Ways Obama Has Changed Politics…And It’s Only His First Week
January 23, 2009
- Image by jmtimages via Flickr
Crap, I’m writing a post about Obama, again, when everyone and their mom has been blogging about Barack Obama this week. But while the inauguration was moving, and Tuesday was a fun day of celebration for almost everyone, now the real work has begun. And Mr. Obama, the world’s biggest celebrity, has just started the toughest job on earth. And yes, the expectations of him and pressure on him is so enormous that it’s basically impossible to fathom how he will ever live up to people’s dreams.
But although he partied the night away on Tuesday, Obama certainly has an unparalleled work ethic. He’s been in office for a whole two days, so he hasn’t found a magic cure for the economy yet, but he’s already proving in small — and some not-so-small — ways that he can change politics as usual…
- He was the first President to EVER mention Muslims, Hindus and nonbelievers in his inaugural speech. I know it’s one speech, but it is a highly significant speech, and trust me — the Hindus, Muslims, and nonbelievers in America were all cheering when he said it. Thus it’s highly significant that the President made a point of emphasizing that we are NOT a Christian nation. “We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers,” Obama said. In a time when religious tolerance is still hard to come by, and some still even claim that America is a Christian nation, it’s extremely refreshing to see a President embrace and encourage the religious patchwork of America on his first day in office.
- He fought to keep the Blackberry, and won. During his first briefing as Press Secretary Robert Gibbs revealed that Obama is keeping the Blackberry. It may seem like a small victory…but it’s a big step for a historically technophobic White House. It means the President of the US will be less sheltered from the American people, and that he is finally ushering the White House into the 21st century. Obama may even have a PC in the Oval Office…another huge step for the White House…
- He signed the Executive Order to close Guantanamo Bay within a year. Guantanamo Bay has been a source of global embarassment for much of America; signing the Executive Order to close it within a year is a step worth noting. He also signed other executive orders promising the US “will not torture,” closing down overseas CIA prisons, and prohibiting too-harsh interrogation techniques like waterboarding. Immediately, within his first two days, he’s already hard at work tearing down some of the policies of the last eight years that were a big source of embarassment for America – kind of impressive.
- When the people asked for answers, his Press Secretary didn’t answer…but Obama did. Earlier this month on Change.gov, where users can submit questions they want to ask the President and vote for their favorite, the most popular question out of over 70,000 was whether the Obama administration will appoint a special prosecutor to “independently investigate the gravest crimes of the Bush administration, including torture and warrantless wiretapping” — and instead of answering, Gibbs ignored it and answered other questions. Obama, however, answered the question — on national television, no less — stating that he wanted to move forward but would not rule out a special prosecutor. His efforts to make government more transparent and more accessible to the people are admirable, even when aides try to practice politics as usual.
I know the expectations for Obama are ridiculously high. So high, it seems people forget a lot of the time that he is still a mere mortal. And it seems almost impossible that he can live up to all the expectations — 62 percent of Americans expect him to be an outstanding or above-average President. However, in his first few days he is already starting to prove he is changing what he can — and that’s a positive sign for the next four years.
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As evidence of his “Change you can believe in” and his efforts toward cooperation, Barack obama has agreed to forgive and forget, to work in cooperation with the felons, embezzlers and tax cheats who destroyed the world’s economy by putting one of the worst of them in charge of the economic and banking bailout.
By the way I like your blog; care to exchange reciprocal blogroll links?
Read more about Obama’s breakthrough on setting an ethical example for the nation at
http://franklynchusa.wordpress.com/2009/01/23/obama-needs-to-learn-about-ethics-finance-and-the-economy/
I totally concour with what you are saying.
I’m from Portugal, and we here are very pleased with the election of Barak Obama. Even if that decison is for the Americans alone, it is a decison that can affect the lives of people worldwide. The inauguration speech was the speech of a true leader, and gave that sensation of hope Obama has relied upon all of this time. And that is something you cannot buy. Pure hope may be the best weapon against this crisis, and the best one.
Go Obama!
Obama is smart on so many levels for ordering the closure of Guantanamo. It has been a long time coming
And he reversed the Bush FOIA silence memo on his first day in office!
And now you can add his repeal of the Global Gag Rule!
Haha, everyone is writing about this. I was excited too, and couldn’t help myself! =D
I feel myself breathing easier already… I only hope that we don’t complacent because we believe Obama will do it all for us. That’s my biggest worry. Great post.
Don’t forget his reversal of Bush
eraerror ban on federal funding for embroyonic stem cell research, and federal money for abortion research. Huge steps in my book.Really enjoyed this post! The thing you said about expectations of Obama — I’m wondering if the American people created these expectations or if Obama promised a lot so we expect more now? I’m guessing a little bit of both.
I think the expectations are over the top, but Obama has shown, just by running for president, that he has the courage to try and change things. Considering the mess he’s taken on, I’m willing to give him some time and breathing room to tackle what he can. That he’s started out very focused is promising.
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[...] on Change.gov, forcing the President to answer it on live television. As Nisha Chittal points out, aides can’t practice “politics as usual” in the Obama administration. I hope Gibbs will learn from his mistake, and will practice the type [...]
Being President is such a tough job and Obama continues to do a great job!