I intend to do some justice.
The question is whether that justice is properly deserved or earned, and I believe it is.
To paint a portrait of someone who was able to balance the demands of arguably the most difficult job on earth in such a manner that repaired the dilapidation the previous office left it in — that is quite a person.
I wish to look at what has happened in the last eight years, to see where the president has truly taken us and what he has actually accomplished. Those who call this man the worst president the United States has ever had can’t see very far into the past.
As millions of Americans gawk at the upcoming election ballot, perhaps it’s time to take a gander at the accomplishments of President Barack Obama, and to compare his years in office with his predecessors.
Myriad viewpoints have been extended on Obama’s presidency, with innumerable conclusions, and mine is just another of these. Regardless of this subjective nature, I hope the efforts Obama has made will stand testament to the phenomenal job he has done with what he was handed.
The presidency is as much a job of publicity, image and presentation as it is of policy work, big decisions and international dealings.
Obama first connected with the American people through his incredible and unique ability to speak. He is able to convey honesty with a true, unrehearsed tone that resonates with people.
After many promises and aspirations given throughout his campaign, Obama was left with a long list of things to do after he was elected.
He not only prevailed over the accusations of unnatural U.S. birth largely because of the color of his skin, but he also continued to deal with the slurs that all candidates for the presidency are sure to encounter. To become the first African-American president has been well acknowledged, and many see the importance of this huge step toward equal opportunities.
Throughout his years in office, the President has worked to fulfill the promises he made, often to no avail.
He could never have predicted the complete stubbornness that he would face in presenting his ideas to Congress, who often expressed their unwillingness to listen to him and his supporters.
This is a classic example of political bigotry at the expense of the American people, yet Obama’s tireless efforts to fulfill his goals could not surpass it.
However, the executive order has been a good friend to the President. This highly debated tool is not very democratic, hypothetically, but Obama has shown how it can be used to create democratic results.
Of his 256 executive orders (a scant number in comparison to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 3,721), he attempted to close Guantanamo Bay to little avail, along with other measures such as ending deportation of children whose parents brought them to the U.S. at a young age.
Time and time again, especially toward the end of his presidency, Obama was an outspoken advocate against violence, removing nearly all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.
He also worked to achieve the idea of universal healthcare in the U.S.
What may be most relevant of all to consider when looking at Obama’s presidency is not what came to fruition, but rather what he worked to achieve.
One cannot blame him for the congress’ refusal to consider most of what he proposed, despite the fact that Americans supported his ideas.
Whether it is his lack of scandals, or the fact that he has worked more diligently at the end of his presidency than ever, Obama should be given the tip of the hat. He should always be remembered for the work he was able to accomplish through his belief in America, and the ideals that make it the great country that it is.
Will Meyer can be reached at [email protected]