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| State of the Union: Obama demands spread of wealth | State of the Union: Obama demands spread of wealth |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has declared an end to the financial crisis and pledged economic policies to benefit all Americans, in his annual State of the Union address to Congress. | US President Barack Obama has declared an end to the financial crisis and pledged economic policies to benefit all Americans, in his annual State of the Union address to Congress. |
| In a speech devised to appeal to working families, Mr Obama outlined his strategy for "middle-class economics". | In a speech devised to appeal to working families, Mr Obama outlined his strategy for "middle-class economics". |
| "It's now up to us to choose who we want to be over the next 15 years," he said. | "It's now up to us to choose who we want to be over the next 15 years," he said. |
| But the plans are unlikely to make it past a Republican-controlled Congress. | But the plans are unlikely to make it past a Republican-controlled Congress. |
| Analysis: BBC's North America editor, Jon Sopel | |
| Most of this speech must be seen as essentially aspirational, given the Republican control of both houses of Congress - and their antipathy towards the president | |
| So if this speech stands little chance of becoming legislative reality, what was it all about? | |
| First of all legacy. This is a president who seems to be following Winston Churchill's maxim that history is written by the winners. | |
| A rock star sealing his legacy | |
| In a speech which he described as more focused on values than policies, Mr Obama declared America had turned a page after the worst recession since the Depression. | In a speech which he described as more focused on values than policies, Mr Obama declared America had turned a page after the worst recession since the Depression. |
| The president said he planned to build on this growth by providing working families with help in the form of sick and maternity leave and affordable childcare. | The president said he planned to build on this growth by providing working families with help in the form of sick and maternity leave and affordable childcare. |
| "Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well? Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort?" | "Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well? Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort?" |
| Mr Obama's speech included plans to build a competitive economy by improving America's infrastructure and providing free access to community college. | Mr Obama's speech included plans to build a competitive economy by improving America's infrastructure and providing free access to community college. |
| "This plan is your chance to graduate ready for a new economy, without a load of debt," he said. | "This plan is your chance to graduate ready for a new economy, without a load of debt," he said. |
| At the weekend, the White House pledged to close tax loopholes on large inheritances, raise capital gains tax on the richest earners from 23.8% to 28% and introduce new fees on US financial firms with assets about $50bn. | At the weekend, the White House pledged to close tax loopholes on large inheritances, raise capital gains tax on the richest earners from 23.8% to 28% and introduce new fees on US financial firms with assets about $50bn. |
| Some senior members of the Republican party dismissed this as "class warfare". | Some senior members of the Republican party dismissed this as "class warfare". |
| Other plans outlined by the president include: | Other plans outlined by the president include: |
| On foreign policy, Mr Obama said America reserved the "right to act unilaterally" in hunting down terrorists and called on Congress to pass a resolution to authorise the use of force against Islamic State. | On foreign policy, Mr Obama said America reserved the "right to act unilaterally" in hunting down terrorists and called on Congress to pass a resolution to authorise the use of force against Islamic State. |
| The president reiterated his belief that the US could negotiate an agreement to prevent Iran gaining nuclear weapons and said he would veto any new sanctions bill which threatens this. | The president reiterated his belief that the US could negotiate an agreement to prevent Iran gaining nuclear weapons and said he would veto any new sanctions bill which threatens this. |
| He said his decision to end America's long-standing policy on Cuba and try something new had the potential to "end a legacy of mistrust in our hemisphere". | He said his decision to end America's long-standing policy on Cuba and try something new had the potential to "end a legacy of mistrust in our hemisphere". |
| Alan Gross, who was recently released after spending five years in a Cuban prison, was among Michelle Obama's guests to hear the president. | |
| On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denounced the speech as an indication of what he said was the determination of the US to dominate international affairs. | |
| "Americans have set a course for confrontation," Mr Lavrov said. "Obama's address yesterday shows that there's just one thing at the heart of [their] philosophy: 'We are number one'... It shows that the United States wants to dominate the world." | |
| 'Best for America' | |
| In ending his address, Mr Obama said he was optimistic he could work with Congress, despite months of political gridlock. | In ending his address, Mr Obama said he was optimistic he could work with Congress, despite months of political gridlock. |
| "I have no more campaigns to run. My only agenda for the next two years is the same as the one I've had since the day I swore an oath on the steps of this Capitol - to do what I believe is best for America," he said. | "I have no more campaigns to run. My only agenda for the next two years is the same as the one I've had since the day I swore an oath on the steps of this Capitol - to do what I believe is best for America," he said. |
| But consensus with the Republican party on many of the issues he outlined is unlikely. | But consensus with the Republican party on many of the issues he outlined is unlikely. |
| In their official rebuttal, Republican senator and rising star, Joni Ernst, said Americans have not seen solutions from Mr Obama and criticised his health and immigration policies. | In their official rebuttal, Republican senator and rising star, Joni Ernst, said Americans have not seen solutions from Mr Obama and criticised his health and immigration policies. |
| "Americans have been hurting, but when we demanded solutions, too often Washington responded with the same stale mindset that led to failed policies like Obamacare," she said | "Americans have been hurting, but when we demanded solutions, too often Washington responded with the same stale mindset that led to failed policies like Obamacare," she said |
| The senator called on Mr Obama to work with Republicans on issues where they might have common ground - including a trade deal and tax code reform. | The senator called on Mr Obama to work with Republicans on issues where they might have common ground - including a trade deal and tax code reform. |