The (Economic) State of the Union

The overarching theme that will take the spotlight in Tuesday evening’s State of the Union could be described by a Clinton 1992 campaign slogan: “It’s the economy, stupid.”

President Barack Obama delivers his second State of the Union address, and like his predecessor Bill Clinton, Obama faces the challenge of fixing a recession inherited from a Republican president named Bush.

Whether Clinton caused the early 2000s recession or contributed to the end of the early 1990s recession is an issue still at debate by many, and whether Obama will succeed in guiding the country out of the economic crisis remains to be seen and may not even be agreed upon soon.

But for now, most Americans likely could not care less about the partisan arguments. They simply want jobs and a chance to rebuild their financial standings. Obama will promise the country that the economy is the top priority, because a nation must have the support of citizens who can actually support it.

Obama leads the country during its worst economic standing since the Great Depression, and can only hope for the long-term approval (and election success) achieved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Roosevelt united the country and guided it through an abysmal economic period. For Obama’s presidency to be a success (and be two terms), he must do the same, and he must begin by demonstrating the American people that he can and will bring the economic downturn to an end.

The economy now overshadows the current conflict in the Middle East, but the issue is still one of rightful concern for many Americans. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have been compared to the Vietnam War, but Obama is responsible for ensuring that the nation’s final opinion on this war and its outcome is not viewed with the same negativity. Obama cannot ignore his promises to withdraw from the Middle East.

President Lyndon B. Johnson faced the challenge of fighting an unpopular war. A bull-headed approach to a drawn-out conflict was the downfall of Johnson and his presidency, and if he does not withdraw the troops soon, Obama will face the same fate.

Obama is already overdue on one promise from last year’s State of the Union, which was to have all troops removed from Iraq by August 2010. Obama should acknowledge this and provide the country with a well-reasoned explanation and a withdrawal timetable they can trust.

However, after certain talking heads had already penciled in Obama as a definite one-term president, some of the promises of his campaign platform have begun to come to fruition. The country still stings from the pain of economic troubles and continues to have a presence in the Middle East, but Obama should remind citizens that he has made strides in accomplishing what they elected him to do.

In the time since his previous State of the Union address, Obama has signed into law his promised health care reform. He also successfully guided the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, a promise he made in his 2010 address.

His opponents may be against those achievements, but they speak to those whose original support has wavered, and they will help to guide former followers back to the flock.

Obama will acknowledge the Tucson shooting. Less than three weeks separate the speech from the shooting, and as one of the victims, Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords will be missing from the address’s audience.

He faces a challenge with this tragedy: he must find the delicate balance between expected call for unity and the political exploitation of a tragic event.

He is unlikely to linger on the subject, instead opting to ask his fellow countrymen to be guarded in their rhetoric, and for them to remember that we are united under one flag as Americans.

A united America is best for the country, but it is also best for Obama (unless, of course, it is one united against him). This time next year, the 2012 election campaigning will be in full force. For Obama to position himself as a re-electable president, he must send to the polls citizens who know their president’s promises are held.

Obama no longer needs the American people to believe in change. Obama needs the American people to believe in him.