Barack Obama's speech to Congress and the American people on his budget is a remarkable event demonstrating real competence and confidence.

By Ed Knudson

Over the past weeks the main media has given voice to a wide array of Republican conservatives against the proposals of Barack Obama and legislation such as the recently passed economic recovery bill. Watching the evening news, as the liberal media tries to demonstrate it is not really liberal, the arguments against the president's agenda were fully aired but arguments for that agenda were not heard so clearly.

Well, this is a very competent president. He chose to give a major speech tonight to Congress on the occasion of the presentation of his first budget. The room was full of Senators and Representatives, the cabinet was there, the Supreme Court was there, the speech was broadcast live throughout the country in primetime. The president referred to policies of the past administration helping to cause current problems and said, “That day of reckoning has arrived, and the time to take charge of our future is here.” Obama commanded the attention of all speaking for nearly an hour.

Now, any president can get attention. But Obama did something tonight which is beyond the ordinary. He took charge of the public agenda again, as he did throughout his campaign. He is setting the terms of the debate. He is framing things in a way with which it is difficult to disagree.

What struck me most was the fact that Obama was clearly saying that politics is primary, that is, government can act, what government does makes a difference, who gets elected makes a difference. Rather than bemoan the economic crisis he reframed it as an opportunity for bold action. He tonight even said that health care reform must be accomplished in the short term, specific planning will start next week. He lifted up education goals for the nation not just in general terms but in ways that demonstrate he will follow through on this campaign theme.

And he sounded themes of economic populism. He said that the previous administration took the budget surplus it received from the Clinton years and transferred it to the wealthy. He decried the behavior of corporate executives and said the days of taking taxpayer money for personal benefits were over. He said taxes will increase only for those making over $250,000 a year. Everyone else will get a tax refund and "checks are on their way." This kind of talk has not been heard so clearly since the days of FDR.

Obama wanted to reassure the country at this difficult moment, but, of course, it remains to be seen whether the economic system has been so greatly damaged that even bigger changes will be needed than the administration has so far contemplated.

But Obama made clear this evening that there will be change for the country. The spirit in the room was strong and positive. The country can take a deep breath in these tough times. At least we have an amazingly competent president capable of speaking in such a way as to inspire confidence and lead change. The speech helped create a new public context for how everyone will be talking about these matters in the future.