Obama: ‘Fairer’ tax regime is ‘common sense’
In the final State of the Union address of his term, U.S. President Barack Obama pledged to narrow the gap between rich and poor in the United States. The New York Times reports Obama showcased his core economic principals in the address on Tuesday, seeking to appeal to ordinary Americans who are suffering in a time of economic hardship and uncertainty. The president called again for changes to the tax code that would force wealthy Americans to pay more, saying such policies are seen as “common sense” by most Americans. He proposed using any gains from withdrawal from Iraq and a more limited role in Afghanistan to pay down debt and invest in infrastructure. In an emotional moment, Obama warmly embraced former Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was severely wounded in a shooting incident in Tuscon, Arizona last year. Obama closed his speech with a reference to the Navy Seal team responsible for the killing of Osama Bin Laden: “When you’re marching into battle, you look out for the person next to you, or the mission fails.”