Obama: Successes and Failures

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Table of Contents

Introduction
The Stimulus plan
The Healthcare Plan
Foreign policy
Works cited

Introduction

Fidel Castro once said that it is harder to win a war, and almost impossible to make use of the victory once it is achieved. It is nearly a year since Obama became the first black president of America. He came on at a time when the world was experiencing the worst global crisis in almost a century. His dealing with the congress has been impressive but his administration has had several challenges to deal with. First, there is the financial crisis, then the healthcare plan for all. He has had to deal with the Middle East crisis as well as the overall foreign policy. In this case, Obama has and will rely on the congress to help approve the financial needs for the whole administrative plan. This essay looks at how Obama has been dealing with Congress in this one year he has been in office.

The Stimulus plan

When he came in office early 2009, Obama had his work cut out on reviving the economy. At the time, Senator Tom Codburn admits that there was an extreme crisis which needed bold actions. Previously, banks had advertised their mortgages, people being clueless fell on their hooks and swallowed the bait. Hence they borrowed more than they could repay. Banks were on the brink of collapsing. This situation passed on the baton to the entire globe (1).

Obama’s first step was to initiate a stimulus plan that would help save the banks. Early in this year, Congress impressively approved his $787 billion stimulus bill to speed up the emergency government spending as well as cut taxes to a nation facing recession. Although this drew a slight opposition from Republicans who thought that tax cuts alone could not induce mortgage repayment, it would be a great leap forward (Codburn 4). Thomas Sowell adds that such a move would enable people to borrow again, something which would likely induce a deeper crisis (Para.3). He rubbished this move as slow and a way of courting the Congress in making irrational decisions. As it stands now, there are observable successes with the plan. Callah Young while writing for the Charleston Gazette recently observed that the stimulus plan has shielded many Americans from plunging into poverty. Among its successes, he noted were in the way low income earners received credits on Child tax, and Earned Income Tax. The jobless have got more days of emergency unemployment compensation and they get $25 more every week in supplements. Moreover, the elderly and people with disabilities get assistance from the government as well as food rations (Para. 4-6). Thus it has reduced the harshness of poverty. In this case, Obama relied on Congress to help revive the economy. It can be argued that Congress must have seen the need to restore the financial system because it is the driver of the nation. Besides, it was important to save the country from the emergent problems associated with the lending crisis.

Obama’s speech to Congress just before the bill was passed can be seen as that which intended to foster a better relationship for collaboration in the revival of the economy but, adds Codburn, once failure begins to be observed, Congress may begin to lambaste his policies as some of its members have already begun to do, and this is a way to keep Obama’s administration accountable (2).

The Healthcare Plan

Obama also found a nation whose healthcare system was largely unequalled. Many people with low income do not have insurance covers and whenever fatalities strike, they are usually left with large medical bills to cover (Shugarman, Karl and Lynn 255-256). This, Obama had said during his presidential campaigns that he would tackle them. In his healthcare plan, Obama would strive to review all government employers that self-insure to make sure to discourage smaller employers from self-insuring. Among other things tabled before the congress included; the empowerment of a government committee that would decide the kind of treatment every US citizen would receive, each person’s healthcare would be portioned and health benefits for each person would be selected by the government. In addition, retirees would get pay-off subsidies to help them ready themselves for medical support. However, there would be no freedom of choice; all qualified citizens would be involuntarily be enrolled in Medicaid (Fleckenstein 2-4).

Although there would be adequate information and education to people through groups such as ACORN and Americorps, there has been opposition in trying to put all private healthcare providers under government control. Blumenthal, Cutler and Liebman argue that this plan would be costly. Being a complex system that is uncertain, about $70 billion dollars would be spent annually if this plan is fully implemented. Thus, if the sources identified in the bill fail to be sufficient, the ordinary taxpayer would be compelled to finance the plan (3-4).But Obama has not relented on the plan; in his speech to the Congress about the plan, he challenged them to face the plan as a way of tackling health issues. Suzanne Malveaux and Dana Bash state that his speech detailed many of the subjects to be debated and urged for a uniform standpoint. This plan would not need change from existing coverage thus Americans would not feel the pinch of shifting to new covers (Para. 3-4).

Congress’s reaction was divided. Apparently, Democrats supported his proposal but Republicans, consisting of most conservatives chose to fight it. Malveaux and Bash add that Republican leaders opposed it from the start. Louisiana representative Charles Boustany accused Obama of continuing policies already opposed by many. Other republicans accused the plan of being bipartisan and thus bent on helping one side of the economy (para.6-7). In the end, Obama accused those in opposition to the plan as merely politicians. He wouldn’t allow his course for a uniform healthcare to be derailed. We can argue here that in case the plan sails through, Obama would have related with the congress with aggression. Republicans, to him oppose the bill because they want to further their political ambitions. Those who support him value the need to change the healthcare. Hence he dealt with the congress through a divided support. His democrat congressmen have no problem with the plan and that is where his support comes from.

Foreign policy

Obama’s foreign policy has been mainly based on the Middle East crisis. On coming to power, Obama promised to withdraw troupes from Iraq by the end of 2010 as a way of letting Iraqis self-govern. Although Katzman asserts that such a move may dwindle the harmony of people in Iraq, it appears both the congress and his administration concur with the move (7). In fact the recent speeches to Islamic communities around the world were meant to reflect on this decision.

Over time, America’s relationship with Islamic nations have been volatile, right from the Gulf War, many Islamic nations have seen America as anti-Islam. It is Obama’s recent change of trait that calls for the question of whether it is important to relate well with this community. Harvard professor, Joseph Nye argues that Obama knows that the Middle East has potential impact on world security. Hence it is important to court them into the US policy of fighting insecurity. By rejuvenating his relations with the Arab world, Obama wants to, further, impart the element of democracy in them (13). The investments in fighting wars in Afghanistan and maintaining security in volatile Iraq are seen as ways to induce such changes.

Then there is the issue of nuclear weapons. Recently, Obama announced the discovery of a covert Uranium Upgrading facility located in a military base in Iran. This identification has been analysed as a way to further his policy against nuclear proliferation. Nye adds that, having been supported at a recent G-20 summit in Pittsburgh, Obama has chosen to give the information to seek favour from partners (13).

Various other efforts were made; the US and Russia have been discussing ways on how to reduce strategic nuclear weapons. These countries have about 90% of the world’s nuclear stock. However, Obama needs the congress in all his moves. For example, the senate must approve the new agreement by next year. The congress will have to agree on when the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty should be submitted again. It should be noted that this treaty was rejects a decade ago by the same congress (Nye 13)

It will depend on how Obama courts the politicians this time. Sowell adds that international treaties regulating defences have been marred by controversies. The agreement rejected 10 years ago has already aroused suspicion. Previous presidents like John F Kennedy believed that many countries would have massive weapons by now but that has not happened. If Obama’s proposal is rejected, it will mean Obama’s agenda would be deeply weakened (Nye13).Obama needs to convince North Korea to resume talks on ending her nuclear ambitions and so should Iran. Nye writes again that Obama’s success on the international scene will depend on how he manoeuvres his home politics. He needs to maintain a good relationship with the congress.

Obama’s security concerns do not stop their. So far, he has indicated the intention to clear the Guantanamo prison. Through a special task force about 223 prisoners locked on the island would be cleared. Prisoners found guilty would be sent to other countries while the innocent would be sent home. Obama has set January as the deadline to close the camp.

And finally, Obama needs to convince his congressmen that his effort to support poor countries would not affect his economy. Already, he has pledged to give grants to African countries to help alleviate disease and poverty.

In conclusion, Obama’s relationship with the congress is diverse. He has been compelled to use criticism on his healthcare plan but he has to negotiate on the foreign policy. His administration agreed with the Congress to save the economy although some sceptics had to object. This kind of dealing is unpredictable and thus may become Obama’s advantage in future. It may be too early to judge his administration’s failure or success because he has only been in office for a year.

Works cited

Blumenthal, David, David Cutler, and Jeffrey Liebman. “Obama Healthcare Plan.” The New York Times. 2009. Web.

Codburn, Tom. “100 stimulus Projects: a Second Opinion.” The Wall street Journal. 2009. Web.

Fleckenstein, Peter. “Obama administration’s Healthcare plan.” Liberty Counsel. [PDF version]. 2009. Web.

Katzman, Kenneth. “The Kurds in Post-Saddam Iraq.” Congressional Research Service. 2009. Web.

Malveaux, Suzanne, and Dana Bash. “Obama calls for Congress to face health care Challenge.” Cable News Network [Online]. 2009. Web.

Nye, Joseph S. “Obama’s Delicate Nuclear Agenda.” Daily Nation. 2009:13

Sowell, Thomas. “The Obama Stimulus Plan: Hurry up and Wait.” Washington Times. 2009.

Shugarman, Lisa R., PhD, Lorenz Karl, MD, MSHS and Joanne Lynn, MD, MS.

“End-of Life Care: an Agenda for Policy Improvement.” Clinics in Geriatric medicine 21(2005):255-272. Web.

Young, Callah. “Stimulus Plan Fact and Fiction.” Charleston Gazette. 2009. Web.

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