In State of the Union, Obama praises U.S. efforts in Haiti

MIAMI — President Barack Obama on Wednesday praised Americans who are helping Haiti recover from a catastrophic earthquake, taking a moment out of a State of the Union speech focused on the frayed economy.

In his prepared remarks, Obama said he was inspired by the “fundamental decency” of the American people.

“It lives on in the 8-year old boy in Louisiana, who just sent me his allowance and asked if I would give it to the people of Haiti,”
he said. “And it lives on in all the Americans who’ve dropped
everything to go someplace they’ve never been and pull people they’ve
never known from rubble, prompting chants of “U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A!” when another life was saved.”

The administration also signaled solidarity with Haiti by inviting the Haitian ambassador to the United States, Raymond Joseph, to be one of first lady Michelle Obama’s guests.

Also seated near the first lady was Rebecca Knerr, the wife of a Virginia firefighter helping to rescue earthquake victims in Haiti.

But with the terrible economy at the forefront of the minds of Florida
voters, most oppose the Obama’s administration’s decision to grant
Temporary Protected Status to Haitians living illegally in the U.S.
before the earthquake, according to a Quinnipiac University
poll released Wednesday. By a 50-46 percent spread, voters oppose
Haitians receiving legal status and permission to seek work permits
over the next 18 months.

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