President Barack Obama has been huddling with his closest advisers for the past few days, writing tonight’s State of the Union address. Up for debate is how much to focus on health-care reform (the individual portions of which are largely well received, but the packaging of which disgusts many Americans) and how much responsibility he should take for not making good on enough of his campaign promises in his first year in office. From the Times:
When Mr. Obama presents his first State of the Union address on Wednesday evening, aides said he would accept responsibility, though not necessarily blame, for failing to deliver swiftly on some of the changes he promised a year ago. But he will not, aides said, accede to criticism that his priorities are out of step with the nation’s … He will acknowledge making mistakes in pursuit of his agenda, aides said, but will not toss the agenda overboard in search of a more popular one.
Okay, so it’s not much in terms of a satisfying mea culpa. But looking back over the past decade or so, it’ll certainly be more than we’re used to.
In Speech, Obama to Admit Missteps in First Year [NYT]
Okay, so it’s not much in terms of a satisfying mea culpa. But looking back over the past decade or so, it’ll certainly be more than we’re used to.
