Can We Blame President Obama For Anything Or Should We Shut Up?

by Rory Cripps | October 17, 2009 at 03:39 pm

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We're hearing the argument nowadays that President Obama has been in office for only nine months and that it's not fair to blame him for America's problems at this early stage in his presidency. The irony here is that the Obama apologists started blaming George W. Bush for the nation's woes the minute (literally) that he stepped foot in the White House. And many of the same Obama apologists can often be heard blaming Reagan for some of the nation's ills more than twenty years after he left office (and let's not leave out Richard Nixon). In other words, Republicans are bad! Democrats are good!

In light of all the political and historical information available at our fingertips today in regard to past presidential administrations, I'm amazed that so many Americans continue to be entrenched in political ideology. The Obama Administration, in particular, has brought the ideological entrenchment to light, for there's no doubt that a number of American's react to criticism of President Obama as if it were a personal attack on them. Indeed, the other day, I was in a school lunch room discussing President Obama with a colleague, and at one point, we had to continue our discussion in hushed tones, because we were getting angry looks from fans of Obama.

The Bush Administration left a bloody mess for the Obama Administration to clean up--no doubt about it! And, quite frankly, anyone that denies that assertion is disingenuous. But let's not forget, that George Bush was left with a bloody mess on his hands, too--less than nine months into his presidency as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. And anyone that denies that assertion is disingenuous.Which president had the bigger mess on his hands?

When George Bush entered the White House, in January of 2001, the U.S. unemployment rate was 6 million. Four years later it was 7.7 million. And four years after that, in January of 2009 when Bush left office and Obama became president, it was up to 11.6 million. The upward trend in unemployment began in June of 2007. At that point it continued its rise to its present level of 15.1 million. Keep in mind that these unemployment numbers are actually significant understatements of the amount of workers unemployed due to the methodology that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics incorporates when compiling unemployment statistics.

The facts are that there has been a steady and upward trend in American unemployment since June of 2007. In other words, throughout the past 2.25 years (9 consecutive quarters) the unemployment rate in the U.S. has continued to climb in absolute terms to such a point that the argument can be made that the U.S. is heading toward a depression as opposed to being in a recession. If President Obama wasn't aware of, or didn't take note of, the continuous upward trend in unemployment then he's not as observant (or as smart and competent) as some make him out to be.

President Obama was elected under a lofty banner of "hope and change". What kind of hope and change is it when over 15 million Americans are out of work and no one knows how many more Americans will be out of work a year from now? It's all well and good that President Obama feels the need to apologize to the rest of the world for America's past sins and in so doing demonstrate that he's a "new kind" of American president. But most Americans are under the impression that a U.S. president's first concern and allegiance is to America, its citizens, and domestic tranquility. Indeed, one of President Obama's first concerns should have been the disturbing upward trend in American unemployment.

The Obama Administration appears to be more concerned with ideology and lofty ideals than with the nuts and bolts of running a country. The majority of Americans don't give a crap about their president receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. In fact, President Obama's Peace Prize Award may turn out to be an Albatross around his neck in that it brands him as an elitist. Americans never have, and probably never will, put their faith in an elitist.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: In my lifetime, I've never seen a presidential administration stumble and bumble over policy issues as much as the Obama Administration has. And I've never seen a more indecisive president. And I've never seen as many Americans, as I do today, holding their president in utter contempt after only nine months in office. As American and NATO troops continue to get killed in Afghanistan, President Obama continues to conduct the equivalent of "focus sessions" (I think it's up to five now) in regard to how the Afghanistan war should be fought. His health care reform efforts (which 50% of American voters oppose and only 44% approve) have aroused the angst of millions of Americans. He's even pissing off his most loyal supporters via his failure to deliver on his promise to close down Gitmo and eliminate warrantless wiretaps He reneged on his promise not to raise taxes on the middle class. He hasn't done anything to support his promise to restrict lobbyists from working for his administration, nor has he done anything to support his pledge to require transparency for "earmarks". And he's even brought into his administration the likes of individuals such as Van Jones--an avowed white-hating racist and communist that called Republicans "assholes"-- and wondered why people were upset over his choice of cabinet members. The list goes on and on and on . . . .

As of today (Oct. 17, 2009) President Obama's voter approval index is minus 10. 29% of American voters strongly approve of him and 39% strongly disapprove. Only 7% of American voters believe that their taxes will go down and 69% believe that government spending will go up. Only 32% of voters believe that President Obama is more ethical than most politicians and only 29% trust him on the current economic crisis and only 30% believe that he's governing on a bi- partisan basis.

I have no doubt that the vast majority of Americans would like nothing better than for President Obama to deliver on his promise of "hope and change" and for him to be successful in bringing the country together--and only an ideological dupe would not want this. But facts are facts. And the facts are that the only thing that President Obama has accomplished is to drive a wedge into the heart of America and pit Americans against Americans.

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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 15:47 on October 17th, 2009

Great opinion piece Rory:)

Rory Cripps

at 15:52 on October 17th, 2009

Roy: What the hell did I do now? MINCHIA and a double JEEZ or something much worse? LOL!

Rhonda J Mangus

at 15:54 on October 17th, 2009

Very interesting Opinion piece, Rory. Thanks!

jefhow22

at 16:03 on October 17th, 2009

Excellent and interesting opinion story...

djermano

at 16:18 on October 17th, 2009

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/oct2009/obam-o17.shtml....

He is not following his road...he has taken the Bush Road instead.

The Rev

VioletPlanet

at 16:56 on October 17th, 2009

Hope leaves you with nothing but hope. Obama is no different the countless politicians that have come before him, promising change and delivering very little at this point. Incredible that he wins a Nobel Peace prize while 1 war escalates and the other one continues. The good thing about him winning the Peace Prize is that NOW he has to deliver peace ( or make an obvious try ) or his tenure as President will be a complete failure...

Today he also hired another Goldman-Sachs executive as part of his high level staff. Ultra-Capitalism is alive and well.

Amy Judd

at 16:56 on October 17th, 2009

Really good opinion piece, well done

Rory Cripps

at 17:35 on October 17th, 2009

Wow! Thanks so much Amy! Sincerely appreciated!

Babel-Fish

at 16:57 on October 17th, 2009

Actually I am having fun in seeing how people are trying to tear down the first Black American president. I myself wish to be more patient with my assessments of Obama, it however is amusing to see people blaming Obama for not doing anything and then Blaming him for doing what they see as him doing the wrong thing.

However Rory you have place a nice argument that I do see amusing flaws one that I fun most funny is the quote about Americans not supporting an elitist. Where as most of you politician are just that and other elitist are pulling their elitist strings. You have political families (Clans) they are part of an elitist system.

I personal do not like American politicians because of their elitist-ism and corrupt methodologies I certainly find it amusing that your oblivious to the facts elitist are running your country and each and every president has been an elitist. lol

Rory Cripps

at 17:55 on October 17th, 2009

Babel: Most Americans have absolutely nothing but utter contempt for elitists! Believe me! The problem is that when they enter the polling booths their only choice is to vote for the lesser of the elitists and the lesser of two evils.

I can no longer be patient with the Obama Administration, for there's no evidence that the Obama Administration is even making an attempt to gain the confidence of the American people. The Obama Administration's PR skills suck totally and to the max! I'm at a complete loss to understand the rhyme or reason of the Obama Administration's method to its apparent madness. Many Americans have come to the conclusion that President Obama is hanging certain Americans out to dry and selling the rest of them down the river as it were.

VioletPlanet

at 19:07 on October 17th, 2009

The corporations ( aka "elitists" run the government...not the other way around....

Rory Cripps

at 20:11 on October 17th, 2009

VioletPlanet: I think that there's a conglomerate of "movers and shakers" out there that fly under the American citizen's radar. Corporate elites are just one facet of the conglomerate. When you've got lots of money, you can piss on anyone and get away with it. I get a laugh out of the those that worship Obama, because they fail to realize that Obama is just a puppet dancing to the pull of strings attached.

Rory Cripps

at 18:49 on October 17th, 2009

Roy: President Obama needs to pull a rabbit out of a hat in order to gain the confidence of the American people. At this point, he appears to be totally inept and way out of his depth. If President Obama continues along the same lines, I have no doubt that at the conclusion of his presidency America will be set back at least 100 years! Didn't someone write a book about 100 years of solitude? Who was that guy that canvassed the town, with a lantern in his hand, looking for an honest guy?

Hugh Askew

at 19:11 on October 17th, 2009

Hugh Askew

at 19:11 on October 17th, 2009

Bob, from Newark, looking for the man that found his wallet?

What kind of question is that????

Rory Cripps

at 19:30 on October 17th, 2009

Hugh: I remember the time back in NYC when two cracked-out muggers tried to take off myself and my wife. It was indeed a scary and life threatening experience--for the muggers! HA! They didn't come 'round no more simply by virtue of the fact that I scared the living crap out of them. I love the smell of cleaning up my neighborhood in the morning . . .it's like victory!

Hugh Askew

at 19:53 on October 17th, 2009

Yes, yes, but were they honest muggers?

158

at 18:55 on October 17th, 2009

Very good, in depth post.

The trouble is most politics have become partisan and negative. Dems savaged Bush for eight years yet now they say it is wrong to criticize Obama.

Hypocrites.

Rory Cripps

at 19:32 on October 17th, 2009

158: Thanks! It gets to a point where some things need to be said. It's a dirty job but someone needs to do it!

a211423

at 20:37 on October 17th, 2009

Rory

One Hundred Years of Solitude was written by Gabrial Garcia Marquez *holds up her copy* A novel family epic written in the style of magical realism.

Diogenes of Sinope 413-327 B.C.E: According to the legends he lived in tub at the temple of Cybele, rarely bathed, and wore ragged clothing that he never washed. By day walking around the town in search of an honest man. He was considered a cynic and preached the doctrine of virtuous self-control, holding that morlaity implies a return to natural simplicity, society is not compatible with truth or goodness, and virture requires the avoidance of physical pleasure. Apparently he was the first "drop out."

Rory Cripps

at 06:25 on October 18th, 2009

a211423: Ah yes! Diogenes! Thanks!

tikun

at 20:53 on October 17th, 2009

It appears to me that Americans are suspicious of elitists because following their lead is like jumping off a cliff in blind faith. Blind and faith only takes you so far, especially off a very steep cliff.

Blaming "culture" for the ills of mankind excuses personal responsibility and plays the victim card with no possibility of improvement. Mea culpa goes only so far with very little constructive energy for repair and improvement.

More people have suffered the inner city ghettos because of the likes of former African-American leadership of Jesse Jackson, et al. using the "victim" card to keep their constituency in a state of perpetual poverty for personal gain and exploitation of fortune 500 businesses is a very profitable profession even if it is a bit shady.

Rory Cripps

at 06:50 on October 18th, 2009

tikun: Yeah, the race hustlers and poverty pimps have been out in full force lately. LOL!

nanute

at 02:48 on October 18th, 2009

Keep talking Rory, it is very instructive. The very title of your piece: Can We Blame President Obama for Anything, Or Just Shut Up? Is that a rhetorical question? Blame away, just let me know what he is being blamed for. Then at least we can have an argument.

Rory Cripps

at 06:48 on October 18th, 2009

nanute: What specifically has President Obama accomplished thus far? And what has he done to bring about "hope and change"? If he has accomplished anything of any significance, then why are his poll numbers in the tank? Is it simply a case of his administration not getting its message out or is it because those that feel he has not done a good job are just racists? The man has been in office for nine months. . . not a long time. But it's enough time for him to have accomplished something of significance. Or is his accomplishment simply that he's America's first black president and that's accomplishment enough? I really don't understand people's fascination with President Obama. Help me out here . . .I'd really like to understand him from a progressive's perspective. And believe me when I say, that I was just as critical of Bush . . .I don't have an axe to grind here.

Babel-Fish

at 20:53 on October 18th, 2009

I think the real answer to Can We Blame President Obama for Anything, should be yes but is it right?

Well the blame mostly is coming from the right, lol

tikun

at 03:05 on October 18th, 2009

For doing nothing!!! and talking the talk everyone wants to hear. Who doesn't want peace.

nanute

at 07:25 on October 18th, 2009

There you go again, Rory. What are you blaming Obama for? Not changing all the past ill advised policies of his predecessor? Not passing health care reform? Not enough re-regulation (government meddling in market), in the financial sector? No bowing to political pressure from his base? There's plenty of things to be critical of.

Does one need be fascinated to support him? I see you framed the racist canard in the form of a question. Some of his critics, not you in particular, are obsessed with his race, and are convinced he is illegitimate. (You know, those Birther folks.)

Are you disappointed that he hasn't moved quickly enough on an agenda that was promised and now political reality makes difficult to accomplish? Are you in favor of any of his proposed changes to the way things are? Or will you just criticize him again, when he finally does pass something?

How about being critical of the opposition that are hoping that the president fails. That will be just great for us as a country, now won't it. The audacity for some people to be hopeful for change, now that's something to criticize. Right?

Tell me Rory, what makes his "conservative" critics out there so hateful towards him? I'd really like to know.After just nine months in office, what exactly were you critical of regarding GWB?

Rory Cripps

at 08:36 on October 18th, 2009

nanute: Bush had to deal with 9-11 after nine months in office.Whether he dealt with it properly is a matter of opinion. Bush ran on a conservative platform (i.e. cut spending, taxes, etc) but turned out to be a big spender. In fact, he spent more than past Democratic presidents. The recession started under his administration and he did virtually nothing about it. Where have I been critical of the concept of "hope and change"? What I'm critical of is the fact that Obama hasn't brought about any "hope and change" in concrete terms. Talk is cheap. And that's all we hear from his administration. He's no different from past presidents--he's simply a politician and not a demigod as some would have us believe. He has not brought the country together by any means. He's a polarizing figure. Don't you think that a U.S. president (in spite of party affiliation) should make every effort to conduct his administration in as much of a bipartisan manner as he possibly can? His party owns the house and senate yet there are those, such as yourself, that continue to blame the opposition party because passage of certain legislation is being held up.

As far as Obama's critics being obsessed with his race, I think you've got that wrong. It seems to me that his supporters are the ones that are obsessed with his race and they play it to their advantage anytime someone makes a legitimate criticism of the Obama Administration. Indeed Obama's supporters are the very ones that so often bring up the race issue.

What I'm disappointed with is the fact that Obama hasn't begun to do anything about ethics and transparency in government via anti-trust, earmarks, and lobbying legislation. I'm also disappointed with the way he's been running the Afghanistan war. And what I'm really disappointed with is the health care fiasco and the completely partisan and ideological manner in which the legislation is being handled. The economy remains a basket case and the unemployment numbers are staggering. Yet the administration has in no way offered any "hope and change" to the millions of Americans that are out of work. One would think that a Democratic president especially would be more concerned with domestic issues such as the economy and resultant unemployment. This unemployment issue is a serious problem and it's not getting any better. As far as closing down Gitmo, so-called "torture", and the legal rights of terrorists, I don't give a crap! As far as I'm concerned that kind of legislation can remain on the back burner forever.

My problem is with those that can't get beyond ideology and political party affiliations. They look at everything through Democratic or Republican blinders and base their decisions on what's politically expedient for their party as opposed to what's best for their country and the American people.For someone to blame a particular political party and its leaders for virtually everything that's wrong with America is completely irrational and in no way benefits the nation and its citizens. It's time to look beyond partisan politics but I don't see that happening today in the Obama administration. President Obama needs to take the lead and mend some broken fences.

nanute

at 09:29 on October 18th, 2009

I give up Rory. You are right on everything you say. I on the other hand have nothing to add to the discussion. I'm just a partisan hack. I just can't wrap my head around the universe you reside in. Point out that opposition by the minority party and a group of loud mouthed unhinged extremist and I'm labeled a partisan ideologue.