Demystifying Obama’s Inflated Legacy Recent statements from the White House have assured us that President Obama has a very high opinion of the quality of his performance. Those of us with a broader than average historical perspective tend to think otherwise. But we thought it would be helpful to conduct a survey of some of Obama’s more outstanding campaign promises and endeavors to see how true his aim has been. Here’s a point by point breakdown on Obama’s legacy.
Closing Guantanamo – 0/5 stars
This was a leading promise made in 2008. It was one of the main reasons we bought into his “Change” slogans. Unfortunately, Guantanamo remains open to this day, and his February promise to make good on this eight-year-old campaigning point will most likely remain unfulfilled.
35% Oil Consumption reduction by 2030 – 1/5 stars
Given that he would have to install self-perpetuating constraints on the oil industry to pull this promise out of his briefcase- we have little doubt that he had every intention of delivering. However, even on this issue, a major talking point of the left, Obama has failed to deliver. US petroleum dependence is as strong as ever with no signs of change.
$500 Tax Credit for Workers – 2/5 stars
The idea of tax credits, especially after the recession, got a lot of working people and struggling families excited. But the administration has only sporadically followed through on this, enacting the tax credit one year, and failing to enforce it the next.
End the War in Afghanistan – 0/5 stars
Ending the war in Iraq as promised by moving troops whole hog into Afghanistan wasn’t really what the American people had in mind when we voted Obama in back in ‘08. But when he promised, subsequently to end the Afghan war as well by 2014- we were supportive- if skeptical.
To the surprise of few, he has broken this promise- resorting to drone warfare which has caused the wrongful deaths of thousands upon thousands of innocent non-combatants in Afghanistan and untold American casualties. Obama has proven himself a bigger “war president” than his predecessor.
Restore the Gulf Coast – 4/5 stars
We don’t want to withhold due credit, so it bears mentioning that Obama’s plan to restore the coastal wetlands that help to protect against hurricanes have been followed through with more than less. He did work with local governmental bodies to help them recover from Katrina, as well as the BP oil spill. To boot, the president deployed Deepwater Horizon to deliver unexpected aid in August of last year. Kudos, Mr. President.
Restoration of New Orleans Housing – 1/5 stars
If you need further proof that class is a much greater factor than race in deciding who is treated well and who is treated poorly, then we would point you to the fact that Obama has done little for the largely African-American people whose communities were devastated by hurricane Katrina. Many homes remain boarded up, the demand for rental units has not been met, a large portion of those displaced have not been able to return, and middle-class people have been moved into renovated and gated areas to replace them.
Immigration Reform – 1/5 stars
We’ll at least give Obama some credit as he did make an effort. Thankfully his efforts failed though. In November the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld a lower court’s decision that blocked him from giving amnesty to millions of illegal aliens living in the US. The president is appealing the decision but an overturn is not likely at this point. Even if the ruling was overturned by the Supreme Court the next president could undo it within a few short months.
Health Care – 2/5 stars
Obamacare started with a bang and is now collapsing under its own weight. Costs are rising out of control and taking up way more of our national budget than it was supposed to. Coverage that only a few years ago cost a couple hundred dollars will now run several thousand dollars. And that’s with deductibles so high that no one can afford to actually go to the doctor or have any elective procedures. Obamacare has failed on more promises than it has kept. No one has let Obama forget his foolish promise “If you like your insurance you can keep it.”
While many strident supporters are eager to call him the best president in history, the fact is that the Obama administration has been at best, a mixed bag. He’s deported more immigrants than any president in history, has been more hawkish than his republican predecessor, and has been slow to enforce the progressive agenda his biggest supporters have been so excited about- and those are just the issues he his supporters glommed onto him over. Overall, if one is to be kind, Obama has given us only mediocre change we can believe in.
Poster Comment:
Failed legacy and the WORST President in history.