In order to grade President Obama accurately, I would have to understand how his role has helped solve certain issues in the United States during his presidency.
First, we have to take into consideration: healthcare. The first major issue that Obama sought to fix was providing universal health care to all Americans. The only problem with this issue is that not all Americans can afford health care. Why force Americans to get health care? It will only require the government to tax more heavily on the American people in order to fund health care for the uninsured. People can't afford to pay even more taxes in such an economic environment. This is majorly controversial issue that I don't see being solved any time soon.
Obama grade: B- (nice effort, but is it necessary?)
In light of the economic downturn, Obama came into presidency at a difficult time. He had set up some major promises to the American people. He first set out to create more jobs for the unemployed through his Jobs plan and his revised Jobs plan. There are two views on the unemployment issue, coming from the Conservatives and the Economists. The conservatives believe that Obama's jobs plan hasn't been effective thus far and the stimulus package hasn't even made a dent in decreasing the number of unemployed workers, so why would it help now? Conservatives have been against the plan from the very start. Economists are idealists. They believe that passing the bill will make a major difference.
I would give Obama an A- for effort and a C- for follow through. The previous stimulus package gave no serious benefits to the unemployed, but at least Obama is trying to fix this issue rather than sitting idlely by (like the consevatives) watching the unemployment rate increases. We'll see what happens in the future as Congress hasn't yet decided what will happen to the Jobs plan. It will most likely be cut off, but if it manages to get passed, I think it would be a major help.
War on Terror, or should I call it the Overseas Contingency Operation. Clearly, Obama hasn't really focused on this issue at all during his presidency because he doesn't want to be defined by this issue has Bush's presidency was. Obama is more focused on the economic issues at hand and has put off this issue. It was a good idea for Obama to focus on the other issues that are defining American society/economy (but after 4 years, has any real progress come of his focus? If he wants to be re-elected, he needs to turn it around). He did do one important thing: set his sights on getting back the troops. It's been long enough and Obama has realized what his predecessor Bush hadn't.
The main thing that I can remember about this issue that was heavily publicized was the killing of Osama bin Laden, which was a big win for Obama and America. Recently, more focus has been placed on American troops and efforts in other countries such as Libya.
Obama grade: B+
When it comes to whether Obama will be re-elected, we will have to wait till next year to find out. Obama definitely has a high chance of being re-elected unless his Jobs plan fails. The American people will have to reconsider whether they will continue to place their trust in Obama or look to a capable Republican candidate. He has a heavy chance of being re-elected if he keeps up his position to defend the American people, only the question comes to mind: can he deliver on his promises if America gives him another chance?
Obama grade: B
All I can say is...a lot of promises, not a lot of follow through.
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