Inauguration Inspiration

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “Obama Offers Liberal Vision: ‘We Must Act,’” showed the President at his finest, inspiring the nation with a caring, inclusive attitude.

His Inauguration Day speech encouraged us to act to support the poor and vulnerable among us and offered a ringing endorsement of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, programs he said make us stronger, not weaker.

His concept was not difficult to understand: these programs, by providing an emergency safety net, encourage us to take risks for our children, knowing that if worse comes to worse, we have that safety net to catch us in old age.

The President also was right to rebut the Republican fears that we would become a nation of “takers,” as Mitt Romney had proclaimed in that surreptitiously taped moment that could have been responsible for losing the campaign.

The First Lady, as usual, was resplendent throughout the day, and the Obamas stepped outside their limousine to walk among the crowds several times. The cheering during the ceremony was so boisterous that the President stopped while the dignitaries were leaving, just to drink it in one last time.

After all the Republican games and pettiness, it was a refreshing day for our nation, filled with thought and actions, philosophy and fun.