Senator Kerry On President Obama's Congressional Address

[sandnsea]

I think we've all waited a long, long time - but boy was it worth it!

“I’ve waited a long, long time to hear a President of the United States talk this way, and what a powerful statement to hear his vision applauded on both sides of the aisle.

As President Obama outlined tonight, fixing our economy requires hard work and tough choices. We’ve passed an enormous economic recovery package that will create 70,000 jobs in Massachusetts and invest more than $10 billion in our state for job creating projects from Boston to New Bedford, from rail to construction to green technology.

“But that recovery plan won’t provide lasting relief unless we immediately solve our bedrock economic problems by fixing our banks’ balance sheets and repairing our shattered housing market that has millions of Americans living on the brink of foreclosure. The message I hope was heard tonight by everyone from Pittsfield to Plymouth and all the cities and towns in between is: help is on the way. Whether it’s our young people who will be building housing through the YouthBuild programs in Massachusetts, or the thousands of retired cops, teachers, and firefighters who will receive tax relief, or the students who will have a chance now to stay in college, or the small business owners who will get a break on loan program fees, people across Massachusetts can know that we are already making progress to put our economy on the road to recovery.

“As Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, I was moved to finally hear an American President talk about ending torture, reengaging in diplomacy and tackling global climate change, closing Guantanamo, getting it right in Afghanistan, and making the country we love stronger and safer both at home and abroad.

“I applaud the President for his candor and his optimism. He knows we are in a deep hole, but he is dead-on correct that together we will pull through. Now we must all rise to the President’s call for bipartisanship so that together, as Americans, we will help put our country back to work and reestablish America’s tradition in the world.”

[Inuca]

1. “I’ve waited a long, long time "

Yes, we did (wait, and all that other stuff :-)). Beautiful statement.

[YvonneCa]

2. Obama hit it out of the park...

...with that speech last night. I agree with JK that we've all waited a long time to hear a president set out that kind of policy for our country going forward. I clapped all the way through. :)

JK could have written that speech. It's the speech he would have given as HIS first SOTU had he been elected. (And I don't mean to take away from Obama, because he was WONDERFUL.) I think it's the idea that they share DNA...on so many issues and policies and core beliefs about the country.

This is a great statement by Senator Kerry. "Help is on the way." That's why I went door-to-door in 2004. ;)

[ObamaKerryDem]

3. Oh, I definitely agree! :) This country was cheated out of a fine POTUS..

when he didn't get in, but I am so happy that it has a great one like President Obama to lead it now. Talk about validation...it's about time! :) And I of course loved the Senator's statement. Spoken like the intelligent, in-tune, and may I add gracious (as this could've well been the first address of his second term..a smaller person might've resented the person now in the place that would've, could've, should've been theirs, but he's been nothing but gracious and supportive this whole time. And I think that's because he knows Obama is carrying on the message..) LEADER he truly is! :)

[YvonneCa]

4. Gracious leader...

...is right. And aren't "We, the people" lucky to have him. :patriot:

[ObamaKerryDem]

6. Most definitely! :) n/t

[ladym55]

5. I saw JK in the audience last night

They had a nice long shot of him listening to President Obama. And I thought, This should be YOU, talking to us at the start of your second term. And you should have been handing over the reigns to President Obama in 2012. But sadly we missed that great opportunity. And the very classy Junior Senator from Massachusetts continues to serve the country and do it well.

[ObamaKerryDem]

7. So well said! :) I couldn't agree more and as thrilled as I am with President Obama..

I wish Senator Kerry could've gotten his turn first, instead of the past eight years of the US Presidency (and most especially the last four) having been WASTED as they were, on that incompetant-lying-corrupt- ass-whose-name-doesn't-even-deserve-to-be-typed-here-on-the-JK-forum. x( But in a way, he DID get to hand over the reigns to President Obama, by introducing him to the nation (and the world) as he did in giving him the keynote at his convention, which, when you really think about it, kind of started it all! :D Senator Kerry looked so proud, watching his address the other night..and he should be. :)