Presidential perspectives
A little off track
Matt Kasznel
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Opinions
Last update: 4/29/09 at 9:25 PM EST
Based on the events of his first 100 days in office, President Barack Obama's term is not off to the start many voters anticipated.
The administration has tried to turn the White House into a modern-day "Camelot." Indeed, the Obamas are the most popular "first family" since John F. Kennedy was in office, and Obama himself is a cultural phenomenon never before seen in the West Wing. But is it possible the family's public image is being used to cover up issues within the administration?
After all, Obama has not even finished appointing his cabinet, and already a few of his cabinet members are under investigation for tax evasion and unlawful employment of foreign domestic help.
The media are currently going along with Obama, the public figure, but eventually, it will be time for Obama, the nation's leader, to provide some answers.
However, Obama's current plans for high-profile issues seem like undeveloped ideas. Where will Guantanamo Bay prisoners go once they are released? Is announcing a 16-month timetable for Iraq a good decision, and will all troops be removed by then?
Instead of prioritizing, he argues that full economic recovery hinges on the passing of his entire program at one time. With so many pressing national issues, Obama has tried to solve them all at the same time while pleasing as many people as possible. Telling opponents he loves the idea of a free market economy does not resonate well after the drastic economic interventions that have taken place during his short time in office.
The biggest issue Obama faces is the deteriorating economy. As a Democrat, Obama has made it very clear that he plans to spend America's way out of the recession. But, according to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, government spending has had no substantial effect on unemployment nor per-capita income since 1947.
His efforts to bolster labor unions and create jobs are admirable, but he will need to raise taxes or borrow money for these plans, destroying more jobs than he would create. In order for Obama's current economic blueprint to work, he would need to expand government to a size not seen since Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman, and 60 percent of Americans already think the government has too much power and too much money.
Of course, it is still early in the show, and it is my hope that Obama can make good on his promises. Unfortunately, his term could be consumed with cleaning up the messes George W. Bush left behind. Obama's administration has made it very clear that they have simply "inherited" these problems and will likely request a free pass from the American people come election time.
Nevertheless, Obama is a very intelligent individual, with a strong supporting cast of advisers and could still be the right man for this role; he just needs to make up for a slow start.
Matt Kasznel is a sophomore journalism major and can be reached at kasznel1035@duq.edu.
The administration has tried to turn the White House into a modern-day "Camelot." Indeed, the Obamas are the most popular "first family" since John F. Kennedy was in office, and Obama himself is a cultural phenomenon never before seen in the West Wing. But is it possible the family's public image is being used to cover up issues within the administration?
After all, Obama has not even finished appointing his cabinet, and already a few of his cabinet members are under investigation for tax evasion and unlawful employment of foreign domestic help.
The media are currently going along with Obama, the public figure, but eventually, it will be time for Obama, the nation's leader, to provide some answers.
However, Obama's current plans for high-profile issues seem like undeveloped ideas. Where will Guantanamo Bay prisoners go once they are released? Is announcing a 16-month timetable for Iraq a good decision, and will all troops be removed by then?
Instead of prioritizing, he argues that full economic recovery hinges on the passing of his entire program at one time. With so many pressing national issues, Obama has tried to solve them all at the same time while pleasing as many people as possible. Telling opponents he loves the idea of a free market economy does not resonate well after the drastic economic interventions that have taken place during his short time in office.
The biggest issue Obama faces is the deteriorating economy. As a Democrat, Obama has made it very clear that he plans to spend America's way out of the recession. But, according to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, government spending has had no substantial effect on unemployment nor per-capita income since 1947.
His efforts to bolster labor unions and create jobs are admirable, but he will need to raise taxes or borrow money for these plans, destroying more jobs than he would create. In order for Obama's current economic blueprint to work, he would need to expand government to a size not seen since Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman, and 60 percent of Americans already think the government has too much power and too much money.
Of course, it is still early in the show, and it is my hope that Obama can make good on his promises. Unfortunately, his term could be consumed with cleaning up the messes George W. Bush left behind. Obama's administration has made it very clear that they have simply "inherited" these problems and will likely request a free pass from the American people come election time.
Nevertheless, Obama is a very intelligent individual, with a strong supporting cast of advisers and could still be the right man for this role; he just needs to make up for a slow start.
Matt Kasznel is a sophomore journalism major and can be reached at kasznel1035@duq.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
George Patsourakos
posted 5/13/09 @ 6:00 PM EST
For a Duquesne University student to write that President Obama expects to be reelected President because he inherited the messes George W. Bush left behind is unrealistic. (Continued…)
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