Obama stresses hope to impatient nation

President Barack Obama promised worried and frustrated Americans last night that "the worst of the storm has passed."

Ignoring troublesome details, he promised more spending to create more jobs, the speedy start of construction of a high-speed train for Florida, and an eventual if not immediate return to fiscal responsibility. He seemed at times to have moved closer the center, even endorsing cuts in capital gains taxes.

His best line of the night was: "I do not accept second place for the United States of America." It was a rare, unifying moment for an election-year Congress sharply divided along partisan lines over health care, stimulus spending and a host of other issues.

Obama made a strong case that last year's unprecedented aid to financial institutions was essential to prevent a deeper recession, even though "we all hated the bank bailout."

He urged a freeze for three years on most federal spending not related to national security, but significantly not starting this year.

Most viewers were nodding in agreement when he said the federal government must behave "like any cash-strapped family."

But that hasn't happened.

Federal pay raises during the recession have remained generous, even as pay in most private businesses and local governments has been frozen or cut. Federal salaries are going up another 2 percent this year, which bumps up federal pay 9 percent in the past three years.

According to a USA Today analysis of government data, the average federal worker's pay is $71,206, compared with $40,331 in the private sector.

Obama avoided such pesky details and mostly stressed big themes. He has devoted most of his political energy this year to making major changes in health insurance, yet has not managed to help make the current system better for those unable to afford insurance or facing catastrophic bills that exceed policy limits.

Obama insisted he was going to continue to fight for reform, but workers worrying about the rising cost of health insurance could find no cause for encouragement that he will find a nonpartisan solution.

He seemed at his most confident in calling for cleaner energy, including more nuclear power plants, clean coal technology, safe offshore drilling, and incentives to make "clean energy profitable." How to do all that remains uncertain.

The president said he shares the public anxiety over rising debt, as he certainly should. The government is now spending almost $2 for every dollar being collected in tax revenue. That's not sustainable.

His idea to appoint a commission to offer debt solutions was his best idea. In theory, the panel would figure out how to deal with the fast-growing entitlements, medical spending and Social Security.

That, not the discretionary spending he plans to freeze, is the major challenge.

Obama devoted very little time to the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he deserves credit for giving troops a chance to achieve the original goals of both occupations.

He did not repeat former President Bill Clinton's promise that the era of big government is over. He couldn't because clearly it isn't.