President Obama opened his annual State of the Union Address with a lesson in cohesion, working together and having one another’s back. He pointed out that the heroes coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan had to work together in order to accomplish their goals; a recurring theme throughout the speech.

While his words rang true and loud, a portion of the audience wasn’t buying it. Throughout the event, it seemed that most Republicans were sitting on their hands, or had them glued to their laps. House Speaker John Boehner looked as if it pained him to applaud for even the basic courtesies as Obama acknowledged military personnel for their dedication and service.

This time of economic uncertainty, both in the U. S. and abroad, has many people looking for answers as to why Washington cannot seem to get its act together. Tuesday night was a great example as to why this is happening. The continued rhetoric of keeping Obama a “one term” president has overridden a collaborative effort into one of divisiveness that is, in essence, killing America and the democratic process.

The President’s proposal for education reform should hit home with every student on each campus in America. The rising cost of higher education could be offset through tuition tax credits, stopping interest rates on student loans, and working with colleges and states to retool their budgets and campuses. Unlike the Republican presidential hopefuls, Obama offered concrete answers for our educational wallets.

After the televised event, Facebook and Twitter were abuzz with armchair analysts offering their thoughts on Obama’s speech. Still, no word from former Senator Rick Santorum on whether or not he considers Obama’s proposals for education reform snobbery. His dismal performance in South Carolina was a staggering blow to his campaign. Gov. Rick Perry and John Huntsman are the latest in the political body count after dropping out for the GOP presidential bid. With his performance in South Carolina, how long will it be before Santorum is a chalk body outline on the political ground?

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich’s win in South Carolina finally put him into the race with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Now with the field narrowed to the final four, the race has each candidate turning on one another, much like the divided House and Senate over the last year.

With the Republicans fighting amongst themselves, as they go for presidential gold, and the Democrats weakness to rally the troops, both sides are showing that Washington doesn’t follow the same standards of our military; cohesion, working together and having one another’s back.