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President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address Tuesday before a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington.
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Wish list: Obama and Congress must work from the center

Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press

Wish list: Obama and Congress must work from the center

President Barack Obama’s State of the Union message Tuesday could have been more conciliatory than defiant to the new Republican majority in Congress if he really believed that body might cooperate with him — and if he really wanted to work with them on achieving solutions.

Instead, he made popular proposals that Congress is not likely to approve — free community college, a tripled child care tax credit and paid sick leave, all funded in part by raising the capital gains tax on the rich.

Along the way, he cited achievements during his administration: the Affordable Care Act, which has given health insurance to an additional 10 million Americans; the surge in new jobs; the drop in the unemployment rate to 5.6 percent and, more disputably, U.S. successes in fighting terrorism around the world.

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The Democrats’ assets in any political showdowns are the presidential veto and enough seats in the Senate to sustain a filibuster. The Republicans’ strengths are majorities in the House and Senate, as a result of gains in the midterm elections.

Despite his dead-on-arrival wish list, Mr. Obama’s overall target is a worthy one: improving the lagging economic situation of America’s middle class. Wages have failed to rise, manufacturing isn’t what it used to be and two spouses must work these days to provide what one brought home in the past. There are plenty of opportunities for Republicans and Democrats to address the plight of working Americans, if they’d work realistically.

It’s one thing to wave “income inequality” as a political slogan, but Mr. Obama’s pledge to pursue “middle class economics” is worth the attention of everyone in Washington.

The president, no doubt, will do what he can by working around Congress, but he could accomplish more if he worked with it. He also is trying to set an agenda, as head of his party, that will shape the platforms of Democratic candidates in 2016.

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On foreign policy, he called for easing relations with Cuba, pursuing the Iran nuclear talks, increasing cyber protection, addressing climate change, closing the Guantanamo Bay prison and seeking fast-track trade authority. He also sought congressional approval to wage war against the Islamic State group.

Regardless of the issue, the Democratic president and Republican Congress will achieve more for the country if they work from the center. Hollow talking points won’t help the middle class.

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First Published: January 22, 2015, 5:00 a.m.

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President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address Tuesday before a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington.  (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press)
Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press
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