Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant gives Socialist response to State of the Union address

Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant provided a Socialist response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address on Tuesday.

Sawant began by saying: “Six years ago, Obama was elected on the hope that he would represent the millions, not the millionaires.”

She noted how times have changed from Obama’s first State of the Union address:

“When Obama delivered his first State of the Union address, Democrats occupied majorities in both the House and Senate,” she said. “Today, after massive disappointment and disillusionment for the American people, he faces Republican majorities in both branches of Congress.”

But she asked if now, six years later, millions would finally be getting the president they voted for.

“Some of the proposals Obama made tonight point in the right direction,” Sawant said. “On taxing the rich, on providing free community college education, paid sick and maternity leave, and municipal broadband.

“But how does Obama plan to overcome the inevitable Republican obstruction?”

Sawant said the president provided no answer for this.

“He talked about the economic recovery.

“But the truth is for the vast majority of us this has been a joyless recovery.

“Americans face the highest levels of inequality in almost a century.

“Under Obama the gap between rich and poor has only widened.”

Sawant said the kind of grassroots efforts that have taken place in Seattle, like the 15 Now movement for a $15 minimum wage in the city, are the kinds of forces that can “reverse this stunning inequality.”

She also addressed the president’s stance on climate change and the recent movements spawned following the deaths of Mike Brown and Eric Garner.

“Why can’t Barack Obama say “Black Lives Matter”? asked Sawant. “Black people, people of color, indigenous people deserve action.

“They deserve action now:
• For full prosecution of all acts of police brutality like those against Mike Brown and Eric Garner!
• For an end to economic racism, for a $15 / hour minimum wage nationally.
• To finally address the gaping income inequalities that define race and gender in the U.S.”

Ultimately, Sawant said she fears Obama is not prepared to challenge Republicans and big business enough to achieve the kind of change she’s looking for.

“Unfortunately, the financial aristocracy that funded Obama’s election campaigns and promoted him to the presidency have their tentacles firmly wedded in to every nook and cranny of the White House.”

She said independent working class challengers will be needed.

“We need to build our own political voice, a mass political party for working people,” said Sawant. “Despite Obama’s speech today, bitter experience has shown we cannot rely on him to deliver.”

Read Kshama Sawant’s full response.