Obama in 2012 Reelecting Barack

Obama in 2012

Reelecting Barack Obama in 2012

History was made on November 4, 2008, when the junior senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, was elected president. He was the first African-American to be elected to the highest office in the land. He promised change: "I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington…I'm asking you to believe in yours" (Obama). The voters were looking for change, as there were problems at home and abroad. Joblessness, a looming financial crisis and the war in Iraq were some of the issues of great concern. Mr. Obama has demonstrated in his first two years of office that he is committed to bringing about real change. Despite partisan opposition, he has accomplished a great deal for the American people. He should be reelected in 2012 so he can continue to bring about the changes this country needs.

On December 21, 2010, political commentator Rachel Maddow devoted her MSNBC program to the "halftime" accomplishments of President Obama, stating that he has already achieved eighty-five percent of what he promised during the campaign and his first days in office. Maddow spoke before a live audience on the eve of the vote on the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which was indeed ratified the next day. Maddow showed a news clip of President Obama, who called START "the centerpiece of my foreign policy." She said that, if ratified, the treaty would represent for President Obama a "huge foreign policy victory." We now know that this was accomplished. Maddow enumerated other accomplishments during the President's term thus far, calling in an "astonishing period" during which the President was able to effect real change despite "unified Republican opposition." Mr. Obama's Administration

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enacted the Lillian Ledbetter Fair Pay Act for Women and passed reform legislation for Wall Street, student loans, credit cards, and the tobacco industry. The Administration expanded health care access for children and enacted new hate crimes legislation. There is a new G.I.Bill and the repeal of the military's policy known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The stimulus package brought Americans tax cuts, and unprecedented investment in clean energy and education. The Food Safety Modernization Act is the most expansive food safety legislation since the 1930s. (Maddow),

It would appear that a second Great Depression has been averted. Mr. Obama's policies have made it possible for the country to recover from the global financial crisis with slow but sustainable growth. There is still much more work to be done, however. In order to be reelected, Mr. Obama must focus on the future. The nation must continue to build the economy by reducing the unemployment rate, continuing to address the foreclosure crisis, and helping people rebuild devastated investment and retirement accounts. We must end the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Although progress in health care reform has been made, more changes are still needed. To be reelected, Mr. Obama must remind people of the changes he promised in 2008 and how those promises were fulfilled. It is important voters understand that Mr. Obama is not just full of empty talk, but that he can effect real change.

It will be difficult for Mr. Obama to be reelected in 2012 because, despite all his accomplishments, the Tea Party Movement has been very critical of the Administration and has gained a large following. Following the 2010 mid-term elections, Amy Gardner said in the Washinton Post "The grass-roots movement that was spawned with a rant has gone on to upend the existing political order, reshaping the debate in Washington, defeating a number of prominent lawmakers and elevating a fresh cast of conservative stars." If the new conservatives