The main theme of the President’s speech was the economical crisis and the ways to overcome it. The overall message that Obama tried to deliver was that the USA has to “act bodily and wisely” (National Public Radio) in order to build a new foundation for lasting well-being and prosperity.
There were also several issues of the greatest concern to the President. While giving his speech to Congress, Obama focused on education that might prepare our children for working in the global economy, the problems associated with the real estate market, energy, and health care.
When addressing congress, Obama proposes a specific plan for the US economic recovery. First of all, the President announces the importance of creating new jobs for people. He gains the assembled crowd’s attention to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that according to which 3. 5 million jobs will be created. Second, the President offered a housing plan, that will enable families to lower their monthly payments and refinance their mortgages. Finally, Obama promised to ensure the major banks of the United States had enough money with the help of the federal government.
As far as it could be seen, the assembled crowd had rather an optimistic reaction to the President’s address. Though, as CNN concludes, the reaction of speech-watchers to the previous addresses of then-President Bill Clinton of George W. Bush did not differ that much from the one that could be observed tonight, on February 24, 2009, CNN Politics).
Since the problem of lack of jobs is vital and tremendously burning in the USA, the President won the most positive responses from watchers when talking about jobs and how to create them.
The most partisan response from the audience was when the President was talking about a new lending fund that will help the entrepreneurs who keep the economy running in getting loans for small businesses.
President Obama was speaking in a very persuasive tone, in a tone of a person who clearly sees the problem and knows exact ways to overcome it. What is more, such phrases as “I know there are some in this chamber and watching at home who are skeptical of whether this plan will work. I understand that skepticism” (National Public Radio), add more persuasiveness to his speech. The use of gestures was exceptional when it was necessary for the audience to facilitate the process of information perception. He did not use too sweeping gestures and they were rather restrained. At the end of the speech, Obama’s gestures turned even more informal.
The Republican message was represented by Bobby Jindal, who spoke about the readiness of Republicans to operate with the leader of the USA no matter what party he belongs to. While giving the speech, Bobby Jindal focused on the necessity of making a new foundation for the US economy. He supported Obama’s plan and offered that the following should be done:
- Creating new jobs for families;
- Lowering income taxes;
- Cutting taxes for small businesses;
- Creating a new tax credit.
The attendance to the President’s address was the famous people like the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Capitan Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot of US Airways, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Chief Justice John Roberts, Vice President Joe Biden, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner.
In order to make this report, I listened to the National Public Radio, used the text version of Obama’s speech, and examined the scenes from the President’s address provided by NPR that represented the events in rather an objective way. The commentary and the analysis of the audience’s responses to the President’s address are taken from CNN.
Works Cited
Obama’s Address to Congress. National Public Radio. (2009).
“Poll: Obama’s speech scored with viewers”. CNN Politics.(2009).