes, Barack Obama is the president of
[21:29] the United States, but in he also is a a
[21:33] star among stars in in so many respects.
[21:38] All right, here we go.
[21:41] All right, president has now left the
[21:43] chamber of the US House of
[21:44] Representatives and the clock is
[21:46] running. will be back in uh in 5 minutes
[21:49] with uh with the Republican response.
[21:52] And here of course are still uh uh
[21:56] syndicated columnist Mark Ches and New
[21:58] York Times col columnist David Brooks.
[22:00] What did you think Mark of the speech
[22:02] and uh what he had to say the way he
[22:05] said it and the occasion itself? Well,
[22:08] Jim, uh, Barack Obama, according to
[22:11] polls, is more popular than his
[22:13] policies. And he has concluded obviously
[22:17] from this speech tonight that political
[22:19] capital is not to be hoarded. It is to
[22:22] be spent. It's ephemeral. It doesn't you
[22:24] can't hold on to it. He's decided to
[22:26] spend his political capital. I mean,
[22:29] that was an ambitious ambitious
[22:31] proposal. I mean, he's endorsing things
[22:34] like aid to banks and autos companies,
[22:37] which are unpopular initiatives. Um, and
[22:42] I I just
[22:44] shoring up the sagging housing market to
[22:46] stop the economic hemorrhaging, regulate
[22:49] the largely previously un deregulated
[22:52] financial markets, and then you go to
[22:54] reforming health care and improving
[22:57] education and energy independence. I
[23:00] mean, it is it's an agenda that's almost
[23:03] a century uh or half a century to do.
[23:07] And it's it's really just sort of
[23:10] humbling to look at what he's put before
[23:12] the nation.
[23:13] >> What do you think, David?
[23:14] >> Well, I agree with that. Just as a
[23:15] speech, I thought it was an excellent
[23:16] speech. It's been a long time since I've
[23:17] really been able to rave over an Obama
[23:19] speech, but I thought this was a speech
[23:21] which perfectly captured the tenor of
[23:23] the country. a country that is a little
[23:25] annoyed and a little uh I'm a little
[23:28] angry I'm just about to use a euphemism
[23:30] that I shouldn't use on TV at the banks
[23:32] at Wall Street and he you he said this
[23:35] has been a country that has been all
[23:36] self-indulgent that has put off some
[23:39] hard challenges but uh the central
[23:42] message was no more fooling around and I
[23:44] think that was exactly the right tone to
[23:46] take it wasn't over the top anger but it
[23:48] was a general sense of a stern teacher
[23:50] saying no more putting off stuff and I
[23:53] thought that tone was absolutely
[23:54] absolutely correct. I thought the way he
[23:56] talked about the economy in a very
[23:57] personal term that people are going to
[23:59] put away the envelope, put the ad
[24:01] college admissions letter back in the
[24:02] envelope, very effective way to do that.
[24:04] And then I thought he he explained the
[24:05] financial, the education, the health,
[24:07] and the energy. I thought pretty well.
[24:08] So just as a speech, as an explanation,
[24:11] here's what I'm going to do. I I thought
[24:13] it was outstanding. I thought was it'll
[24:16] really galvanize
[24:16] >> outstanding galvanizing. I he does a
[24:19] marvelous job explaining it. I mean it's
[24:22] a it's an inevitable comparison to to
[24:24] his predecessor who did not have that
[24:27] gift. I mean who who stated his
[24:29] conclusions unequivocally but did not
[24:32] have that ability. And he did he did
[24:34] make all of these problems sound like
[24:36] one. Um that you know each one was sort
[24:39] of interdependent on the other and what
[24:41] we had to do about it. Um the the he
[24:44] said last week and I I got that come
[24:46] through in the speech. I expect to be
[24:48] judged by results. I'm not going to make
[24:50] any excuses. the stuff hasn't worked and
[24:52] don't feel like I've lived le led this
[24:54] country in the right direction, you'll
[24:55] have a new president. And that that
[24:57] speech tonight really reflected out
[25:00] there.
[25:00] >> Yes.
[25:01] >> What about the the spirit of it? The
[25:03] other part of the equation that we
[25:05] talked about going in that the Bill
[25:07] Clinton uh criticism or suggestion that
[25:10] maybe Barack Obama should President
[25:12] Obama should be more uplifting and more
[25:15] positive. Do you think he he captured
[25:17] that?
[25:18] >> No. not as much as I thought they were
[25:19] talking about him doing that and there
[25:20] was a little uplift at the beginning but
[25:22] what struck me throughout the speech and
[25:25] again it was reflected in the inaugural
[25:26] and it just must be in his soul uh
[25:28] there's just sort of an impatience with
[25:31] self-indulgence
[25:33] and there are echoes throughout the
[25:34] speech people bought homes they couldn't
[25:36] afford bankers took uh money they
[25:38] couldn't afford we put off decisions we
[25:41] shouldn't have done there's I won't say
[25:43] scolding because that's too hectaring
[25:45] but there's an impatience and a a uh a
[25:48] seriousness about him. And I think that
[25:51] one of the words that runs through his
[25:53] life is the word responsibility and
[25:55] living up to responsibilities. And
[25:57] that's not necessarily joyful,
[25:59] >> but but it's it's kind of serious. And I
[26:00] think his demeanor was a little more
[26:02] serious than I thought it would be.
[26:03] >> What about his point that he made more
[26:05] than once that fill in the blank,
[26:08] whatever the problem, that is not going
[26:10] to happen again. That ends here. You
[26:13] don't hear that very often, do you,
[26:15] Mark? No, no, you don't. And on your
[26:17] question of the optimism, it was sort of
[26:19] book ends. There was optimism at the
[26:21] outset. You know, we're going to be
[26:22] we're going to be do this. He gave that
[26:24] dollop and then at the end uh you know,
[26:27] let it be said of us that we did
[26:28] perform.
[26:29] >> Okay, we'll talk again in a moment. But
[26:31] now we're going to go to the official
[26:32] Republican response and it does come
[26:34] from Bobby Jindle, the governor of
[26:37] Louisiana. He's speaking from the
[26:38] governor's mansion in Baton Rouge.
[26:46] There it is. There's Here we go. Here he
[26:48] comes now.
[26:56] Good evening and happy Marty Gar. I'm
[26:58] Bobby Jindel, Governor of Louisiana.
[27:01] Tonight, we witnessed a great moment in
[27:03] the history of our republic. In the very
[27:06] chamber where Congress once voted to
[27:07] abolish slavery, our first
[27:09] African-American president stepped
[27:11] forward to address the state of our
[27:13] union. With his speech tonight, the
[27:16] president completed a extensive journey
[27:18] that took our nation from Independence
[27:19] Hall to Gettysburg to the lunch counter
[27:22] and now finally the Oval Office.
[27:25] Regardless of party, all Americans are
[27:27] moved by the president's personal story.
[27:30] the son of an American mother and father
[27:33] who grew up to become leader of the free
[27:34] world. Like the president's father, my
[27:37] own parents came to this country from a
[27:39] distant land. When they arrived in Baton
[27:41] Rouge, my mother was already 4 and a
[27:43] half months pregnant. I was a folks in
[27:46] the insurance industry now call her
[27:47] pre-existing condition. To find work, my
[27:50] dad picked up the yellow pages and
[27:52] started calling local businesses. Even
[27:54] after landing a job, he still couldn't
[27:56] afford to pay for my delivery. So he
[27:58] worked out an installment plan with the
[28:00] doctor. Fortunately for me, he never
[28:02] missed a payment. As I grew up, my mom
[28:05] and dad taught me the values that
[28:07] attracted them to this country. And they
[28:09] instilled in me an immigrant wonder at
[28:11] the greatness of America. As I as a
[28:14] child, I remember going to the grocery
[28:16] store with my dad. Growing up in India,
[28:18] he had seen extreme poverty. as we walk
[28:21] through the aisles looking at the
[28:23] endless variety on the shelves. He would
[28:24] tell me, "Bobby, Americans can do
[28:28] anything." I still believe that to this
[28:31] day. Americans can do anything. When we
[28:35] pull together, there's no challenge we
[28:37] can't overcome. As the president made
[28:40] clear this evening, we're now in a time
[28:42] of challenge. Many of you listening
[28:44] tonight have lost jobs. Others have seen
[28:46] your college and your retirement savings
[28:48] dwindle. Many of you are worried about
[28:50] losing your healthcare and your homes.
[28:52] You're looking to your elected leaders
[28:54] in Washington for solutions. Republicans
[28:57] are ready to work with the new president
[28:59] to provide these solutions. Here in my
[29:01] state of Louisiana, we don't care what
[29:03] party you belong to. You have good ideas
[29:06] to make life better for our people. We
[29:08] need more of that attitude from both
[29:10] Democrats and Republicans in our
[29:12] nation's capital. All of us want our
[29:14] economy to recover and our nation to
[29:16] prosper. So where we agree, Republicans
[29:19] must be the president's strongest
[29:21] partners. And where we disagree,
[29:24] Republicans have a responsibility to be
[29:26] candid and offer better ideas path
[29:28] forward. Today in Washington, some are
[29:31] promising that government will rescue us
[29:33] from the economic storms raging all
[29:35] around us. Those of us who live through
[29:38] Hurricane Katrina, we have our doubts.
[29:41] Let me tell you a story. During Katrina,
[29:44] I visited Sheriff Harry Lee, a Democrat
[29:47] and a good friend of mine. When I walked
[29:49] into his makeshift office, I had never
[29:51] seen him so angry. He was literally
[29:53] yelling into the phone. Well, I'm the
[29:55] sheriff, and if you don't like it, you
[29:58] can come and arrest me. I asked him,
[30:00] "Sheriff, what's got you so mad?" He
[30:03] told me that he put out a call for
[30:04] volunteers to come with their boats to
[30:06] rescue people who are trapped on their
[30:07] rooftops by the flood waters. The boats
[30:10] were all lined up and ready to go. Then
[30:12] some bureaucrat showed up and told them
[30:14] they couldn't go out in the water unless
[30:16] they had proof of insurance and
[30:18] registration.
[30:19] And I told him, "Sheriff, that's
[30:21] ridiculous." Before I knew it, yelling
[30:24] on the phone, "Congressman Jindel is
[30:26] here and he says you can come and arrest
[30:28] him, too." Well, there he just told
[30:30] those voters, "Ignore the bureaucrat and
[30:33] go start rescuing people."
[30:35] There's a lesson in this experience. The
[30:38] strength of America is not found in our
[30:40] government. It's found in the
[30:42] compassionate hearts and spirit of our
[30:46] citizens. We're grateful for the support
[30:48] we've received from across the nation
[30:50] for our ongoing recovery efforts. This
[30:53] spirit got Louisiana through the
[30:54] hurricanes and this spirit will get our
[30:57] nation through the storms we today. To
[31:00] solve our current problems, Washington
[31:02] must lead. But the way to lead is not to
[31:05] raise taxes, not to just put more money
[31:07] and power in the hands of Washington
[31:09] politicians. The way to lead is by
[31:12] empowering you, the American people.
[31:15] Because we believe that Americans can do
[31:18] anything.
[31:20] That's why Republicans put forward plans
[31:21] to create jobs by lowering income tax
[31:23] rates for working families, cutting
[31:26] taxes for small businesses,
[31:27] strengthening incentives for businesses
[31:29] to invest in new equipment and to hire
[31:31] new workers, and stabilizing home values
[31:34] by creating a new tax credit for home
[31:35] buyers. These plans would cost less and
[31:39] create more jobs. But Democratic leaders
[31:42] in Congress, they rejected this
[31:44] approach. Instead of trusting us to make
[31:47] decisions with our own money, they
[31:49] passed the largest government spending
[31:51] bill in history with a price tag of more
[31:53] than a trillion dollars with interest.
[31:56] While some of the projects in the bill
[31:57] make sense, that legislation is larded
[32:00] with wasteful spending and includes $300
[32:02] million to buy new cars for the
[32:04] government. $8 billion for a highspeed
[32:07] rail project such as a magnetic
[32:08] levitation line from Las Vegas to
[32:11] Disneyland and $140 million for
[32:14] something called volcano monitoring.
[32:16] Instead of monitoring volcanoes, what
[32:19] Congress should be monitoring is the
[32:20] eruption of spending in Washington DC.
[32:23] Democratic leaders say their legislation
[32:25] will grow the economy. What it will do
[32:28] is grow the government, increase our
[32:30] taxes down the line and saddle future
[32:32] generations with debt. Who amongst us
[32:34] would ask our children for a loan so we
[32:37] could spend money we do not have on
[32:39] things we do not we do not need? That is
[32:42] precisely what the Democrats in Congress
[32:44] just did. It's irresponsible
[32:47] and it's no way to strengthen our
[32:49] economy, create jobs, or build a
[32:52] prosperous future for our children. In
[32:54] Louisiana, we took a different approach.
[32:57] Since I became governor, we cut more
[32:58] than 250 earmarks in their state budget.
[33:01] To create jobs for our citizens, we cut
[33:03] taxes six times, including the largest
[33:06] income tax cut in the history of our
[33:08] state. We passed those tax cuts with
[33:10] bipartisan majorities. Republicans and
[33:13] Democrats put aside their differences.
[33:15] We work together to make sure our people
[33:17] can keep more of what they earn. If it
[33:20] can be done in Baton Rouge, surely it
[33:22] can be done in Washington DC. To
[33:25] strengthen our economy, we need urgent
[33:27] action to keep energy prices down. All
[33:29] of us remember what it felt like save $4
[33:32] at the pump. Unless we act now, those
[33:35] prices will return. To stop that from
[33:37] happening, we need to increase
[33:39] conservation, increase energy
[33:41] efficiency, increase the use of
[33:43] alternative and renewable fuels,
[33:45] increase our use of nuclear power, and
[33:47] increase drilling for oil and gas here
[33:49] at home. We believe that Americans can
[33:52] do anything. And if we unleash that
[33:54] innovative spirit of our citizens, we
[33:57] can achieve energy independence. To
[33:59] strengthen our economy, we also need to
[34:02] address the crisis in healthcare.
[34:04] Republicans believe in a simple
[34:05] principle. No American should have to
[34:07] worry about losing their healthcare
[34:09] coverage. Period. Stand for universal
[34:12] access to affordable healthcare
[34:14] coverage. What we oppose is un
[34:17] governmentrun healthcare. Healthcare
[34:20] decisions should be made by doctors and
[34:22] patients, not by government bureaucrats.
[34:24] We believe Americans can do anything.
[34:27] And if we put aside partisan politics
[34:29] and work together, we can make our
[34:31] system of private medicine affordable
[34:33] and accessible for every one of our
[34:36] citizens.
[34:37] To strengthen our economy, we also need
[34:39] to make sure that every child in America
[34:41] gets the best possible education. After
[34:44] Hurricane Katrina, we reinvented the New
[34:46] England school system, opening dozens of
[34:49] new charter schools and creating a new
[34:51] scholarship program that is giving
[34:52] parents the chance to send their
[34:54] children to private or parochial schools
[34:56] of their choice.
[34:58] We believe that proper education, the
[35:01] children of America can do anything. It
[35:05] shouldn't take a devastating storm to
[35:07] bring this kind of innovation to
[35:09] education in our country. To strengthen
[35:11] our economy, we must promote confidence
[35:14] in America by ensuring ours is the most
[35:16] ethical and transparent system in the
[35:18] world. In my home state, there used to
[35:20] be a saying, at any given time, half of
[35:23] Louisiana was said to be half underwater
[35:25] and the other half under indictment.
[35:28] Nobody says that anymore. Last year, we
[35:30] passed some of the strongest ethics laws
[35:32] in the nation. And today, we then turn
[35:35] her back on the corruption of the past.
[35:38] We need to bring transparency to
[35:39] Washington DC so we can rid our capital
[35:42] of corruption and ensure that we never
[35:44] see the passage of another trillion
[35:47] dollar spending bill that Congress
[35:48] hasn't even read and the American people
[35:51] haven't even seen.
[35:53] As we take these steps, we must remember
[35:55] for all of our troubles at home,
[35:57] dangerous enemies still seek our
[35:59] destruction. Now is no time to dismantle
[36:01] the defenses that have protected this
[36:03] country for hundreds of years or to make
[36:05] deep cuts in funding for our troops.
[36:08] America's fighting men and women can do
[36:10] anything. If we give them the resources
[36:13] they need, they will stay on the
[36:15] offensive to feed our enemies and
[36:18] protect us from harm. In all these
[36:20] areas, Republicans want to work with
[36:23] President Obama. We appreciate his
[36:25] message of hope. But sometimes seems
[36:28] like we look for hope in different
[36:30] places.
[36:31] Democratic leaders in Washington, they
[36:33] place their hope in the federal
[36:35] government. We place our hope in you,
[36:37] the American people. In the end, it
[36:39] comes down on honest and fundamental
[36:41] disagreement about the proper role of
[36:43] government.
[36:45] We oppose the national democratic view
[36:47] that says the way to strengthen our
[36:49] country is to increase dependence on
[36:51] government.
[36:53] We believe the way to strengthen our
[36:55] country is to restrain spending in
[36:57] Washington, to empower individuals and
[36:59] small businesses to grow our economy,
[37:02] create jobs. In recent years, these
[37:06] distinctions in philosophy became less
[37:07] clear. Party got away from its
[37:10] principles. You elected Republicans to
[37:12] champion limited government, fiscal
[37:14] discipline, and personal responsibility.
[37:17] Instead, Republicans went along with
[37:19] earmarks and big government spending in
[37:21] Washington.
[37:23] Lost their trust, rightly so.
[37:27] On behalf of our leaders in Congress and
[37:30] my fellow Republican governors, I say
[37:32] this. Our party is determined to regain
[37:36] their trust.
[37:37] We will do so by standing up for the
[37:40] principles that we share. The principles
[37:42] you elected us to fight for. The
[37:45] principles that built us in the
[37:46] greatest, most prosperous country on
[37:48] earth.
[37:50] You know, a few weeks ago, the president
[37:53] warned that our country is facing a
[37:55] crisis that he said in quote, "We may
[37:57] not be able to reverse."
[38:00] Now, our troubles are real to be sure.
[38:02] But don't let anyone tell you that we
[38:04] cannot recover. Don't let anyone tell
[38:07] you that America's best days are behind
[38:09] us. This is the nation that cast off the
[38:12] scourge of slavery, overcame the Great
[38:14] Depression, prevailed in two world wars,
[38:18] won the struggle for civil rights,
[38:20] defeated the Soviet men, and responded
[38:23] with determined courage to the attack of
[38:25] September 11th, 2001.
[38:28] The American spirit has triumphed over
[38:31] almost every form of adversity known to
[38:33] man. The American spirit will triumph
[38:36] again. We can have confidence in our
[38:39] future because amid all today's
[38:41] challenges, we also count many
[38:43] blessings. We have the most innovative
[38:46] citizens, the most abundant resources,
[38:49] the most resilient economy, the most
[38:52] powerful military and the freest
[38:54] political system in the history of the
[38:56] world. My fellow citizens, never forget
[39:01] we are Americans. And like my dad said
[39:04] years ago, Americans can do anything.
[39:08] Thank you for listening. God bless you.
[39:11] God bless Louisiana and God bless
[39:14] America.
[39:17] And that of course was Governor Bobby
[39:19] Jindle, the governor of Louisiana,
[39:21] making the Republican response. David,
[39:24] how well did you think he did?
[39:25] >> Uh, not so well. Uh, you know, I I think
[39:28] Bobby Jindle's a very promising
[39:29] politician and I oppose the stimulus
[39:31] package because I thought it was poorly
[39:32] drafted. But to come up at this moment
[39:34] in history with a stale government is a
[39:36] problem. We can't trust the federal
[39:38] government. It's just a disaster for the
[39:41] Republican party. The the country is in
[39:43] a panic now. They might not like the the
[39:45] way the Democrats have passed the
[39:46] stimulus bill, but the idea that we're
[39:48] just going to that government is going
[39:49] to have no role, the federal government
[39:51] has no role in this, that in a in a
[39:54] moment when only the federal government
[39:56] is big enough to actually do stuff to
[39:58] just ignore all that and just say
[40:00] government's the problem, corruption,
[40:02] eararks, wasteful spending. It's just a
[40:05] form of nihilism. It's just not where
[40:06] the country is. It's not where the
[40:08] future of the country is. There's an
[40:09] intrublican debate. Some people say the
[40:11] Republican party lost its way because
[40:13] they got too moderate. Some people say
[40:15] they got too weird and too conservative.
[40:18] He thinks they got too moderate. And so
[40:20] he's making that case. I think it's
[40:22] insane. And I just think it's a disaster
[40:24] for the party. Uh I just think it's
[40:27] unfortunate right now,
[40:29] >> Mark. But other than that, other than
[40:31] that, I just thought I mean deos move
[40:34] over. I mean it it was not a great
[40:37] moment for Bobby Jindle. And um I I
[40:40] think Bobby Jindle is is as talented
[40:43] Republican office holder as in the
[40:45] country. And Charlie Cook, the great
[40:47] political analyst said of him uh
[40:51] attributed to a Louisiana politician in
[40:53] Louisiana. We've tried smart and we've
[40:55] tried honest. We've just never tried the
[40:57] two together. That's what Bobby Jindle
[40:59] represents to them at his best. But I
[41:01] mean when he leaves a strong man line
[41:03] like National Democrats views that says
[41:05] the way to strengthen our country is to
[41:07] increase dependence on government. I
[41:09] mean that that is that is something that
[41:11] you you heard that
[41:13] >> a time of great crisis.
[41:14] >> No. Yeah. I mean, it just it really it
[41:16] really wasn't a good line and and it
[41:18] wasn't this I thought the speech was
[41:20] part sort of campaign introduction uh
[41:24] for Bobby Jindel national effort talking
[41:27] about his record in Louisiana which is
[41:29] an impressive record in many respects
[41:31] but as a speech it didn't work. It's a
[41:34] tough speech to give. He gave it too
[41:36] fast. Um, it's following a historic and
[41:40] and and rather pageantfilled moment with
[41:43] the president in the House chamber. And
[41:46] David, David, help us understand how
[41:47] things like that happened. I mean, was
[41:49] that a committee written speech? Was
[41:51] that the National Republican Party
[41:52] coming up with a response that he just
[41:54] then delivered and said, "Okay." And
[41:57] because of who he is or
[41:58] >> Well, no. I think it's the product of a
[42:00] debate, of a serious debate. He knew
[42:02] what he was doing. There are people in
[42:03] Congress, in the Senate, people like
[42:05] Lindsey Graham and various senators who
[42:07] are plenty conservative, but they think
[42:09] in a moment like this, government has a
[42:11] role to have a big housing plan to help
[42:14] stall the housing crisis, a big finance
[42:16] plan, and it may not be what the
[42:18] Democrats want. It may be smaller. John
[42:20] McCain just proposed a stimulus bill
[42:22] that was $400 billion.
[42:24] So, that's one philosophy. The other
[42:26] philosophy is no, government's the
[42:27] problem. We just got to get government
[42:28] out of the way. And that's apparently
[42:30] Bobby Jindle's philosophy. He didn't
[42:32] have a he didn't outline a program. Uh
[42:35] >> no, he he didn't. But David is right.
[42:37] The a losing party after it goes
[42:39] through, especially at a defeat like the
[42:40] Republicans have suffered in the last
[42:42] two elections. They they just they go
[42:44] they go to one of two courses. They the
[42:46] short of the skins and the shirts say we
[42:48] lost because we gave up the true belief,
[42:50] the holy grail. And the skins say we
[42:53] lost because we didn't adapt enough to
[42:55] the times. And that's that's the fight
[42:57] that's going on. And Bobby very much uh
[43:00] stayed with the skins. I mean, he he
[43:02] thinks that uh they they deviated from
[43:04] the original Barry Goldwater and that's
[43:06] the reason they're in trouble.
[43:08] >> Well, as you say, the debate has begun
[43:10] in the Republican party and will
[43:11] continue and we will continue to have it
[43:13] here on this program. Thank you both for
[43:15] being with us tonight. And that does
[43:17] bring us to the close of this NewsHour
[43:19] PBS special coverage of President
[43:21] Obama's first address to a joint session
[43:24] of Congress and the Republican answer
[43:26] from Governor Bobby Jendle of Louisiana.
[43:29] We'll see you online and again here
[43:31] tomorrow evening at our regular NewsHour
[43:33] time. For now, I'm Jim Lara. Thank you
[43:36] and good night.
[43:43] Major funding for the NewsHour with Jim
[43:45] Lara is provided by
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