Dr. John Sutherlin, Professor of Political Science at the University of Louisiana-Monroe: “The problem isn’t communication from the White House, it’s that people understand the agenda and have said they don’t want it.”(Stephen Largen, “President’s speech draws mixed reviews,” Monroe-News-Star, 1/28/10)

Dr. Kevin Unter, Professor of Political Science at the University of Louisiana Monroe: “Kevin Unter said Obama’s behavior during the address toward Republican lawmakers in the congressional chamber was ‘unpresidential,’ and his speech was ineffective because he painted all opposing ideas as inherently incorrect, Unter said. ‘There was no understanding of the voter anger that you saw in Massachusetts,’ Unter said.(Stephen Largen, “President’s speech draws mixed reviews,” Monroe-News-Star, 1/28/10)

Senator David Vitter: “We all know the president’s a great speaker, but I was more interested in how well he’s been listening … I was disappointed. … He’s really dug in … defending the same policies on bailouts, stimulus and on his version of health-care reform rather than offering a new approach, which I think the American people want.” (“State of the Union: Obama adjusts focus,” Associated Press, 1/28/10)

Representative Steve Scalise: “There were a number of contradictions in last night’s speech. One false claim is when President Obama talked about fiscal responsibility and then called for a spending freeze beginning next year. The contradiction is that the President has racked up a $1,400,000,000,000 (1.4 trillion dollars) deficit in his first year, which represents the largest annual deficit in our nation’s history. Last night’s pledge to keep spending at this reckless level only ensures more record deficits for years to come. Rather than maintaining this reckless level of spending, we need to cap the national debt and balance the federal budget.” (The Scalise Capitol Report, 1/28/10)

Representative Charles Boustany: “President Obama signaled his intent to pursue a costly health care overhaul, which the American people don’t support … I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to put forth bipartisan solutions, but the President’s State of the Union ignored what voters in Massachusetts expressed just one week ago.  The American people want focused solutions to deal with the problems we face.   We can get our economy going and create jobs again, and we can lower health care costs for families.  The President’s rhetoric and actions simply fail to put us on that path.”(Representative Charles Boustany Press Release, 1/28/10)

Representative Bill Cassidy: “This was a great opportunity for the President to prove that he is listening to the American people. In large measure, he proved he proved he is not… It was speech filled with contradiction. The President said job creation is his top priority, then went on to advocate for a Cap & Trade bill that will wreak havoc on the economy. He spoke of lowering health costs, then advocated for bills in Congress that independent experts have said will not lower costs. He spoke of cutting the debt, then advocated for more spending.”(Representative Bill Cassidy, Press Release, 1/27/10)

Joe Paul Stevens of Jena, LA: “I summed it up by saying I spent 70 minutes listening to Obama make a lot of promises. He made more promises in that 70 minutes than our children can pay. … It’s hard for us to believe anything he says because he’s changed his mind so many times…” (Robert Morgan, “Obama speech encourages Democrat, raises Republican’s doubts,” Alexandria Town Talk, 1/28/10)

***Update***

Representative Rodney Alexander: “As American prosperity was placed at the top of his list, I was dismayed that homeland security did not receive more attention during the State of the Union. We cannot be prosperous without a safe and secure country. I thought the failed Christmas day bomber and the Ft. Hood attack perpetrated by a radicalized commissioned officer in the United States Army would have resonated louder with the administration and firmly renewed their focus on restraining terrorists who threaten our country. Instead, the president has taken steps to weaken national security by being reactive and not proactive.”(Representative Rodney Alexander, Press Release, 1/27/2010)