Congress reacts to Obama speech

House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank, D-Ma., thought Barack Obama’s speech was so good, it left Republicans looking like they had eaten something bad.

“They didn’t know how to handle it and they are frustrated with how persuasive he is,” Frank said. “It was masterful in substance and in style.”

Many Republicans had kind things to say about the speech, but were far more restrained in their praise than Frank.

“It was a good starting off point,” said House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va. “There were some things in the speech that I could get exited over. I liked the message of fiscal discipline. But the devil is in the details. When the budget is released Thursday I’m sure we will have some differences.”

Cantor said he is hopeful the speech, coupled with Monday’s bipartisan fiscal responsibility summit at the White House, will “add to an atmosphere that maybe we can sit down together,” on major legislation.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he was hoping Obama’s speech would have included more on Social Security reform.

“He kind of brushed over that issue,” McConnell said. “That’s the issue he’s likely to get the most bipartisan support. I hope he’s not backing away from that.”

McConnell said the speech overall was “Well delivered, well-crafted, uplifting and optimistic and I think that’s what the country needs right now.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called the speech “just fabulous” and “so inspiring.”

Senate Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said he liked Obama’s pledge to reform health care but said Obama may not be on “a realistic path” when it comes to his ideas on energy reform.
“If we are going to have real energy reform,” Alexander said. “We are going to get there with clean coal and nuclear power. We’ll never get there with solar power and windmills.”