President Obama Inserts term "Native American" into State of Union Address

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama delivered the annual State of the Union address last night. His speech lasted over an hour. The written speech is 17 pages long.

We need to end the notion that the two parties must be locked in a perpetual campaign of mutual destruction.

President Obama inserted the term "Native American" into his spoken remarks. The prepared speech sent to the Native News Network just prior to the address last night did not contain the term.

He did so when speaking about those serving in the US military.

“When you put on that uniform, it doesn't matter if you're black or white; Asian, Latino, Native American; conservative, liberal; rich, poor… ,”

"Blueprint Built to Last"

stated President Obama.

President Obama outlined "Blueprint Built to Last" an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers and a renewal of American values.

The President addressed the partisan divide in the nation that has caused Americans to think the nation's capital is broken:

Now, I recognize that people watching tonight have differing views about taxes and debt, energy and health care. But no matter what party they belong to, I bet most Americans are thinking the same thing right about now: Nothing will get done in Washington this year, or next year, or maybe even the year after that, because Washington is broken.

Can you blame them for feeling a little cynical?

President Obama suggested the executive branch of the federal government must work closer with Congress to get things done in Washington by getting past partisan politics:

Finally, none of this can happen unless we also lower the temperature in this town. We need to end the notion that the two parties must be locked in a perpetual campaign of mutual destruction; that politics is about clinging to rigid ideologies instead of building consensus around common-sense ideas.

posted January 24, 2012 11:10 am est