The Presidency of Barack Obama - Research Paper Example

The Presidency of Barack Obama Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United s and first African American to hold the office was inaugurated on January 20, 2009 amidst a deep global economic recession, involvement in two long-standing foreign wars, crippling National Debt, skyrocketing unemployment and a global climate change crisis among other major problems. Obama was introduced to the national audience during the 2004 Democratic convention.  He rejected the divide in America between “Red States” and “Blue States” saying “there is not a liberal America and a conservative America. There is the United States of America.” His inspiring keynote speech appealed to all American’s who longed for politics with a common goal.  Throughout his 2008 presidential campaign, Obama remained true to this premise, promising to ease the partisan divide in Washington D.C.  However, he severely miscalculated the profound division between the political parties, misunderstood the reasons for the division, and assumed, erroneously, that his persuasive powers and political mandate would be enough to overcome it. The genesis of future difficulties began during his campaign. Obama’s overly optimistic message raised expectations so high for that those who voted for him were destined for disappointment.  The enthusiasm his campaign generated proved to be both beneficial and detrimental. While his message rallied many voters,’ especially unprecedented numbers of young persons and minorities encouraging them to anticipate change of a speed and scope that the political system seldom allows.  Following the inauguration the customary checks and balances of Washington were realized along with unexpected and extraordinary opposition of the minority party became apparent the feeling of hope present during the campaign turned into uncertainty and then disillusion. The Democratic Party made tremendous gains in the election of 2008. Barack Obama beat Republican John McCain in the presidential race by an overwhelming margin. Democrats also increased their majorities in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Obama’s won the national popular vote by margin of approximately ten million. “He has won by the largest margin for a non-incumbent candidate for president since Eisenhower in 1952.” (Fernando, 2011) Essentially, the election result was a mass rejection of George W. Bush administration policies along with the Republican Party’s political platform and effectively ended almost three decades of rule by the right-wing ideology. The conservative supporter’s analysis that America was a “center-right nation” was regularly repeated by the media and politicians of both parties. The widely held belief there was a majority of reliably Republican “Red States,” and “family values” and religion were the most important political concerns was dispelled. Maybe most significantly, Obama’s victory demonstrated that America was not a racist nation, that irrational racial hatred supersedes all other issues. His election also set the stage for a prolonged era of passionate ideological warfare in the country which illuminated the deep philosophical divide already present. Several of Obama’s policy initiatives the first two years were not popular including the health care bill, auto rescue plan, economic stimulus and the financial bailout started by the Bush administration and completed during Obama’s first year. Obama supported the bailout while Bush’s support of the nearly trillion dollar plan, interestingly, ended after his term ended. Financial regulation reform was popular and the highly successful auto rescue plan also gained popularity following implementation. A majority still do not support health care reform, the stimulus package and the bailout. The rescuing of General Motors/Chrysler did not receive broad support initially but that proved to be a worthwhile endeavor. (Reeves, 2010) It isn’t difficult to grasp why the stimulus bill was and is still so unpopular: it neither met people’s expectations nor fulfilled Obama’s promises.  The health care bill made cuts in Medicare which concerned older voters and was fodder for Republican criticism. These cuts did not affect care in any way or reduce coverage. The cuts do reduce waste and inefficiencies within the system which, ironically, was a major feature of John McCain’s campaign in the 2008 election. These savings are necessary to pay for private insurance to ensure that lower income persons may receive coverage. The health care bill also failed to effectively address rising costs, many people’s central concern, at least in convincing a way. Republican fabrications regarding the bill such as “death panels” designed to kill grandma prematurely did nothing to help the public perception of the legislation. Although the health care bill remains controversial, Obama’s historic signing of “Obamacare” or what is actually known as The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 will allow 30 million more people to enjoy health care coverage, in addition to lowering costs for the majority of Americans.  Furthermore, health care reform will prevent insurance companies from refusing coverage to people with pre-existing conditions and from putting lifetime limits on health benefits. One year following the signing of health care reform, a majority are still opposed the law. However, a portion of the opposition is by people who believe the measure is not liberal enough. Just over a third of Americans approve of health care reform and 59 percent oppose it. Thats essentially unchanged from last year. “Men and women dislike the new health care law in equal measure, but not necessarily for the same reasons,” said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. “Nearly all men who oppose the law do so because it is too liberal. But a third of the women who dislike the law feel that way because it is not liberal enough.” (“CNN Poll”, 2011) Giving billions of taxpayer dollars to bail out faltering financial institutions which initiated by the Bush administration though supported by and continued by Obama offended almost everyone’s sense of ethical principles. Rich people become richer by manipulating the free market system and gambling with investor’s money only to be subsided for it to avoid the collapse of the world’s economic system. Insurance companies and banks received nearly a trillion dollars while average families were struggling to survive.  The Obama Administration argued, correctly, that the move was essential for the national and world’s economic interest.  It is not difficult to understand their position.  Economists, financial gurus and politicians agreed that failing to bolster essential financial organizations would have meant another Great Depression of the 1930s. Undoubtedly, though, the Obama administration was never able persuade most people, who viewed the TARP program as unnecessary, unproductive, overtly costly and outright detrimental.  The administration repeatedly seemed to think that the merits of its policies spoke for themselves and that the benefits were apparent. As a result of the financial collapse, Obama signed Wall Street reform legislation, which was necessary to stop future to taxpayer-financed bailouts, creating a new regulatory agency arm of the Federal Reserve. The Consumer Protection Act and Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform Act works in concert to protect the financial transactions of consumers, allows for more congressional oversight of the central bank and gives the government more power to break apart failing companies. The government’s intervention into General Motors and Chrysler Corporations faltering businesses was loudly criticized by Republicans who assigned the all too familiar term “socialism” with the effort. This investment plan worked spectacularly well. Had the Obama administration and a majority Democratic Congress not intervened the two companies would have been forced to declare bankruptcy, liquidated its assets fallen and more than one million jobs would have been lost. While visiting Chrysler’s Jeep Grand Cherokee plant in Detroit, Michigan Obama remarked to the works present, “the fact that we’re standing in this magnificent factory today is a testament to the decisions we made,” (Welch, 2010). It is difficult to say that the auto bailout plan didn’t work. GM is again making profits. This first quarter of this year, the company reported $865 million in profits and according to forecasts this profitable trend will continue for the entire year. In addition, GM has repaid 80 percent on the government’s loan so far. “GM’s results are strong enough that the company is preparing for an initial public offering that should start selling stock in November. Chrysler is at least making an operating profit, which puts the company in much better shape than most analysts thought it would be a year ago. With much lower costs, both companies should be able to make money going forward.” (Welch, 2010) Despite heavy criticism by those on both the right and left of the political spectrum, Obama does have many major accomplishments that are very significant and unequaled in nature. As the nation enters another election cycle, Obama can boast several achievements in his bid for reelection. Last year Obama signed the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” By doing so, gay men and women are allowed to serve openly in military service for the first time in history. Major tax reductions have been implemented during Obama’s term. In addition to cutting middle income earners taxes twice, the Bush era tax cuts were extended, payroll taxes were reduced along with several business tax incentives introduced and benefits to long-term unemployed were extended. The Fair Sentencing Act Obama signed reduces instances of racial inequality which has traditionally existed due to the sentencing practices of persons arrested with the crack type of cocaine versus the powder variety.  “To be charged with a felony, crack users needed to possess only 5 grams of the drug to be sentenced with the same charge that powder cocaine users needed to be caught with (500 grams).   Now, to be charged, crack users need to possess 28 grams of crack cocaine to 500 grams of powder cocaine.” (Jerrod, 2010) The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act to combat childhood obesity was championed by Michelle Obama who has made the issue one of her primary concerns as First lady. This Act subsidizes free nutritious and balanced meals for about 31 million low-income students. By Executive Order, historically black universities received a $98 million increase in funding. The Order also provides funds for the renovation, repair and construction of instructional equipment, physical infrastructure and other educational facilities. The (HIRE) Act allocated $17.5 billion in subsidies, business credits and tax for local and state construction bonds and $20 billion for the highway trust fund to fund transit and highway programs. Obama’s foreign affairs and national defense accomplishments are many and impressive. During his first months in office Obama gave the order to kill a group of Somali pirates by Navy snipers in the Arabian Sea which secured the rescue of an American cargo ship captain. The deaths of Al Quada leaders Osama Bin Laden and Anwar al-Awlaki followed a successful military surge in Afghanistan, feats which appeal to the right wing. As of December no American troops will be in Iraq which the left wing has wanted since before the war began. America’s bi-lateral intervention in Libya resulted in the death of Moammar Gaddafi and the birth of democracy in that country. Gaddafi’s 42-year brutal dictatorship ended with no loss of American life and relatively small dollar investment. START, the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty is a treaty between Russia and the U.S. which reduces the number of nuclear missiles by half. The treaty was signed by Russian President Medvedev and Obama then ratified by Congress in a rare showing of bipartisan support. “These successes are evidence that when he is able to freely make decisions, he delivers. Without the partisan gridlock in Washington, Obama can act as the leader of the worlds leading nation. Yet, when it comes to matters on the home front, the GOP is determined to be an obstacle.” (Maxwell, 2011) While being characterized by right wing conservatives as a free-spending liberal, the political left perceives Obama as a centrist who naively attempts to negotiate with Republicans who continually refuse to compromise. Obama’s domestic successes have been mixed due and are unclear largely to obstructionist tactics in Congress causing what is popularly referred to as Washington gridlock. His record would have been clearer, whether for better or worse, had Congress been more accommodating. However his foreign successes are many and have put to rest the myth he would be ineffective in this area circulated during the 2008 presidential campaign. If Obama’s record earns him a second term is anyone’s guess but whatever the outcome his term as President will have been memorable and unique. Works Cited “CNN Poll: Time doesn’t change views on health care law” CNN Politics. March 23, 2011 Web. November 9, 2011 Fernando, Philip. “Obama Inching Forward towards Recovery from Bush Missteps” Sri Lanka Guardian November 7, 2011. Web. November 9, 2011 Jerrod, Anthony. “President Obama’s Top 12 Accomplishments of 2010” The Atlanta Post December 30, 2010. Web. November 9, 2011 Maxwell, Zerlina. “In Foreign Policy, President Obama Gets Things Done” Huff Post Politics October 27, 2011. Web. November 9, 2011. < http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zerlina-maxwell/obama-foreign-policy_b_1035099.html> Reeves, Richard. “The Big Picture of a Presidency” News and Observer December 23, 2010. Web. November 9, 2011. < http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/23/v-print/877462/the-big-picture-of-a-presidency.html> Welch, David. “Doing the Math on Obama’s Detroit Bailout” Bloomberg Businessweek August 2, 2010. Web. November 9, 2011. < http://www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat/archives/2010/08/doing_the_math_on_obamas_detroit_bailout.html> Read More