Emmet County's Democratic and Republican county chairs Thursday offered their reactions on President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech Wednesday night.
"I think it was great. It was impressive," said John Nelson, Emmet County Democratic party chair.
Nelson hoped Americans would follow through with some of the plans Obama had, particularly in overcoming obstructionists who oppose the President's agenda.
Regarding Obama's pointed criticism of the Supreme Court for its ruling last week on corporate campaign finance contributions, said Nelson, "They got he point."
Nelson said it was hard to tell if Obama convinced Americans to put pressure on their representives to work with the President.
"They're not going to change," Nelson said of Congress.
Paul Allis, Emmet County Republican chair, questioned whether there was any substance behind Obama's speech.
"There's an old, old saying, 'Talk is cheap'," said Allis. "We need action is what we really need."
Allis said he was a little taken aback about Obama's push for oil drilling and nuclear energy. "That kind of surprised me," Allis said.
Allis doubted though that Obama succeeded very much in swaying moderates toward his point of view.
"I don't think he did. I think he distanced himself more from them than even before," Allis said.
Allis also acknowledged similarities between Obama's speech Wednesday night and President Franklin D. Roosevelt's fireside chats during the Depression.
"He (Obama) has noted FDR quite a few times," Allis said. "He wants to put a lot more government into everything."
Allis said the best thing the President could do right now is to propose a tax cut.
"That's what brought this government back in the Sixties," Allis said, recalling how the country rebounded after tax cuts pushed by President Kennedy.