Obama offers a confrontational of the Union address

Obama offers a confrontational of the Union address:  Using his State of Union speech to draw sharp contrasts with the Republicans on high profile issues such as taxes and real estate market, President Obama opened a debate of the election year that Government's role might be more intense than any in decades.

Warning Congress that "I intend to fight obstruction with action", he painted a confrontational that stands in stark contrast to the conciliatory approach the last Democrat to seek a second term in Office, Bill Clinton.

In fact, Obama strategy more closely resembles that of George w. Bush in 2004, which used to raise the issues polarizing turnout of supporters and made few concessions to the Center. The approach increases the possibility that, if he wins a second term, Obama could claim a mandate for its programme. Delivers even greater risks of error in a nation still deeply sceptical of government activism.

Only a few months ago, many voters seemed on the verge of writing Obama. But in recent weeks, two developments have given him the opportunity to ask another look of those voters. One is the economy, which has begun to show signs of improvement — declining unemployment, increasing consumer confidence and reduced levels of household debt. The other is the way that the Republican primary race recently has focused on vast wealth (and comparatively low taxation) front-Runner sometimes party, Mitt Romney.

Obama led directly to the issue of wealth with the proposed signing of his speech: a minimum tax for millionaires who was part of his call for all Americans to pay their "fair share". The proposal, which require people with incomes over 1 million dollars to pay at least the 30% tax, it would be convenient — administration officials insist coincidentally — doubling taxes that Romney paid last year, according to the statement of income, the former Governor of Massachusetts, released earlier in the day.

Similarly, the speech of other important national proposal — a plan to make more available mortgage refinancing to homeowners who owe more than the value of their homes — would put the Government more directly in the property market.

The Republicans have stood adamantly higher taxes on those they "job creators. term "and have called for Federal Government get out of the real estate market entirely, saying that federal involvement has only made the country's foreclosure crisis worse.

They also wasted no time in rejecting the basic premise of Obama defend conflicting interests of the middle class and wealthy citizens of America. "We do not accept that we will always be a nation of haves and have-nots; We must always be a nation of haves and haves soon, "Indiana gov. Mitch Daniels said in his reply. He accused Obama of "extremism" and has called for lower tax rates.

How Clinton, Obama seek re-election after a defeat, in which intermediate confusing the Republicans captured control of the House. Both Democrats delivered their state election year of the Union speech after months of clashes with Congress in which looked bruised — with some success — to paint the Republicans as extremists.

But Clinton sought to co-opt the GOP rhetoric, memorable declaring at the beginning of his speech that "the era of big government is over." And although he used the power of his Office to block Republican efforts to roll back Government, has largely put aside its intention to expand its reach in areas such as health care. Blurring the contrast between himself and the GOP, Clinton has made a frustrating target elusive, but set a campaign that has avoided the most important issues.

The difference between Obama and Clinton approach reflects the personality of the two men, but also the times.

Clinton, for all the adulation that now receives from the left, entered national politics by trying to break the hold that liberal interest groups has had in his party and criticizing what he called the "braindead politics of both parties." Obama, for all its professed desire to create a political culture "post-partisan", comes from a more liberal tradition in particular.

More importantly, the political center, Clinton turned toward which has eroded so much in 16 years that Obama probably could not follow the pattern of Clinton even if desired.

America's political parties have grown more polarized. Democrats have moved slightly to the left; Republicans have moved many steps to the right, according to political scientists who