President Barack Obama (D) reminded citizens that he ran on a platform of change during his first State of the Union address last night - all while Ohio University's leader sat in the crowd.
I never suggested that change would be easy
or that I can do it alone. Democracy in a nation of three hundred million people can be noisy and messy and complicated Obama said. ...That's just how it is.
FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENT
Ohio University President Roderick McDavis attended the speech as State Representative Charlie Wilson's (D-6, OH) guest.
McDavis said he did not publicize his trip, which cost the president's office discretionary account $1,500, because he viewed it as more personal than business.
That is truly something that I will always remember of this experience because obviously there's a parallel in my own mind of the first African-American president of the United States and being the first African-American president of Ohio University McDavis said.
MAKING EDUCATION LESS COSTLY
Obama also said he would increase Pell Grants, offer a tax credit totaling $10,000 annually to any student who attends four years of college and require graduates to only pay 10 percent of their income on student loans each year.
After 20 years, graduates will be given debt forgiveness and those who go on to work in public service will be forgiven after 10 years, he added.
The more that prospective students can see a way to pay for a college education
I think that will help our recruitment efforts a great deal
McDavis said.
Councilman Elahu Gosney (D, at-large) said Obama's plan to make education more affordable will help OU students.
I'm very optimistic and hopeful that the different things are going to be realized and will actually see some real results
Gosney said.
JOBS AND THE ECONOMY
The government's main focus in 2010 will be creating jobs, Obama said. He called for a new jobs bill's creation through credit given to small business owners, stemming from the $30 billion banks repaid from the bailout.
The true engine of job creation in this country will always be America's businesses
Obama said. But government can create the conditions necessary for businesses to expand and hire more workers.
Athens has a lot of small businesses. It's difficult to continue in this economic situation and if indeed tax credits are available for small businesses
said councilman Jim Sands (D, at-large) adding (This will) hopefully increase numbers of employees.
Although it will be difficult to recover the 7 million jobs lost because of the recession, clean energy jobs as well as doubling exports within the next five years will create over 2 million jobs, Obama said.
ENDING THE WAR
Combat troops should be out of Iraq by August and begin leaving Afghanistan in July of 2011, the president said, adding that many more fighters and affiliates, including senior leaders of al-Qaida have been killed or captured in the past year.
Make no mistake: this war is ending
and all of our troops are coming home
Obama said.
REPUBLICAN RESPONSE
Despite promises of improvement across the board for the country, the country cannot afford Obama's plans, said Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) in the Republican response to the speech.
Today
the federal government is simply trying to do too much
