Obama Delivers Final State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON / AP — President Obama gave his final State of the Union Address Tuesday night, and said his focus wasn’t on his last year in office. It was on the next ten years.

The President challenged Congress to embrace “big changes” and make them work for the country. He touched on the economic growth during his Presidency: working to make college affordable for every American, cutting carbon pollution and protecting Social Security and Medicare.

“I want to focus on our future,” said the President. “We live in a time of extraordinary change. Change that’s reshaping the way we live, the way we work, our planet, our place in the world.” He continued, “Priority number one is protecting the American people and going after terrorist networks. We you come after Americans, we come after you. And it make take time, but we have long memories and our reach has no limits.”

The President also talked about protecting Americans from terrorists. He said defeating both Al Qaeda and ISIS are priority number one over the next few years.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley gave the Republican response Columbia. She’s considered a rising star in the party, and a possible Vice Presidential candidate.

“Many Americans are still feeling the squeeze of an economy too weak to raise income levels,” said Gov. Haley. “We’re feeling a crushing national debt, a healthcare plan that has made insurance less affordable and doctors less available, and chaotic unrest in many of our cities. Even worse, we are facing the most dangerous terrorist threat our nation has seen since September 11th. And this President appears unwilling or unable to deal with it.”