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     Obama Focuses on Future, Need For Unity, At State of The Union Address

   by William Gallo

   President Barack Obama is delivering his seventh and final State of the
   Union address, focusing on his vision for the country's future and the
   need to heal its deep political divides.

   Obama's speech to a packed House of Representatives chamber in the
   Capitol will give an assessment of the country's fortunes at home,
   where the national economy is advancing. He will also focus on issues
   overseas, where the U.S. continues to conduct air strikes in support of
   local forces fighting Islamic State insurgents for control of parts of
   Iraq and Syria.

   According to excerpts released beforehand, Obama, a Democrat, will also
   take a subtle jab at Republican presidential candidates, saying
   Americans should "not fear the future."

   "America has been through big changes before - wars and depression, the
   influx of immigrants, workers fighting for a fair deal, and movements
   to expand civil rights," prepared remarks of the speech read.

   "Each time, there have been those who told us to fear the future; who
   claimed we could slam the brakes on change, promising to restore past
   glory if we just got some group or idea that was threatening America
   under control.  And each time, we overcame those fears," he will say.

   Ahead of the address, White House officials said Obama will not mention
   Tuesday's incident in which 10 U.S. sailors were detained by Iran,
   after apparently straying into Iranian waters in the Persian Gulf.

   Obama "has no plans to address the issue" in the speech, White House
   Communications Director Jen Psaki told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday,
   just hours ahead of the president's address.

   Other U.S. officials have attempted to play down the incident, saying
   Iran has agreed to "promptly" release the sailors. The incident was an
   awkward distraction for Obama, whose speech is set to highlight the
   Iran nuclear as a key foreign policy achievement.

   GOP Response

   The Republican response to Obama's speech will be delivered by South
   Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who has been rumored as a possible vice
   presidential choice for the eventual Republican presidential nominee.

   According to prepared remarks, Governor Haley will accuse the president
   of not living up to his "soaring words."

   "As he enters his final year in office, many Americans are still
   feeling the squeeze of an economy too weak to raise income levels.
   We're feeling a crushing national debt, a health care plan that has
   made insurance less affordable and doctors less available, and chaotic
   unrest in many of our cities," Haley will say.

   "Even worse, we are facing the most dangerous terrorist threat our
   nation has seen since September 11th, and this president appears either
   unwilling or unable to deal with it. Soon, the Obama presidency will
   end, and America will have the chance to turn in a new direction. That
   direction is what I want to talk about tonight," the prepared remarks
   continue.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-2016-state-of-the-union-address
   /3142828.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-2016-state-of-the-union-address/3142828.html