President Barack Obama’s fifth State of the Union address Tuesday night was riddled with strong phrases.
Here are five stand-out passages from the President’s speech, in case you missed it:
“It should be the power of our vote, not the size of our bank account, that drives our democracy.”
Concerning last year’s Supreme Court decision that struck down section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, Obama expressed his support of everyone’s right to vote. The president connected citizenship and “standing up for everyone’s right to vote.”
“Let’s get immigration reform done this year. Let’s get it done. It’s time.”
Obama reaffirmed his commitment to immigration reform. Immigration reform was expected to be addressed in 2013 but was delayed as a result of the government shutdown last October.
“For the sake of our national security, we must give diplomacy a chance to succeed.”
Obama said America’s diplomacy is the cause for the end of Iran’s nuclear program. The president said sanctions played a role in this recent development, but if Congress passes more sanctions, he will veto them. He called upon Iran’s leaders to “seize this opportunity” and further expressed his commitment to solve this security challenge “without risks of war.”
“It is time to do away with workplace policies that belong in a ‘Mad Men’ episode. This year, let’s all come together —Congress, the White House and businesses from Wall Street to Main Street — to give every woman the opportunity she deserves. Because I firmly believe when women succeed, America succeeds.”
The president reaffirmed his commitment to ending inequalities in the workplace. He cited inequality in pay between men and women — on average, women earn 77 cents for every dollar a man makes.
“Opportunity is who we are. And the defining project of our generation is to restore that promise.”
Obama spoke extensively about restoring the “American Dream” and ensuring its existence for future generations. Later in his speech, the president said in order to restore that dream our economy must “honor the dignity of work.”
