Political Science - Barack Obama and the Democratic Party - Research Paper Example

First M. I. Sur First Sur 123 30 May 2009 Barack Obama and the Democratic Party: A Research Paper in Political Science A Glimpse on Barack Obama’s “colorful” life Born of color and diverse ancestral origins on the fourth of August in 1961, the skinny young angel who is his doting parents’ “blessing from God” (the meaning of the name Barack in the Kenyan language) looked just like any other average baby boy (Brill 8, 9). Honolulu in the island paradise of Hawaii offered both a haven and a sanctuary for the typical happy family that Stanley Ann Dunham, a White American and the elder Barack Obama from Africa, with their son Barrack Hussein Obama, Jr., endeavored to build from love, hard work and trust. The bond was, however, short-lived when young Barack’s father chose to return to his native Kenya and serve as a government economist. At a tender age of six, young Barack was introduced to the extremes of society: abundance from his stepfather’s oil-based livelihood, and the poverty of Indonesia’s poor in the background. In the innocence of his youth, Barack was upset and appalled by the irony of lush and paucity before him. He returned to Honolulu and lived with his grandparents. In Hawaii, Barack lived a simple life but did not forget the value of a good education. Thus, he attended Punahou School, which was then the top preparatory academy in the island (Zimmerman 23, 25). Working his way through college, Barack enrolled at Columbia University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in 1983 (Williams 69). New York, then was at its height of racial tension which Barack, himself, was not too fortunate to be spared. Hoping to wrestle his way out of the arena of cultural conflict for the meantime, Barack moved to Chicago, where he worked with various churches to assist in rebuilding communities distraught by troubles in the steel industry. Moved by the plight of the wronged common man during his days as community organizer, Barack found his way into Harvard Law School. At Harvard, Barack distinguished himself as the first African American editor of the Harvard Law Review. He graduated in 1991 from the Harvard Law School where he completed his Law Degree (Williams 69). Now armed with knowledge power, the idealist Barack returned to Chicago to teach constitutional law, to uphold the rule of law, especially the civil rights safeguarded in the constitution, and continued his activities in the community. Being intently immersed in community service, Barack was a fitting choice for the nomination to fill in the Senate seat vacated by Senator Alice Palmer. In 1997, Barack Obama was first elected to the Illinois Senate and readily made his mark for his ability in fostering cooperation between political groups for the common good of their constituents (Williams 68). During his stint at the Illinois Senate, Barack hugged the spotlight with his passage of the Illinois Ethics Reform Act, which became the first major modification in political ethics in 25 years (Williams 69). He was also well known to be one of the very few agenda-driven Democrats to date (Van Dyk 276). His journey to the White House, which started with the campaign, was facilitated with rhetoric characteristic of that which established for Lincoln, Roosevelt and Jennings Bryan their places in American history (Dupuis and Boeckelman 101). His was a powerful voice exuding with a message of equality, unity and hope that “there’s not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America. There’s the United States of America. . . the bedrock of this nation; the belief in things not seen; the belief that there are better days ahead.” (Brill 8). As the 44th president of the US, he has, so far passed 11 legislations, the latest of which were the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act and the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 signed 22 May 2009. With his wife Michelle and their adorable daughters Malia and Sasha, he shares his very “colorful” life as President of the most powerful nation in the world, husband, father and interpreter of the American Dream. Having Barack Hussein Obama Jr., tagged as America’s first “Global President” at the helm of the highest office of the land, the American Dream “transcends individualism and economic success” as the path is paved towards realization of a common obligation to “keep the dream alive for everyone” (Brinkley qtd. in Raasch par. 1; Dupuis and Boeckelman 102, 103). History of the Democratic Party The origins of the Democratic Party may be traced back to the Democratic-Republicans of the 1800s under the leadership of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson and his group espoused the concept of stronger state governments and weaker federal government, closer ties with France and legislations which favor the farmers. The main oppositionists to such concept were led by Alexander Hamilton. They favored a strong federal government, maintenance of close relations with Britian, and were supported by wealthy businessmen. Hamilton’s group then came to be known as the Federalists (Anderson 18-21). When James Monroe assumed the presidency in 1817, there were not much disagreements because most of the elected politicians were Democratic-Republicans, such that this period came to be known as the Era of Good Feelings. Rifts within their own ranks, however started to surface by the year 1824 when then Senator Andrew Jackson, who received the most electoral votes, lost to John Quincy Adams over a technicality (Anderson 18-21). Jackson, however, did not lose heart and decided to run for president in 1828. Amendments made to voting restrictions against those who do not own property in the 1820s worked for the benefit of Jackson’s candidacy, since he was backed up by the common men. It was during the presidency of Andrew Jackson which helped mold the true Democratic Party (Anderson 28, 29). The first national convention of the Democratic-Republicans took place in May, 1832. It was during this meeting that the Democratic Republicans officially adopted the name Democratic Party and endorsed the Andrew Jackson – Martin van Buren team as their official candidates for President and Vice President (Anderson 30, 31). Jackson won his second term in 1832 and the Democrats dominated the political arena for 24 years, from 1837 – 1861 (Anderson 32, 33). All these successes were made possible because the Democrats put up a common stand whenever possible. With the European uprisings in 1848, the Democratic Party invoked their favorite principle “the sovereignty of the people” as they offered support for the birth of new republics from the reigns of despotic rule (Howe 793). Supporters of the Democratic Party tend to identify its history with the history of the country, “that the prosperity and glory of the one have been coincident with the success of the other”(Hambleton 124). This success does not necessarily suggest, however, that the party has not been bothered by issues and dissensions. But each time these challenges emerge, the party steadfastly deals with them. To wit, at the height of the free silver coinage controversy in 1895, ideas clashed among members of the Democratic Party. Yet, once the smoke has settled, the party remained stronger than before (Heffner 241). As the 20th century ushered in, the party came out with strong presidents in Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, who each left indelible marks in the annals of the United States, as they shared a common thread of the Democratic Party that was the American Dream (Democratic National Committee par. 2, 7-12). With the election of Barack Obama Jr. as the 44th President of the United States, another laurel was added to the party’s chronicles for having the country’s first African American president, and hopefully, another strong and great president, from their ranks. Political Platform of Barack Obama The political platform of Barack Obama, Jr. is organized around the nucleus of America’s challenges - healthcare, energy and education – en route to a prosperous nation (Obama . Healthcare is one of the main priorities Pres. Obama’s platform, believing that health insurance must work for people and business, and not just insurance and pharmaceutical companies (Ceasar et al 206; Flanagan 63-64). Consequently, the Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act was one of those first signed during the President’s first 100 days in office. Obama believes that America needs a sense of urgency for the improvement of the educational system, that even as senator, he has sponsored a national program to rehabilitate crumbling school buildings and summer learning programs for the disadvantages. He upheld the importance and integrity of the teachers by entreating that they be given better pay and treated like professionals. As the new American President, Obama hopes to make the 21st century as the next great American century by putting priority educational issues on the top priority list (Dupuis and Boeckelman 93). As a senator, Obama gave his vote of approval for the removal of oil and gas exploration subsidies, pronouncement of cartels for oil producing and exporting illegal and on the factoring of global warming in federal project plans, all in 2007. Since 2005, Obama showed concern for the environment with his active support for the programs of the American Wilderness Coalition, the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund and the League of Conservation Voters. As the new president, Obama has his eyes on nuclear power as an alternative form of energy and not as a weapon of combat. Such form of alternative energy will facilitate America’s withdrawal of dependence on oil, and at the same time help address environmental concerns (Benkelman 2755). Having risen from the ranks of the common man, Obama do not entertain positive ideas about imposing more taxes to the common man (Obama 130). In 2007, Obama voted against the repeal of the Alternative Minimum Tax, increase of the estate tax exemption to $5 million, support for the permanence of estate taxes. Obama voted against efforts to increase the national debt limit and has actively supported the National Taxpayers Union. As president, Obama vowed against any more tax hikes. Other components of the political platform of Obama may also be described in the following: 1. Active support for pro- abortion groups such as such as the NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned Parenthood, since 2005 (“Barack Obama Platform” par. 1) 2. Staunch support for the protection of civil rights, including his positive sentiments for the legal rights of gay and lesbians although he opposes gay marriage, equal rights for women workers, racial equality, and reforms in the Disabilities Act in 2007. He has also made clear his position with respect to the “politics of fear”, which he says undermines basic civil liberties supposed to be guaranteed in the US Constitution, stressing that human rights and national security are complemetary (Kuttner 51; Keller 88). 3. Firm stand for crime and gun control as suggested by his affirmative vote for the reinstatement of $1.15 billion budget for the COPS Program, strong pronouncements about the applicability of justice for everyone and lack of implementation as an incitement for more hate crimes (Kennedy-Shaffer 19). 4. Since his days at the Illinois state, when the war against Iraq has not yet been launched, Obama has made his opposition to the war against and has stood with his position of phased withdrawal (Benkelman 274). 5. As president, he has approved legislation aimed at alleviating the current economic condition in the country, namely: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Small Business Act Temporary Extension, Omnibus Public Lands Act, Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act and the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act . 6. Empathy and support for war veterans through reforms in the veterans administration system and healthcare (Lazo par. 3-5). 7. Exhibits a positive attitude towards immigrants and aliens in the US (Mason par. 2) 8. Recognizes cyber-security in information networks as critical to the US economy (Moscaritolo par. 3). A critique of Barack Obama as a Politician Political critics felt that both Obama and his then rival for the presidential race, John McCain both resonate a promise of change. While McCain ran as a “maverick seeking to fix what is broken in Washington”, Obama rallied voters to his cause as “the face of hope and change”. It was, however, argued that in a race as close as the McCain-Obama showdown, “hope and change may not be enough” (Fox 69). Obama defied the odds by securing victory as president of the US. This happened in spite of the merits in Hillary Clinton’s attack on Obama’s policy platform as lacking in detail, which was linked to the latter’s lack of experience (Fox 70). As one may have noticed from the preceding section about Barack Obama’s political platform, there is, indeed, paucity in the details of his priority issues. There were found traces of political pragmatism in Obama’s speeches and sometimes his writings. This same observation was also echoed in Schultz, who found similarities in Obama’s rhetorics and written works with those of known early pragmatists as John Dewey and Jane Addams (1). Such air of pragmatics was deduced to Obama’s exposure into the University of Chicago’s tradition of reform and perhaps in his immersion as community organizer in Chicago’s South Side. This early, Obama appears to be shifting away from his immigration platform, as well as his opposition against the American Military operations in Iraq while he was senator and during the presidential campaign. Yet, in April this year, the new president had requested another $83 million for the war budget in Iran and Afghanistan (Walsh par. 1). It is this researcher’s fear that these may not be the last of the president’s reneged campaign promises, typical of most politicians after being elected. It looms in the background that the president’s pronouncement about offering the public five days to look at a bill have not been kept. Promises about making the government more open and transparent may have been, until this point, just mere lip service to public clamor. As one of those moved by Obama’s ostensible crusade for change by exhorting everyone’s responsibility towards the fulfillment of the American Dream, the President carries a gargantuan task over his shoulder. Obama has to keep his promises. Lest it be forgotten, as the country’s symbol of hope for better days ahead, Pres. Obama should lead by example. The people of America needs more than “Yes, we can!” At the end of his four-year term, Obama owes his people a triumphal message affirming “We did it, America!” Works Cited Anderson, Dale. The Democratic Party: America’s Oldest Party. Minneapolis, MN: Compass Point Books, 2007. “Barack Obama Platform”. 2008 Candidate Platforms. Not dated. 30 May 2009 http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/politics/2008/bios/view.bg?articleid=1063110. Benkelman, Susan. Ed. “A Solid Gray Line.” CQ Weekly May 2007: 274. Benkelman, Susan. Ed. “Item Notes.” CQ Weekly September 2007: 2755. Brill, Marlene Targ. Barack Obama: Working to Make a Difference. Minneapolis, MN: Millbrook Press, 2006. Ceaser, J. W., Busch, A. E. and J. J. Pitney, Jr. Epic Journey: The 2008 Elections and American Politics. 2009. Lanham: MD: Rowman and Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc. Dupuis, Martin and Keith Boeckelman. Barack Obama, the New Face of American Politics. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc., 2008. Flanagan, Sylvia. Ed. “Barack Obama: US Senate Candidate is Electrifying Keynote Speaker at Democratic National Convention.” Jet 16 Aug. 2004: 4-8. Fox, Graham. “McCain’s Reform Vs. Obama’s Transformation.” Policy Options Oct. 2008: 69-70. 29 May 2009 http://www.irpp.org/po/archive/oct08/fox.pdf. Hambleton, James P. A History of the Political Campaign in Virginia in 1855; with a biography of Henry A. Wise. Richmond, VA: J. W. Randolph, 1856. Heffner, Richard D. A Documentary History of the United States, expanded and updated 7th ed. New York: Signet, 2002. Howe, Daniel W. What hath God Wrought. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007. Keller, Jon Peter. The Bluest State: How Democrats Created the Massachusetts Blueprint for American Political Disaster. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2007. Kennedy-Shaffer, Alan. R. The Obama Revolution. Phoenix: Phoenix Book Company, 2009. Kuttner, Robert. Obama’s Challenge: America’s Economic Crisis and the Power of a Transformative Presidency. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Publishing Company, 2009. Lazo, Larry. Advocates Await Specifics of Obama’s Plan for Vets Program. 23 May 2009. CNN. 31 May 2009 http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/23/obama.memorial.day.va/index.html?iref=topnews. “Legislation Signed”. The White House. 31 May 2009 http://www.whitehouse.gov/. Mason, Julie. Obama Takes Immigration Reform Off Priority List This Year. 9 May 2009. Washington Examiner. 31 May 2009 http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Obama-takes-immigration-reform-off-priority-list-this-year-44640572.html Moscaritolo, Angela. “Optimism for Obama’s Cyber-security Platform.” 1 January 2009 SC Magazine. 30 May 2009 http://www.scmagazineus.com/Optimism-for-Obamas-cybersecurity-platform/article/123422/ National Democratic Committee. “Party History”. Not dated. 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Lanham, MD: University Press of America, Inc. Zimmerman, W. Frederick. Should Barack Obama be President? Ann Arbor, MI: Nimble Books LLC, 2006. Read More