01.13.16

Sullivan Responds to President’s Final State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement tonight in response to President Obama’s final State of the Union address: 

“I’ve always appreciated President Obama’s considerable oratorical skills. Tonight, I was heartened that he spent some time highlighting what’s good about our country and emphasizing America’s unique optimistic spirit. We can never forget that for our resources, our hardworking citizens, our collective big heart, and our form of government, we are truly the envy of the world. I also appreciated his call at the end of his speech to work together.

“But I was disappointed that he wasn’t straight with the American people about the challenges we face. This Administration has overseen one of the slowest recoveries in history. Since President Obama took office, our gross domestic product only grew at a little less than 2 percent, hurting middle class families. Incomes are down. Today, 15.7 million Americans are unemployed, working part time because they cannot find full-time employment, or want work but have stopped looking altogether. The national debt in 2009 was $10.6 trillion. Today it’s $18.9 trillion.

“And opportunity in this country is being increasingly stifled by a federal government that believes it needs to regulate every aspect of business and American life. The President’s vague reference to increase costs of the energy industry signals that he wants even more regulation.

“In short, it appears that this President truly believes that growing government—at the expense of individual freedom and ingenuity—is the proper way to structure our society. I fundamentally disagree. I believe that the creative fire, fundamental to each individual, is stamped out when government dictates the boundaries of success. We should always remember that people, not bureaucracies, are what made this country the greatest in the world.

“Leadership in foreign affairs and national defense is also severely lacking. The world is a more dangerous place than when the President took office. ISIS, which launched another attack in Turkey today, is a lingering and increasing threat. Huge swaths of Iraq and Syria have descended into chaos. Libya and Yemen are becoming failed states. Russia is provoking us at every turn, including in the Arctic. China is building islands illegally in heavily trafficked international shipping lanes. North Korea may have just tested another nuclear device. Given all of this, the President is still planning to make the mistake of cutting our military forces in Alaska and elsewhere.

“Further, we are on the cusp of giving Iran, the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, a huge economic boost, sure to assist them in their drive to achieve hegemony in the Middle East. Remember, this regime regularly chants “death to America,” and has refused to release the five Americans it is holding hostage—some of them for years. And just today, conspicuously absent from the President’s speech, Iran took U.S. sailors hostage and accused them of spying.

“During his last year in office, I hope that President Obama begins to be straight with the American people about our challenges, both at home and abroad. And I hope that he has a real plan—rather than pure rhetoric—to begin to set it right and to keep us safe.” 

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