Washington, jan 13: : President Barack Obama on Tuesday told Americans nervous about terror and the changing economy that they should not fear the future, in a farewell State of the Union address that drew sharp contrast with Republicans.
In an election-year marquee event, Obama hailed a period of “extraordinary change” laden with both opportunity and the risk of wider inequality. A confident Obama sought to cast himself as an optimistic foil to foes who warn the country is going in the wrong direction after his seven years in office.
While vowing to work to find a cure for cancer, accelerate the shift away from “dirty energy” and end the last remnants of the Cold War by engaging with Cuba, Obama said “America has been through big changes before.”
“Each time, there have been those who told us to fear the future; who claimed we could slam the brakes on change, promising to restore past glory if we just got some group or idea that was threatening America under control. And each time, we overcame those fears.”
With less than three weeks until the Iowa caucuses — the first votes cast in the process to replace him, Obama berated talking points used by Republican candidates, saying “anyone claiming that America’s economy is in decline is peddling fiction.”
He also lashed out at rhetoric over the rise of the Islamic State group, which he admitted poses an “enormous danger.”
But he emphasized: “They do not threaten our national existence.”
“Over-the-top claims that this is World War III just play into their hands,” he said. “Our answer needs to be more than tough talk or calls to carpet bomb civilians. That may work as a TV sound bite, but it doesn’t pass muster on the world stage.”
