Give the Man Some Credit

I have heard a lot of President Obama grievances in the past year. Sure, the jabs from the right are to be expected. However, increasing complaints have been echoing through the liberal crowds as well. I think it’s kind of a bummer. Not just because I have been an eager Obama supporter prior to 2008, but because I honestly think many people have unrealistic expectations and will likely never be happy because of that.

Don’t get me wrong. Our President has disappointed me numerous times in the past couple years. Extending tax cuts for the rich, Race to the Top and his recent signing of NDAA are prime examples of that. But I have no delusions about political satisfaction. There is no way he can appease everyone in any given moment and the sad fact is, I won’t always be pleased.

I love my husband. I chose to marry him even though we sure don’t see eye to eye on everything. We somehow manage to compromise, sacrifice and work together despite our differences. Sometimes our views change or evolve to match one another. Other times we simply agree to disagree. And once in a while, we refuse to get off our pulpits and continue to try to change each other’s minds. And my God, if we did agree on everything – how sickening would that be?!

So, while I could have waited to meet someone who agrees with everything I think and say – I chose to spend my life with a man who sometimes makes me shake my head and roll my eyes. So, how can I expect that an elected official, whom I have not had a chance to groom, would do everything exactly the way I want? I can’t.

I also think that there is a large liberal population out there who may have forgotten all that President Obama has accomplished.

The repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was pretty high on my hopeful to-do list and that can now be checked off.

I have been waiting for these horrible wars to come to an end. And while not soon enough, the gears are finally in motion.

The Affordable Care Act has been enacted to ensure the health of U.S. citizens and protect them from escalating insurance costs. While I feel these measures have not gone as far as they need to, it is a huge step towards a new much needed healthcare system.

The Lilly Ledbetter Act was passed to ensure fair pay for women, though I cannot believe this is even an issue in this day and age (sigh).

President Obama instituted student loan reform to help students pay back their federal loans.

While I did not agree with the Wall Street bailouts, I do believe that the auto bailouts salvaged thousands of jobs and was a success in the end.

The Recovery Act may not have saved every job, but I do believe it likely secured our country from an all out depression.

There is also the START Treaty between Russia and America which limits nuclear warheads.

And again, though I think it doesn’t quite go far enough, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act is a wonderful step towards nutrition intervention in our schools.

I do not like to celebrate death in any circumstance; however, President Obama ordered the capture and kill of the world’s most notorious terrorist, Osama bin Laden.

Wall Street Reform, The Card Act, Veteran’s Benefits Act, Human Rights Enforcement Act are just a few more of the many accomplishments made in the last 3 years. And our Commander in Chief is deserving of some credit for these accomplishments.

Some of us may think that Obama has compromised a little too much; that he tried too hard to placate both sides of the aisle while leaving behind some values held by his base. But honestly, with his hands tied by a do-nothing Congress, I believe he has achieved a lot in a short amount of time.

Let’s give credit where credit is due and hope that some measures will be expanded upon and more obstacles will be met in the next term.