Is President Barack Obama a Good President - Essay Example

?Is President Barack Obama a good president? If yes/no explain why One of the most important questions that the Americans ask today is whether BarackH. Obama, the 44th President of the United States, is a good president or not. In a reflective analysis of the various aspects of the President-ship of the current president of the US, one may undoubtedly argue that Barack Obama is one of the most prominent and effective leaders and presidents in the history of this great nation. First of all, his life story very well reflects the true American story – incorporating the “values from the heartland, a middle-class upbringing in a strong family, hard work and education as the means of getting ahead, and the conviction that a life so blessed should be lived in service to others.” (President Barack Obama). Therefore, the President has been aware of the American story very well which has helped him tremendously to shape his opinions and policies as a president of the people. The vast amount of experience in the public service arena has contributed to the success of Obama as a great leader and president of the nation which is also reflected in the nation’s unwavering belief in his ability to unite people around a politics of purpose. Some of the fundamental points to argue why Barack Obama is good president and effective leader of the nation include his intelligent leadership; he is not war-hungry or money-hungry; the effect of his genial and luminous personality on diplomacy; his civil rights struggles; his awareness of an overall reform of the various political policies of the nation, etc. In consideration of these features of his leadership and many others, one must argue that President Obama is one of the most effective and successful presidents that the people of the United States have ever seen. It is important to remember that, when President Obama was elected as the 44th President of the United States, there was a great expectation about his ability to lead the nation from the front to a great period in the history of the nation and he seemed like a different kind of leader in comparison with many of his predecessors. Definitely, he has lived up to those expectations which earned him high reputation even in the international scenario. As the BBC Radio 4’s Today program evaluates, President Obama has not just been the first black man in the White House but also ‘a new sort of American president’: thoughtful, reflective and determined to represent all of his country. (Mardell). This remark about the leadership of the president very well reflects the various aspects of the policies of his government. All through his tenure, the President has given great thought and reflective attitude towards the various issues facing the nation, be it economic crisis, employment issues, or matters of international affairs. Most of the Americans considered, and still consider, President Obama as the most important transformational figure of the nation who can lead this great nation to meet the demands of the contemporary world. The former state secretary Colin Powell was right when he endorsed Barack Obama describing him as a ‘transformational figure’ who was the right president for this moment in time. In his words, President Obama is the right choice for leading this great nation as he has both style and substance. (Bennis, 2009, p. 223). One of the major factors that contribute to the success of Barack Obama as the transformational president of the nation is his leadership qualities. It is important to recognize that the world’s hunger for effective leadership at the international scenario has been satisfied by the election of this charismatic new leader as the president of the United States on November 4, 2008. Millions of Americans wept with pride in their country and relief on the night of his victory as he had triumphed over old prejudices. “One result of Barak Obama’s extraordinary election is to remind us of just how thin our leadership bench is.” (Bennis, 2009, p. 2). Significantly, Barack Obama has been shouldering the expectations of this great nation and its citizens effectively in the current world and this brilliant, resolute and charismatic personality has offered to the many Americans an opportunity for the nation to redeem herself in the world. Thus, the world has recognized the importance of a great leader to reform the international attempts to bring about peace and stability in the world. As a token of the charisma and vision of this great leader of the United States of America, President Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Significantly, the award was recognition of the special importance of Obama’s vision and work for a world without nuclear weapons. President Obama has been effective in creating a new climate for international affairs and peace all around the world. His achievement of the Nobel Peace Prize is a clear evidence of Obama’s extraordinary efforts in international diplomacy, especially with regard to accelerating nuclear disarmament. Another great achievement of President Obama is that he has been instrumental in ending the war in Iraq and the gradual amputation of American troops in Iraq. In a profound exploration of President Obama’s works and policies as a president, it becomes evident that his great leadership skills have contributed to his success as a great president and a famous world leader. Obama’s leadership skills and styles have been recognized globally and he has made use of this ability to excel as a great president of the nation. “Obama understands that if you aspire to be a highly effective leader, you must win the trust and confidence of the people you hope to lead.” (Leanne, 2009). Thus, it is fundamental to recognize that Barak Obama has been a charismatic leader and effective president, who has won the trust and confidence of his people, the Americans. In short, it is indubitable that Barak Obama has been one of the most successful presidents and great leaders that the United States of America has ever produced. Bibliography Bennis, Warren. On Becoming a Leader. New York: Basic Books. 2009. p. 223. Leanne, Shelly. Leadership the Barack Obama Way: Lessons on Teambuilding and Creating a Winning Culture in Challenging Times. New York: McGraw-Hill Professional. 2009. Mardell, Mark. “Is President Obama a good leader?” BBC World, accessed March 09, 2012, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-15567046 President Barack Obama. The Administration. The White House. 2012, accessed March 09, 2012, http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-obama Read More