This started as what was supposed to be a one sentence reply to a comment saying that President Obama was a right of center President. However I thought it was diary worthy. I know that this may not be a wide held view here, but I ask you at least consider what I am saying. Thanks!
Barack Obama is not a right of center President. A right of center politician would not have done:
a drastic overhaul of our health care system
Ended DADT
Enforced equal pay for equal work
Allowed study of embryonic stem cell research
Ended blocking the media from covering soldiers being brought back to Dover if ok with family
Created the first ever White House office of Urban Affairs
Got the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, and the Making Home Affordable Program which both helped to get millions of Americans avoid preventable foreclosures, and provides over 2 billion to help fight homelessness
Mandated aggressive efficiency standards relating to household appliances
Took a huge step towards ending unfair/deceptive credit card practices
Provided child care to working families
Signed the Mathew Shepard hate crime legislation
Fought the GOP's assault on unemployment benefits
Ended global gag rule
Added drastic upgrades to the endangered species act
Created a massive stimulus bill that, while not perfect, likely kept things from getting much worse, and was much more than a center right or even centrist President would propose.
Has made large cuts in wasteful defense spending
Increased funding for building new schools
Went to, and met with, more countries and world leaders than any president in his first 6 months as Commander in Chief
Instituted the highly successful cash for clunkers
Expanded SChip to include 4 million more children
Gave tax right offs to those who buy hybrids
Eliminated offshore tax safe havens
His policies have lowered drug costs for seniors
Increased student loans
Made it so the FDA is now regulating tobacco
Appointed two liberals to the SCOTUS and many, many more.
Obama is not a center right President. Yes, I know he has made some tough choices that I do not particularly like, nor do I think he does either, but they had to be made because things don't always work out the way we want, they just can't. I am not saying do not criticize President Obama. I am not saying there are not valid criticisms to be made even. But like the Rolling Stones song says "you can't always get what you want but, if you try some times you get what you need". We need Barack Obama. Even if he doesn't always do what we want 100% of the time, how many of those things do you think a President Perry would do? Do you think he, or any of the other loons they have running, would help the progressive movement?
Mon Sep 05, 2011 at 9:41 AM PT: Wow! When I posted this I thought it would get three comments or so. I am so honored to see all the attention this has gotten. I have not yet went through the comments, or even close, but I look forward to looking through them. I am also very surprised and happy about the poll results. which indicate the majority of kos users still stand behind this President. Thank you all.