“Aggressive” Obama defends entitlements, highlights social issues

With a second inaugural address that seemed to some to be a preamble to the upcoming State of the Union address, President Obama began his second term with an unapologetically liberal tone, calling on the preservation of entitlements, action on climate change and extending civil rights. What was notably absent was the theme of collaboration and compromise. Perhaps because he feels he has a short time left to accomplish what he wants to accomplish, Obama was described by one commentator as a much more aggressive president. Calls for everybody to get along have now become a call to get in line and get things done. Not exactly music to the ears of the life/health industry, which endured so much legislative turmoil during Obama's first term, when he had re-election concerns to temper him.