By Samantha Downing
VCU Capital News Service
January 28, 2010
Jobs. Health care. Energy. Those were important topics in Gov. Bob McDonnell’s response to the State of the Union address by President Barack Obama on Wednesday night.
McDonnell gave his nationally televised speech from the Virginia House of Delegates chamber to an invited audience of about 300 people. National Republican leaders had asked Virginia’s new governor to offer the party’s official reply to the Democratic president.
“We were encouraged to hear President Obama speak this evening about the need to create jobs,” McDonnell said. “Bringing new jobs and more opportunities to our citizens is the top priority of my administration.”
He said Republicans and Democrats agree on some things but differ on others, especially government spending.
“In the past year, over 3 million Americans have lost their jobs, yet the Democratic Congress continues deficit spending,” McDonnell said. “The amount of this debt is on pace to double in five years and triple in 10.”
McDonnell called Obama’s partial freeze on discretionary spending laudable but said it was not enough.
He said Americans want leaders in government to listen to the people on important issues.
“We want results, not rhetoric,” McDonnell said. “We want cooperation, not partisanship.”
McDonnell said Americans agree on the need for a better health care system and for energy independence. But he said the Obama administration is taking the wrong path in pursuing those goals.
Americans also agree on having a good educational system and a strong national defense, McDonnell said.
“We applaud President Obama’s decision to deploy 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan,” he said. “But we have serious concerns over recent steps the administration has taken regarding suspected terrorists.”
McDonnell also criticized the Obama administration for exerting greater control over the automotive, banking, energy and health care industries.
He ended his 10-minute speech by encouraging Americans to work to improve the nation.
“America will always blaze the trail of opportunity and prosperity,” McDonnell said.