If you’re one of the millions of Americans who will tune in to the final State of the Union Address of President Barack Obama’s presidency tomorrow, you’ll want to keep these tips compiled by the League of Women Voters in mind:
Before the speech, think about what issues you hope the President will address. How do you hope the President will address your concerns? Listen to the speech and make note of which of your issues were discussed and whether you agreed with the President’s proposals.
During the speech, think broadly about each issue discussed. Did the proposal have specifics or was the issue discussed generally? Did the proposals seem realistic and attainable? Were the proposals consistent with previously stated positions? If not, did the President outline his change in perspective?
Watch the speech with others. After the speech, discuss what you liked and what you disagreed with. What did you expect to be addressed that wasn’t? Most importantly, discuss why you agreed or disagreed with what was outlined. Keep an open mind to each other’s opinions and impressions on the speech.
Follow along online. Follow related hashtags to engage in deeper conversation with fellow voters and even elected officials, including those in attendance. In fact, the League will be live tweeting the speech – we hope you’ll follow along. Join us by following @LWV including both #LWV and #SOTU hashtags in your tweets!
Don’t hesitate to double-check the speech! Were you surprised by something in the speech? The media as well as resources like FactCheck and Politifact will issue reports on the speech to ensure the accuracy of data and statements.
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley will provide the official Republican response following the President’s address. We can also expect that the presidential candidates as well as those running for Congress and many others right down the ticket will respond to the President’s speech with their own ideas. Think about each of these proposals as well and how they may or may not match your own vision for America’s future. Consider each of these as you prepare to vote in the presidential primaries as well as the thousands of elections happening on Election Day – Tuesday, November 8.
Lastly, ask those you talk with if they’re registered to vote – the presidential primaries are quickly approaching, but it isn’t too late to register to vote to participate in them. Voter registration is the key to ensuring that all Americans can engage in our political process. Helping new voters register and understand the process is a key way to ensure their future participation in our democracy. Once a person has voted, she or he is more likely to vote again in the future. Engaging new people around the State of the Union is a great entry point for new voters in our democratic process.
Courtesy League of Women Voters at http://lwv.org/blog/5-tips-get-most-out-state-union-speech
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