Georgians hopeful, skeptical after Obama’s address

President Barack Obama promised the American people Tuesday night that “we will recover,” but said the “day of reckoning has arrived.” Georgians who watched the president’s address to Congress shared their thoughts with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“He aptly touched on how each American would be able to contribute by using the inspirational stories from across the nation. Unfortunately, though, he still didn’t address how he will be using the tools that some of the private business owners bring to the table. He showed firm direction and composure in his judgment. His three points of energy, health care, and education were very important long-term goals which have continually proven to be effective investment. He didn’t leave many of the economic sectors untouched, and didn’t dress up or use theatrics to give his constituents a false sense of hope and inaccurate projection.”

— Charles Goorsky, software contractor, Duluth

“I am very hopeful after listening to President Obama’s address to Congress this evening. I feel he is truly in touch with the seriousness of the financial crisis and need of families affected by it, to turn the corner and get past it. My father always told me, ‘A crisis is not a crisis, as long as you have a plan,’ and I am confident President Obama will handle these issues effectively. Will he get it right the first time? Probably not, but I believe he understands the gravity of the situation and will work towards a solution with his best effort. I am concerned, but not worried.”

— Elron D. Austin, accounting manager, Atlanta

“President Obama gave a great speech tonight. He laid out a plan for us to move forward. We are not quitters. Georgia will make it through this crisis.”

— RJ Hadley, chief of staff to Rockdale County chairman and CEO, Conyers

“President Obama’s speech left me with the impression that he is sincere and a visionary of the Martin Luther King-stripe who cares deeply about the future for our country. Unfortunately, to find solutions to the economic disaster we face he must depend on a Congress where too many members in both parties are beholden to lobbyists representing special interests and one issue groups. They often appear to care more about their petty personal priorities and the next election than the nation they are supposed to serve. The question in my mind is, Can President Obama unify the nation by bringing ordinary people directly into the equation or will Congress be allowed simply continue to fiddle around until it is too late to find a way out? Time will tell and we do not have much of it too waste!

— George Woodruff, retired, Mineral Bluff

“He talked about the inherited deficit.  Someone needs to remind President Obama that it is legislative branch, where he and the vice president came from, not the executive branch, that spends money. If the legislative branch had wanted to lower budgets, they could have overridden any executive branch veto.

“I heard a lot of promises and a new bureaucracy (to watch over the recovery plan). He said there are no earmarks in the recovery plan. If he is talking about the stimulus plan there are earmarks galore.”

— Russell Bell, software application tester, Powder Springs

“I thought it to be motivational yet realistic as well.  I find myself remembering the speech Bill Clinton gave in 1993.  The country was pulling out of recession, but as a nation we felt that we were falling behind with other countries buying up our assets, and jobs being shifted overseas.  His job (as well as Mr. Obama’s) was to plant the seed for hope, for renewal and resilience.  I think President Obama accomplished this — easily done while promising everything to almost everyone.  But most of the promises were actions that need to be taken and soon.

“As for the bailout and banks — I liked his comments. They do need to lend responsibly.  I would have liked more information on how he’s going to keep bankers from making millions though.”

— Charles Wike, recently laid off from Merrill Lynch, Cumming

“Barack Obama said that ‘the law of credit is the lifeblood of our economy’ and our mission is to restore it, but it seems to me that much of the problem we presently find ourselves in is a result of this very attitude — that the American dream is the right to borrow more money in order to buy more stuff. The real American dream is about freedom, and unfortunately President Obama’s speech left me with the feeling that that dream is fading away.”

— Laura Hill Glenn, photographer, Suwanee