2015 State of the Union address: on Foreign Policy
Barack Obama:
Don't let our fears blind us to opportunity
My first duty as Commander-in-Chief is to defend the United States of America. In doing so, the question is not whether America leads in the world, but how. When we make rash decisions, reacting to the headlines instead of using our heads;
when the first response to a challenge is to send in our military--then we risk getting drawn into unnecessary conflicts, and neglect the broader strategy we need for a safer, more prosperous world. That's what our enemies want us to do.
I believe in a smarter kind of American leadership. We lead best when we combine military power with strong diplomacy; when we leverage our power with coalition building; when we don't let our fears blind us to the opportunities that
this new century presents. That's exactly what we're doing right now--and around the globe, it is making a difference.
Source: 2015 State of the Union address
Jan 20, 2015
Barack Obama:
Russia is in tatters because of our steady resolve
We're upholding the principle that bigger nations can't bully the small--by opposing Russian aggression, supporting Ukraine's democracy, and reassuring our NATO allies. Last year, as we were doing the hard work of imposing sanctions along with our
allies, some suggested that Mr. Putin's aggression was a masterful display of strategy and strength. Well, today, it is America that stands strong and united with our allies, while Russia is isolated, with its economy in tatters.
Source: 2015 State of the Union address
Jan 20, 2015
Barack Obama:
Cuba: When something doesn't work for 50 years, change it
In Cuba, we are ending a policy that was long past its expiration date. When what you're doing doesn't work for fifty years, it's time to try something new. Our shift in Cuba policy has the potential to end a legacy of mistrust in
our hemisphere; removes a phony excuse for restrictions in Cuba; stands up for democratic values; and extends the hand of friendship to the Cuban people. And this year, Congress should begin the work of ending the embargo.
Source: 2015 State of the Union address
Jan 20, 2015
Carlos Curbelo:
Cuba & Iran: no unearned concessions to cruel dictatorships
Newly-elected Miami Rep. Carlos Curbelo delivered the Republican Party's Spanish-language rebuttal to President Obama's State of the Union address. Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst responded in English.The two freshmen diverged on some matters:
Curbelo mentioned Cuba, criticizing "unearned concessions" by the Obama administration to "cruel dictatorships" in Cuba and Iran. Ernst made a separate mention of Iran--and didn't utter Cuba once.
Curbelo is Cuban-American, so it was not surprising that he would go after Obama on the subject. Obama himself devoted a paragraph of his speech to establishing closer ties with the island, and asked Congress explicitly to lift the trade
embargo against Cuba. What's perhaps more noteworthy is that Ernst said nothing on the subject, highlighting the rift within the GOP about whether rapprochement with Raul Castro's communist regime is a good idea.
Source: Miami Herald coverage: 2015 State of the Union GOP response
Jan 20, 2015
John Bolton:
America's biggest threat is self-induced weakness
While President Obama may think the state of our union is strong, the truth is that with him as President we are weaker than ever, and that makes me furious. The biggest threat facing America is the self-induced weakness of the Obama Administration's
policies. I absolutely refuse to accept a weak America. Conservatives need to dig in hard and reject Obama's policies of defeatism, drift, and decline that embarrass America and expose us all to grave risk.
Source: John Bolton PAC email: 2015 State of the Union response
Jan 20, 2015
Libertarian Party:
End foreign military operations; shut down foreign bases
[Current policy] damages lives through misuse and overuse of the military. Libertarian candidates have pledged to sponsor legislation to end all foreign military operations, shut down needless foreign bases, cut military spending by at least 60%, and
bring our troops home.Even after those spending cuts, we will still outspend both Russia and China combined. We will also be safer, because our military will be focused on defense. We will stop creating enemies through unwarranted military intrusions.
Source: 2015 State of the Union Libertarian Party response
Jan 20, 2015
Page last updated: Feb 24, 2019