Education and Jobs Are Focus of President Obama's State of the Union Address

Speaking to a chamber of 100 Senators and 435 members of the House of Representatives, the president said that Congress must sustain the leadership that has "made America not just a place on a map, but a light to the world.

"We are the first nation to be founded for the sake of an idea – the idea that each of us deserves the chance to shape our own destiny. That is why centuries of pioneers and immigrants have risked everything to come here," he said.

"The future is ours to win," President Obama told the audience. "Now it’s our turn. We know what it takes to compete for the jobs and industries of our time. We need to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world."

Education is major theme in president's speech

	Educaion and innovation were significant topics in the President's speech.

After describing efforts to encourage clean energy and technology jobs, the president turned to the American education system. "If we want to win the future – if we want innovation to produce jobs in America and not overseas – then we also have to win the race to educate our kids."

"We need to teach our kids that it’s not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to be celebrated, but the winner of the science fair; that success is not a function of fame or PR, but of hard work and discipline," the president said.

The president talked about the need to set high standards, and pointed to the example of Bruce Randolph school.  "Three years ago, it was rated one of the worst schools in Colorado; located on turf between two rival gangs. But last May, 97% of the seniors received their diploma. Most will be the first in their family to go to college. And after the first year of the school’s transformation, the principal who made it possible wiped away tears when a student said, 'Thank you, Mrs. Waters, for showing… that we are smart and we can make it.'

Teachers are key to building better schools, the president said, and he spoke into the camera, saying "to every young person listening tonight who’s contemplating their career choice: If you want to make a difference in the life of our nation; if you want to make a difference in the life of a child – become a teacher. Your country needs you.

Following Arizona shooting, Congress makes symbolic show of friendship

	Following the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona, members of Congress from different parties will sit together at the speech to show solidarity and cooperation.

 In honor of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head two weeks ago in Arizona, members of Congress did something new: Instead of sitting with their own party, as has been the tradition for over 100 years, they mixed it up.  The goal was to make the State of the Union a less partisan show.

One of the Senate's most liberal members, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D- N.Y., sat next to one of the most conservative members, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. "I think if Coburn and Schumer can sit next to each other, then probably just about everybody can," Sen. Schumer told CBS News on Sunday, adding: "It's true it's symbolic, but let's not forget oftentimes in history, symbols influence reality."

Republican response calls for cuts in spending

	Republican Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin gave his party's response to the State of the Union address.

In another State of the Union tradition, the Republicans delivered a response to the speech.  This year, the Republican response was from the head of the House Budget Committee, Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.

Congressman Ryan criticized the president for proposing more government spending.  "There is no doubt the President came into office facing a severe fiscal and economic situation. Unfortunately, instead of restoring the fundamentals of economic growth, he engaged in a stimulus spending spree that not only failed to deliver on its promise to create jobs, but also plunged us even deeper into debt."

Ryan said, "We need to reclaim our American system of limited government, low taxes, reasonable regulations, and sound money, which has blessed us with unprecedented prosperity.  And it has done more to help the poor than any other economic system ever designed.  That’s the real secret to job creation – not borrowing and spending more money in Washington. Limited government and free enterprise have helped make America the greatest nation on earth."

History of the State of the Union

	President Franklin Delano Roosevelt coined hte term "State of the Union" in 1934 and the president's annual speech to Congress has been known by that name ever since.

The State of the Union is an annual address presented by the president of the United States to a joint session of Congress. The speech was referred to as “the President’s Annual Message to Congress,” and the term “State of the Union” was coined by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1934. The speech usually reports on the condition of the nation and allows the president to outline his legislative agenda. The State of the Union is modeled after the annual monarch’s speech from the throne during the State Opening of Parliament in the United Kingdom.

George Washington gave the first State of the Union address on January 8, 1790. In 1801, Thomas Jefferson discontinued the practice of giving the speech in person and the address was read by congressional clerk until 1913, when Woodrow Wilson reinstated the tradition. Calvin Coolidge’s 1923 address was the first broadcast on radio, Harry S. Truman’s 1947 speech was the first to be broadcast on television and Bill Clinton’s 1997 address was the first broadcast available live on the Internet.