WASHINGTONU.S. Sen. John Cornyn R-Texas a member of the Senate Republican Leadership issued the following statement following the conclusion of tonights State of the Union address:
President Obamas State of the Union address was like many of his other speeches - it was clearly well delivered and certainly he has a gift" Sen. Cornyn said.
But I was a little disappointed because the problem the President has is not a communications problem he really has a credibility problem. Hes made a bunch of promises over this last year including one tonight that I liked about more tax relief. But weve all heard these promises before and he simply hasnt delivered" he added.
I would have liked to have heard the President commit to ending TARP immediately instead of using it as a slush fund. I wish he had kept his promises about transparency and bipartisanship going through the budget line by line to cut wasteful spending. Even the base of his party is complaining that President Obama says one thing and does another" Sen. Cornyn also said.
The President also has a priority problem. The American peoples priorities are simply different than his. The American people want us to focus on jobs ... keeping us safe from terrorists ... and getting spending under control. Instead the Majority Partys
priority has been to force through a $2.5 trillion health care bill that the American people do not want" he added.
Finally the President has a problem with leaders in his own party. Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid are clearly not bound by what the President says which is why Ill believe his 3-year spending freeze when I see it. And the President simply cannot duck his responsibility to lead on immigration reform" Sen. Cornyn added.
The President said tonight as he has many times before that he is committed to these priorities. Hopefully 2010 will prove to be more about action and less about talk" Sen. Cornyn said.
