Did Obama Make the Grade in His State of the Union Address?
Leaders react to elements of the president's speech.
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Facing the Nation - The verdict is in, and African-American lawmakers and leaders and nonprofit groups give President Obama's fifth State of the Union address high marks. The overwhelming consensus was optimistic and hopeful and a strong blueprint for closing gaps in various areas, from early childhood education to retirement. Here's some of what they had to say. – Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick) (Photo: AP Photo/Larry Downing, Pool)
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Overall - "This country is at a point where unemployment is still high. People are hurting. We did not extend the unemployment benefits. So what we're looking for is hope and inspiration. I think he showed passion last night and hit on a number of the issues that are important to people at this time," said Rep. Maxine Waters (D-California). (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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Housing - "The president rightly called for housing finance reform that keeps the American Dream of homeownership alive for this and future generations. This dream accounts for $10 trillion of our nation’s economy and is a proven path towards upward mobility for millions of Americans," according to a statement issued by the Center for Responsible Housing. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
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Ladders of Opportunity - "The foundation is pleased with the president’s call for increasing the minimum wage, expanding apprenticeships and workforce skills development, and expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, because if families achieve greater access onto and up the ladder of economic and social mobility, they can gain opportunities that will help both themselves and their children succeed in school, work and life," said Carla D. Thompson, vice president of the W.E. Kellogg Foundation. (Photo: Photo-Biotic/Getty Images)
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Elementary Education - "The president wants to make universal, quality early childhood education available to every child in the country and reiterated his call. The research shows that that is the area where you can make the most progress. I think he laid down a marker that's very important for the country and give him high marks," said Rep. Chakah Fattah (D-Pennsylvania). (Photo: Nancy Louie/Getty Images)
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Minimum Wage - "I thought it was absolutely awesome that he said he would issue an executive order requiring federal contractors to pay their employees a fair wage at $10.10," said Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison. "The Progressive Caucus has been working hard on this, marching with low-wage and striking low-wage workers, written letters, asked his staff [for updates] and now it's happening."(Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
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Climate Change/Green Energy - "The president’s plans are on the right track in curing what ails hardworking, low-income Americans and workers of color, who have historically been left behind. Connecting climate action with economic opportunity is a winning strategy to moving more Americans out of harm’s way and to move America forward in 2014," said Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, CEO of Green for All.(Photo: J.D. Pooley/Getty Images)
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Income Inequality - "He did a great job focusing on opportunities for all Americans, not just the top 1 percent," said Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nevada).(Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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Voting Rights - "President Obama is to be commended for noting the importance of ‘standing up for everyone’s right to vote,’” said Lawyers’ Committee president and executive director Barbara Arnwine.(Photo: Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images)
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Manufacturing and Jobs - "I'm particularly glad that he talked about job training and manufacturing in this country and how we need to train our young people for these jobs. There are a lot of middle class jobs in the high-skilled manufacturing sector and we need to talk more about that. The opportunity is there; we need to train our young people to take advantage of it," said Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas). (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)