Pondering Politics: Barack Begins

It’s official. Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States last month in front of 1.8 million spectators in D.C. and billions watching worldwide. The event truly was a historical one, considering Obama is the first African-American in our nation’s history to serve as commander-in-chief. The event was also historical because, to many, the occasion represented a noticeable departure from policies and tendencies of past presidential administrations. Obama truly embodied…ah, what’s that word? Oh, yeah! Change.

President Obama’s rise to power is a notable one indeed. Obama ran a near-flawless campaign over the past two years and captured the hearts and minds of millions of voters. Obama entered office with an approval rating of 70 percent in most polls, the highest of any incoming president in the modern era. Even some who did not vote for the former junior senator have expressed confidence in his intelligence and abilities.

However, Obama’s first month has been far from perfect and it turns out that Vice President Biden was telling the truth when he said last fall that Obama “would be tested” during his first year in office. Obama has had his share of good moments and his not-so good moments in the first 30 days of his time in office. Some have begun to speculate that perhaps the “glow” that Obama seemed to have during the campaign is beginning to dim and that a “honeymoon is over” attitude is already setting in.

First, the positives. Obama gave one heck of an inauguration speech. He outlined many goals and messages he hoped to enact and symbolize as president. He gave several great lines that had conservatives and liberals alike applauding. The speech also signified a change in presidential expression that America will observe in the upcoming years. Obama’s oratory skills are much different that his predecessors’. Obama is extremely gifted in communicating his views on the world and America’s role in it. Some would argue that an inability to effectively communicate was the ultimate downfall of the recently departed George W. Bush administration. Many have commented on the “difference” they feel with Obama respresenting them.

The other noticeable positive is Obama’s attempt to reach out to Republicans in the legislature. Unfortunately, some may also view this as one of the negatives in his young administration. Though Obama’s nice gestures towards Republican leaders (such as inviting two Republican senators to his Super Bowl party) are noteworthy, many argue that he is merely offering gestures to those who disagree with his ideology and strategy. When it comes to the ultimate content of Obama’s administrational themes, these dissenters feel that he is solidly liberal and yet he continues to insist that any differences with the opposing party are “petty.” Despite all this, Obama’s effort for civility in the political sphere deserves praise.

The first few weeks of the Obama presidency have also had some low points, highlighted by the three cabinet appointees that had tax discrepancies. In a time at which many Americans are feeling the crunch of an economic crisis, the last thing people want to see is leaders who have not fulfilled their duties as a citizen. In a move marked by criticism, President Obama chose to stand by his nominations. Eventually, as former Sen. Daschle withdrew his nomination, Obama surprisingly admitted in an interview that he had “screwed up” in not vetting his candidates better. The difficulties for some of the cabinet post nominees were reflected in subsequent approval polls as the President’s overall rating dipped slightly.

The biggest problem Obama has inherited upon taking office has been the economy. His solution has been the proposal of a massive (take your pick) spending/stimulus package- somewhere in the ballpark of $700-900 billion dollars. Of course, this is a highly controversial move due to the impact it would have on our already huge national debt. It is politically risky as well because the public wants a rescue plan that will result in a speedy economic recovery. For Obama, this means that if the stimulus package fails, it will fall on his shoulders. He has insisted that this is the way to get the economy back on track. If we continue in economic decline, the public’s confidence in the administration’s ability to handle the crisis will begin to erode. People want to see results right now, and Obama is under pressure to produce.

As advertised, President Obama’s first few weeks in office have seen great changes in the White House. We should hope that he is able to keep his campaign ideals of bipartisanship, high standards for elected officials and the message of “a new kind of politics” as he tackles our nation’s biggest problems.