The Obama Paradox

I've been reading a lot about the so-called Obama paradox, i.e., President Obama has passed so many important bills yet his approval ratings aren't great. Our (my) great hope for change shifted into the race to pull the country from the brink of economic collapse considered by some economists to be the second Great Depression.

Despite what one does, it does not appear to resonate until one controls the message. Democrats have yet to catch up with the well-oiled GOP communications machine, the one that can cause a reasonable person to repeat some of the most unreasonable things.

Within the last year and a half, President Obama and administration have passed:

The most historic financial reform since the Great Depression


Health Reform, although lesser coverage than that proposed and lost by President Richard Nixon


An economic stimulus package, with the largest middle class tax cut in history and historic investments in infrastructure and alternative energy


Credit Card Reform


Student Loan Reform


Civil Rights Legislation: Lillie Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and Hate Crimes Act


Historic Nuclear Agreements: one on international nuclear terrorism and one with Russia regarding nuclear weapons


And, he has achieved economic growth as stated above, along with turning job numbers back in the right direction.


The man WON THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE, for goodness sake! Yes, we can argue that he inherited and is continuing two wars, much to my dismay, but that is a post for another time.


Just this week, despite stalling by the GOP, he restored unemployment insurance for 2.5 million Americans looking for a job AND signed a sweeping Wall Street Financial Regulatory Reform Bill. (source)

How is this being lost on the public resulting in poor approval ratings? Here is my list: 1) apathy, 2) the inherited and continued, although improved, economic collapse, 3) the opposition noise machine (Fox News, conservative activists), etc., and 4) the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Washington Post reported the Chamber has spent $3 million/week or $150 million since Jan. 2009 fighting policies of the Obama administration.

If Americans aren't comfortable to go out and spend their hard-earned money on anything and everything they desire or just be able to make ends meet more comfortably, it won't matter that so much historic legislation passed in this short period of time. But, despite the economic situation, President Obama can still fight for what he believes in and for the change many of us had voted. Take those stands and lives will still be positively affected. The approval ratings and votes will follow.

This is, by all accounts, a nation of independents (although it doesn't feel like that sometimes). Forget the ones that believe liberals have cooties. Focus on doing the right thing and don't lose your soul. The approval ratings and votes will follow.

This is my 1,000th post.