Local Democrat, Republican React to State of the Union

CREATED Jan. 24, 2012

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  • We brought together members from the Democratic Headquarters of the Desert, and the Republican Organizing Committee to our studio. Video by kmir6.com

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PALM DESERT - We brought together members from the Democratic Headquarters of the Desert, and the Republican Organizing Committee to our studio.
While they agreed on many things America needs, they disagreed at times on how to go about it.
As KMIR6 sent the broadcast to the State of the Union address, local Democrat and Republican leaders stood by, ready to watch and comment.
There was some disagreement on jobs.
"He was so right to do that for the automakers, it has definitely paid off big time," said Priscilla Richardson with the Blue Election Strategy Team with the Democratic Headquarters of the Desert.
"When you have a personal connection to that area and that industry, they're all automotive folks, that's all they do, born and raised but they're all out of jobs, so where are the jobs at," said Dennis Stratton, board member of the Republican Organizing Committee and the Log Cabin Republicans for Palm Springs president.
And they had disagreement on tax breaks.
"The numbers when we talk about what the break does in numbers, what the benefit is, is insignificant," said Stratton.
"I do believe that the amount that would be collected in taxes is significant, that it would make a difference," said Richardson.
But they found points to agree on.
"We say the same thing year after year but we don't break that cycle and fund education, We agree on that one, we do," said Stratton with Richardson agreeing.
Will this State of the Union impact the upcoming presidential campaign?
Richardson said President Obama was setting out, "This is what we could have done, this is what is what I proposed in my state of the union, this is what I asked Congress to do to get those jobs... the education, to get those tax breaks, and Congress could never send me the bill."
"This is an administration where we are now over 1000 days without a balanced budget, and a President that's telling us now that he's not going to make the February deadline," Stratton said.
In the end, they disagree on who the next President should be.
"The President proposing some very solid programs, and ideas that would really benefit lots and lots of Americans," said Richardson.
"We need a strong leader to bring that together, and I really don't see President Obama as that strong leader, I think he's been miscast," said Stratton.
But both agree, the parties will have to work together in the future to keep America strong.
Many of the President's proposals will require congressional approval.
And with what is shaping up to be a heated re-election bid, it'll be a contentious road ahead.