A Letter to President Obama

Dear Mr. Obama:

I am not entirely please with how your presdidency has gone to date.  I, and many Americans, bought the promise of "change we can believe in."  We thought that you would be able to do things to improve our lives that were real and achieveable.  Sadly, what we've witnessed is a strictly pragmatic approach to solutions combined with a sort of naivete about how to accomplish things.  That is almost a pure contradiction but I think it best describes what has happened.

You pulled out all the stops to get some kind of health care reform done.  That, I can appreciate in some ways.  It's not the reform that I would have chosen, but it IS an improvement.  You didn't communicate what it does very well; you still have an opportunity to do so, but I guess since it's done you've moved on to other things.

I am severely disappointed with your stance on gay rights.  Yes, it might not be completely popular among the African American community (a core constituency) to support gay rights, but there is a plurality in favor of them.  And, screw the polls-- there is something called justice and another thing called morality.  I'm quite certain that you feel the same way but wonder if "America is ready"; well, you know what?  America wasn't ready for de-segretated schools, but it was the right thing to do.  Support removing restrictions on gay marriage; hell, leave it to the states but support the removal of federal restrictions.  And STOP directing the DOJ to defend "don't ask, don't tell."  It's a solution that even in the early '90s was recognized as backwards and controversial.  That's right, I said "directing."  Yes, the DOJ makes its own decisions, but it's not like you can't say "stop."  The DOJ is part and parcel of the executive branch of the federal government.  You have the power.  Young people and the future think it's wrong; it IS wrong.  End it.

I suppose global warming is on the rocks at this point.  Screw it, right?  Won't happen for years and years, so we can punt it.  That's the problem with issues like these, though-- we don't have the perspective or ability to solve long-term externalities.  We all hoped and thought that you would, but you just didn't.  Two years with strong majorities in Congress, and you just couldn't pull it together.  Yes, your opposition--Big Oil--is tough, but in January 2009, they were weak and you were strong. 

And now.  Taxes.  Even after the new Congress takes office, Democrats still will have a majority in the Senate and, of course, you as President, but somehow, someway, the Republicans have the bully pulpit.  What the hell?  Listen, this is what you do, okay?  You tell the Republicans that you'll extend the middle-class tax cuts--hell, you tell 'em you'll even cut the mid rates a bit so that you're not only keeping things the same but giving middle class people a little bit more-- but you tell the Republicans to just shove it on the rich people tax cut.  And if the tax cuts expire, come on!  SERIOUSLY!  Where did you learn to negotiate???  You're driving me crazy here, Obama!  You can't out-argue, out-politic, out-communicate on THIS issue?  Then what the hell are you doing in office?

You haven't been treated quite fairly, I'll admit and acknowledge.  From Day 1, the media has been out to get you:  Fox, because they're conservative; CNN and the rest, because, well, they were looking for a chance to burst the bubble.  There's also the shadow of racism, which I think is the fount of some of the Tea Party criticism (just like the visceral hate of Hillary Clinton because she is a powerful woman, among conservatives, you being black stirs up some hate and anger).  And, of course, there's the shitty economy, which punishes anyone in charge.  But you have brought much of this on yourself with your ham-handed and naive negotiating tactics and poor communication.  I expected more, and I hope for more.  I'll likely vote for you again in a couple of years, but it'll probably be more because I don't want a President Palin than any other reason.  Make me vote for a different reason.  Please.