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President Barack Obama waves to crowd after his Inaugural speech at the ceremonial swearing-in on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Scott Andrews, Pool)

It wasn't your typical presidential inaugural address

BY Alyssa Kleven  on January 21, 2013 @ 12:05 pm (Updated: 10:47 am - 1/25/13 )

In a speech that typically stays broad and general, President Barack Obama kicked off his second term appealing to the liberal base of his party.

After President Obama was sworn in for the fourth time, he used his speech to not talk about the broad scope of the country, but to discuss specific issues he saw as important during his campaign.

Politico's Josh Gerstein told Luke Burbank Show guest host Andrew Walsh that Obama was much more direct about issues important to his party, than presidents usually are during this landmark speech.

Climate change was a talking point, and so was poverty.

"He mentioned poverty on three different occasions, and that's not a phrase that has come from his lips often while he's been president," explained Gerstein.

The president promoted his health care reform and stood up for commitments to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security at a time when some Republicans say entitlement programs need to be scaled back to reduce the deficit. "They do not make us a nation of takers," Obama said. "They free us to take the risks that make this country great."

The president also addressed gay rights. "Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law," the president said to applause from the crowd down the National Mall, "for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well." It was a line that would never have been uttered in an inaugural address before, not even in Obama's first, since he changed his position to become the first president to support gay marriage just last year.

Gerstein said the President's speech was full of shout outs, and that in reaching out to his party, he did a lot of "box checking."

"If you put [the discussion of poverty] together with his issues of climate change and gay rights and references to equal pay for women," said Gerstein, "there was a lot of box checking with the liberal base of the democratic party."

Obama never mentioned the words Democrat or Republican, yet his second inaugural address was a decidedly political speech.

Read full text of President Obama's second inaugural address

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Alyssa Kleven, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Alyssa Kleven is an editor and content producer at MyNorthwest.com. She enjoys doting over her adorable dachshund Winnie - named for Arcade Fire front-man Win Butler.
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Comments (32)


  • Add A Comment

  • cw1997 wrote...
    ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
    January 21, 2013 1:07 pm
    This man will be the ruination of our country...he and his food stamp, OBAMA phone pigs at the trough.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    Congress can never balance the budget until both parties are willing to deal with.....
    January 21, 2013 1:38 pm
    Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Obama Care.....saying his party won't means more borrowing, meaning even a larger deficit, meaning higher taxes for all Americans that actually pay Federal taxes.....whoopie for us
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    mnpat
    January 21, 2013 8:36 pm
    Why is it you far far Righty nuts always leave out Military spending?I'm willing to listen to you justify the huge amount the USA spends annually on our military.No country is close to us in military spending.So why spend so much?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    M101
    January 21, 2013 9:10 pm
    Ummmmm, did you not see that the rightys agreed to huge cuts in military spending? Are you so ignorant to realize the nations deficit is probably the biggest problem ALL of us in this country face? Do you think the morons ( Harry Reid & the Dems) that have run the senate for 4 years will finally pass a budget in Barry's next term????
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    messiah...
    January 22, 2013 7:07 am
    You need to understand the deficit problem, the US of American can stop paying for everything else including the military and we would still not be able to afford the cost of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Obama Care, and the interest on the deficit.....can I make that any clearer for you.....no expenditures at all and we would still not have enough money. So as a nation there are two choices.....you increase the money comming into the goverment or you address the issues with the entitlements.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    mnpat
    January 22, 2013 8:02 pm
    So why focus on the Social Programs? Excess military spending is absolutely the worst place to throw the countries money away on.People NEED to eat they require housing and medical care they do not need more guns and bombs. Cut the military by 50% over the next 10 yrs. And at the end of that 10 yr span the USA will still be number 1 in the world in military spending
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    Oh I forgot.......
    January 21, 2013 1:39 pm
    Can I get a shout out from everyone that has had enough of this garbage.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HikerACE wrote...
    Here's one.
    January 21, 2013 2:05 pm
    More than enough of this garbage!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SeattleD wrote...
    You've had enough of this garbage? Whatcha gonna do about it?
    January 21, 2013 5:28 pm
    Ted Nugent was gonna be dead or in jail because of this garbage. Turns out he's not gonna do anything about it.

    Texas Judge Tom Head said he's start a civil war because of this garbage. Turns out he's not gonna do anything about it.

    NRA gun wacko James Yeager said he was going to start killing people because of this garbage. Turns out he's not gonna do anything about it.

    You people are a bunch of whiney do-nothing wussies.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • roomtemp wrote...
    @SeattleD...
    January 21, 2013 6:22 pm
    "Whatcha gonna do about it?"

    I am going to starve you, that's what. It's the only means of non-violent resistance available to me.

    You and your welfare buddies will get nothing from me. Your 'fair share' of my labor is now zero. And I'm perfectly comfortable living with less to make it happen. When others follow suit, you and your band of parasites are in big trouble.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    roomtemp
    January 21, 2013 8:42 pm
    Do you have a family?Even if you don't who paid for your education?Who built the hiway you drove to work on? Who built the Police station,the Fire Station,the City,state and National parks?How old are you and how long have you actually paid taxes? Who paid for the military who helps protect both yours and my Freedom?If your a younger person chances are you have not even come close in paying back what it cost to educate you.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    M101
    January 21, 2013 9:14 pm
    God you are stupid. The people who paid or those roads & schools & fire stations & parks were the smart hard working entrepreneurs that built the businesses that generate the jobs that generate the tax base. Who do YOU think did ll of that you friiggin idiot??!!!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Aaannnnnkkkkk wrong
    January 21, 2013 9:51 pm
    Jobs are the consequence of a feedback loop between the consumer and businesses. It is in fact the middle-class consumers and the demand they create that are the true job creators. You're welcome....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Fish
    January 22, 2013 8:06 pm
    Gee Fish the Gov has been taking taxes from me since 1963 and I'm NOT a hard working entrepeneur and I never built a business. I was simply a worker BEE as MOST Americans are.And the middle class Worker Bees have paid the biggest portion of the Federal,State,City, County budgets.So it seems your the FRIGGIN IDIOT.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SeattleD wrote...
    roomtemp
    January 22, 2013 6:05 pm
    Not sure when that starvation diet you're supposedly putting me on kicks in, but I just had some delicious pot roast. Tomorrow I may have seafood.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • clevesside wrote...
    Entering a 2nd term...
    January 21, 2013 2:48 pm
    ...we see Congress is dysfunctional as can be, the Court follows Clarence's lead and does nothing, and the President lives in a dream world. History is going to judge the American early 21st century very, very, harshly. We had it coming.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    the video of Moochelle stuffing her pie hole
    January 21, 2013 3:54 pm
    and rolling her eyes because she was seated next to Boehner.

    She got her self some kind of atteeetooood.

    http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/01/21/first_lady_rolls_her_eyes_at_boehner_as_he_jokes_with_president.html

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    worst eyeroll ever
    January 21, 2013 6:46 pm
    So sensitive
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cigarillo wrote...
    @Paul
    January 21, 2013 9:19 pm
    Holy-Moly. I watched the video in your link. That woman has absolutely no self control. I'm not just saying that because I begrudge her husband for past words and deeds, but judas priest! There's got to be a certain amount of decorum in her position.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    right, it would be so demure to pay attention to the two people behind you
    January 21, 2013 9:55 pm
    Shouting at each other behind your back. She doesn't even look like she's paying attention Ms. Manners
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FishLips wrote...
    hey body language 'experts'...
    January 22, 2013 3:17 am

    eye-rolling can have more than one meaning.

    Michelle's eye-roll in the video looks more like a sign of disbelief at whatever was said between Obama & Boehner - not disrespect aimed at Boehner.

    They're obviously just having a light-hearted conversation at the table, and she's just shrugging at what was said... lighten up, people.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    Treason Paul!!!!
    January 28, 2013 12:31 pm
    You guys are just too funny.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Moondoggie wrote...
    Stop lying Mr. Ross
    January 21, 2013 4:25 pm
    President Obama was elected in 2008 on a platform of opposing to gaymarriage, and here you come telling us that he says he is for gay marriage. You know for a fact that the election of President Obama heralds a new paradigm. Hope and change Mr. Ross, hope and change!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Moondoggie
    January 21, 2013 5:02 pm
    Obama saying he personally against Gay Marriage and that being a part of his platform are entirely different issues.Only a idiot has same views throughout his life.Politicans don't need to agree with an issue to promote that issue.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Yes we can!
    January 21, 2013 6:41 pm
    Yes we did! And yes we will again...woo hoo!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hpitantso wrote...
    Cowards a divided nation is a weak nation
    January 21, 2013 10:23 pm
    These comments don't reflex the mighty USA, who ahear too "United we stand divided we fall" support the USA or your supporting a enemy
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }