Barack Obama

State Of The Union: Obama's Best Chance To Frame The 2012 Elections

Brian Beutler and Sahil Kapur | January 24, 2012, 5:25AM

President Barack Obama speaks on the economy in Shaker Heights, OH on January 4, 2012.

President Obama has addressed the country before a joint session of Congress several times since he was sworn in three years ago. But none have had as much political relevance and agenda-setting potential as his State of the Union address will have Tuesday night.

His aides have been as tight-lipped as you might expect about the particulars. But broadly the administration has signaled that the President will build on themes he's helped draw into the national conversation over the past year, most recently in a speech he gave in Osawatomie, KS -- inequality, economic fairness, and the decades long stagnation of the middle class. He's expected to make a spirited case for addressing those problems -- by building out new protections for consumers and workers, and by undoing existing policies that rig the game for the wealthiest Americans -- all while drawing a stark contrast with Republicans ahead of an election in which the White House and both chambers of Congress are up for grabs.

"We can go in two directions -- one is toward less opportunity and less fairness," Obama said in a video previewing his SOTU speech. "Or we can fight for where I think we need to go: building an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few. On Tuesday night I'm going to talk about how we'll get there."

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