After taking over for a second term, US President Barack Obama lauded the “resilience” and “fundamental goodness” of the American people and promised his supporters to try his best to achieve the goals he set out four years ago.
“Now it’s time to finish what we started — let’s get going,” Obama said in an email to his supporters.
51-year-old Obama is the first African American to hold the office. He was re-elected for the second four year term in the November Presidential Elections, defeating Mitt Romney of the Republican Party.
Obama’s second term started on January 20 noon, which happened to be a Sunday when all the federal offices are closed, hence the ceremonial inauguration was held yesterday.
“I just renewed my oath of office to serve as your President for four more years. Thank you for making this possible. It’s an honour to be your President,” Obama said in his email yesterday.
Earlier in his ceremonial luncheon address at the Congress, Obama hoped he would be able to sort out the differences with the Congress to take the nation forward.
“I know that all of us serve because we believe that we can make America for future generations. I’m confident that we can act at this moment in a way that makes a difference for our children and our children’s children,” Obama said.
“I know that former President (Jimmy) Carter, President (Bill) Clinton, they understand the irony of the
Presidential Office, which is, the longer you’re there the more humble you become and the more mindful you are that it is beyond your poor powers individually to move this great country.
“You can only do it because you have extraordinary partners and a spirit of good will, and most of all, because of the strength and resilience and fundamental goodness of the American people,” he said in his remarks.
A Senator for 36 years, Vice-President, Joe Biden said he had always enjoyed the post inauguration lunch more than anything else.
“I always enjoyed this lunch more than anything we did in the Capitol. For the 36 years I served in the Senate, I had the great honour of being included in this lunch of former Presidents and Vice Presidents — because it really is the place where we get together in a way unlike any other time when we gather,” he said.
“It’s always a new beginning every time we’re in this room. And there’s a sense of possibilities and a sense of opportunity and a sense — sometimes it’s fleeting, but a sense that maybe we can really begin to work together,” Biden said.
Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid also wished Obama and said working with him was a learning experience.
“Americans today are wishing the President Godspeed for the next four years. People all over the world are looking at us, and our exemplary democracy, and wishing the President the best in the years to come,” he said.
“I’ve had the good fortune for the last many years to work on a very close, personal basis with President Obama. I’ve watched him in the most difficult challenges that a person could face. I’ve watched him do this with brilliance, with patience, with courage, wisdom, and kindness, for which I have learned a great deal,” Reid said.