Obama: Freedom, democracy have never been easy WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- President Obama wrapped up his 65-minute State of the Union address Tuesday exhorting everyone to work together to "achieve the America we want for our kids." He said while we sometimes "stumble," "get frustrated or discouraged," when we have "placed our collective shoulder to the wheel of progress" we can accomplish our individual goals. "Believe it," he said.