Wayne Allard: “first, I would like to say straight out that I thought the President gave a great speech yesterday. I thought it was…”

“first, I would like to say straight out that I thought the President gave a great speech yesterday. I thought it was forward looking, positive, and I think he issued a challenge to Members of Congress. It is a challenge we should face up front. I rise today to talk about the President's State of the Union Address. The President last night reminded us of our freedom and liberty, our personal responsibilities, and solemn obligations. Freedom and liberty--no two words have given more to those blessed by them and damned more those who have taken them away. The President's address reminded us that the march of freedom continues throughout the world. The success of the elections in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, and the Ukraine clearly demonstrate a desire for liberty and democracy, a desire that was revealed to the world this week by an ink-stained finger, an understated expression of mankind's inalienable right. Tyranny has no place in the world. We must oppose it with great determination and diligence wherever it appears. The election in Iraq in particular showed that people are willing to risk their lives to bear the privilege of freedom and the mark of democracy. Recent success does not mean our obligations are fulfilled. As the President articulated, our Nation must continue to root out tyranny wherever it resides. We must oppose extremism, whether it be religious or ideological.”