5 Best Moments From Obama’s State of the Union Speech

AMERICA IS GROWING, BUT ONLY FOR A FEW

After four years, things are great for the 1 percent and corporations, but that success isn’t trickling down, Obama said. If Obama’s first term was about getting America moving again, his second term is about getting the middle-class moving up. The president also promised to take executive action when and where he could, instead of constantly waiting for an embattled Congress to hash things out.

TO HELL WITH CONGRESS

It’s been seven years since Congress raised the federal minimum wage, and Obama said he won’t wait another year. The president said he will unilaterally raise the minimum wage for new federal contracts and urged mayors, governors, and business owners to give people a pay hike. “You don’t have to wait for Congress to act; Americans will support you if you take this on.”

OBAMACARE IS HERE TO STAY

Obama told Republicans if they have a better idea to replace the Affordable Care Act, great, but otherwise, this law will stay on the books. “Let’s not have another forty-something votes to repeal a law that’s already helping millions of Americans.”

WE TALKED TO COMMUNISTS, WE CAN TALK TO IRAN

Citing the example of John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan negotiating with the Soviet Union, the president urged Congress to give him time to pursue the temporary nuclear deal with Iran. If hawks on the Hill try to pass new sanctions on Tehran, he’ll veto them.

SALUTING SERGEANT CORY REMSBURG

On his tenth deployment—tenth—the Army Ranger was nearly killed by a bomb that left life-changing shrapnel in his brain. If Sgt. Remsburg can serve his country and recover, so too can America.