At first glance, President Obama has a rather impressive résumé, academically speaking. Occidental University, a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia and a Juris Doctorate from Harvard. In 1996 he was elected to the Illinois State Senate. Then in 2004 he was elected to the United States Senate. After less than one term in the Senate, he ran for, and successfully won, the Presidency.
His successful campaign through 2008 was run with soon-to-be Vice President Joe Biden at his side. His youthful exuberance and eloquence carried him over Republican challenger John McCain and relative newcomer Sarah Palin. Both campaigns played on catchphrases and the reports from focus groups. The Obama Campaign settled on two phrases: "Hope and Change" and "Yes we can."
And now, 987 days later, we can examine the outcome of those phrases.
I'll admit that I was a little peeved at his near instantaneous use of the "The Office of the President-Elect." Yes, it's a real office, but it's not really ever been flaunted in the way that Obama flaunted it. He even had a podium made with the title of the Office and the American seal.
His campaign promises were many, including things like closing down the detention center at Guantanamo Bay. Regardless of your belief on the detention center or the allegations of torture (founded or unfounded), the center remains open in 2011.
Then there was the economic stimuli, a process started under previous President George Bush. President Obama took office when unemployment was 6.7%. Statements came from the Administration that, with the economic stimulus, unemployment would not go above 10%. By October 2009, unemployment sat at 10.2%.
On the racial front, we were told by some pundits that the election of Obama meant that the racial divides were healing. In fact, some said that Obama was the first post-racial President. But in July of 2009, Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, a black professor at Harvard was arrested breaking into his own house. He had locked himself out and was noisily trying to break in when a neighbor called the police. Sgt. James Crowley arrived and arrested Gates for disorderly conduct. From an outsider's perspective, it is easy to see a failure to communicate here. But President Obama took to the microphones and stated that the Harvard Police had acted "stupidly" in arresting Gates. Some discussion lead to the now infamous "Beer Summit."
Now, I'm not going to act like the President isn't an adult and capable of making his own choices, but what example does it set for the youth of the nation when the President has to have alcohol to confront his problems?
And there is the health care reform law. This is the Bill that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi told us that they had to pass so we could "find out what was in it." (Of course, this is the same Nancy Pelosi who once told us that 500 million Americans lost their jobs.) A rather large percentage of the American people were unhappy with the legislation, it was still hammered through Congress. Harry Reid told us that Reconciliation would not be used to pass the bill, and then told us that Reconciliation was still on the table.
And now, in 2011, were dealing with a deficit and budget crisis. Some pundits are blaming Republicans for not passing a budget in the six months or so that they've controlled the House. Nevermind that for a while the left held a near super-majority in the Congress and just didn't pass a budget, they're now screaming that it is the fault of the GOP. Of course, it's the GOP's fault. I mean, right now everything is still George W. Bush's fault.
So I challenge you to look at your situation. Look at your town; your county; your state; your nation. Tell me, how's that "Hope and Change" working out for you?
No comments:
Post a Comment