Obama’s ‘s SOTU speech: Questions of emphasis

(by David Jackson, USA Today) – It’s not just what President Obama says during Tuesday’s State of the Union speech. It’s how he says it, and how long he takes to say it.

Some observers are particularly interested in how Obama handles three notably contentious issues, even among fellow Democrats: Health care, free trade, and the prospects for new sanctions on Iran.

— Health care. Obama and his aides say the new health care law will work in the long run and be a political benefit, even with the rollout problems that have included a poorly working website and canceled policies.

Some Democrats aren’t so sure. And Republicans — seeking to hold the House and recapture the Senate — are already making health care the cornerstone of their 2014 congressional election strategy.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who faces primary and general election challenges this year, said in an op-ed on Obama’s speech: “We likely won’t hear how Obamacare has caused higher premiums and deductibles, canceled policies and lowered quality of care.”

White House press secretary Jay Carney, speaking Sunday on ABC’s This Week, said the law is expanding health care for more and more Americans. He disputed the GOP idea that it’s an election winner.

“If they decide to run on it … they’ve got to explain what repeal means,” Carney said.

— Free trade. Obama faces some Democratic opposition to his request for “fast track”* negotiating authority. That power would restrict Congress to up-or-down votes on deals that have already been negotiated, with no amendments allowed. [*The fast track negotiating authority for trade agreements is the authority of the President to negotiate international agreements that the Congress can approve or disapprove but cannot amend or filibuster.]

The Obama administration is also trying to close in on two free trade agreements that are also being disputed: The Trans-Pacific Partnership with 11 Asian and Latin American nations, and another deal with European Union nations.

Some Democrats — backed by labor unions and other major party supporters — say free trade leads to the transfer of American jobs overseas. They oppose fast track authority and the two free trade agreements currently being negotiated.

Democratic Reps. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and George Miller of California, sent a letter to Obama recently saying at least 151 fellow Democrats oppose fast track authority: “The United States cannot afford another trade agreement that replicates the mistakes of the past.”

— Iran. As the clock runs on a six-month temporary deal, the Obama administration, its allies and Iran are negotiating a long-term agreement in which Iran would restrict nuclear activities in exchange for reduced sanctions.

Some [or many?] members of Congress, questioning Iran’s sincerity [because] Tehran is seeking nuclear weapons, have called for new sanctions. Critics of the new talks include some Democrats.

Obama has said negotiations are the best bet to head off a nuclear-armed Iran, and ongoing talks will be undercut by new sanctions.

Iran, free trade, health care are all likely to surface during President Obama’s speech Tuesday night — for how long, and with what emphasis, no one yet knows.

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