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I was curious after the Democrats bitter loss in Massachusetts exactly which Barack Obama would show up to deliver his first State of the Union address. Would it be the impassioned motivator who, when accepting his partys nomination, delivered the powerful Yes We Can speech? Or would it be the prudent realist who tried to dampen excessive expectations with his inaugural address?
Personally, I was hoping for a President Obama who displayed both passion and prudence and I wasnt disappointed. To those who answered his call of yes-we-can leadership with no-you-cant obstructionism, he sought common ground with a warning: I dont quit.
In essence, Obama took the stunning upset election of Scott Brown as an opening to reset his national agenda and re-energize a demoralized and fractured Democratic Party.
We knew Obama, blessed with a gift of oratory few others possess, would be poised, polished and eloquent. What struck me most about his speech, however, was its refreshing honesty and absence of false optimism.
He displayed an admirable learning curve and reassuring grasp on reality by acknowledging his failures. ( Our administration has had some political setbacks this year, and some of them were deserved, he admitted.) Then he extended, once again, an olive branch to an opposition that remains hellbent on sitting on the sidelines.
First, Id like to say to any member of Congress who still doesnt get it its still the economy, stupid. Before people can afford to worry about whats going on abroad, they need to first be secure with household bank balances. Obama recognizes that jobs must be our number one focus in 2010. Hes right.
Second, this is a chance to make important and long-lasting reforms to Wall Street. The upside to this economic meltdown is that we can rebuild a stronger and more ethical Wall Street than the one that almost collapsed in 2008. This is a critical step.
Third, focusing on the economy gives health care a break from being center stage.
Fourth, Congress must cut spending and reduce the deficit. I dont know how theyre going to do that without getting some of my friends on the left up in arms, but its the task they face. I dont envy them. Health care will never get through Congress if it looks like Democrats arent serious about curbing fiscal irresponsibility.
Finally, Obama must start to lead, thereby getting Congress out of the national spotlight.
Sausage making is never a pretty process, and even if the end result is tasty, witnessing it can permanently turn your stomach. Thats the point were at with health care, thats where weve been on the stimulus package, and thats where we may be going with energy reform and other important issues.
Im encouraged by the leader who showed up Wednesday to deliver the State of the Union. We got Barack Obama, the uniter. We got Barack Obama, the impassioned motivator and prudent realist. We got the leader we elected to lead the change that we can all believe in.
Donna Brazile is a political commentator on CNN, ABC and NPR and former manager of Al Gores presidential campaign.
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