An objective observer, applying critical reasoning, judges by outcomes. In domestic policy, I have yet to see a demonstration of effective negotiation by this president. Obamacare was no negotiation; it was an imposition by a party with sufficient political power to do so. Negotiation requires a give-and-take, in which you obtain something more than you can impose. Where has Obama thus far demonstrated that effectively? Please don't tell me Ukraine. Putin demonstrated what he thinks of Obama's - and indeed NATO's - resolve.
Returned The Executive Branch To Fiscal Responsibility
Within his first week, he signed an Executive Order ordering an audit of government contracts, and combating waste and abuse.
http://1.usa.gov/dUvbu5
Created the post of Chief Performance Officer, whose job it is to make operations more efficient to save the federal government money.
http://n.pr/hcgBn1
On his first full day, he froze White House salaries.
http://on.msnbc.com/ewJUIx
He appointed the first Federal Chief Information Officer to oversee federal IT spending.
http://www.cio.gov
He committed to phasing out unnecessary and outdated weapons systems. To that end, he also signed the Democratic-sponsored Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act, which attempted to put a stop to waste, fraud and abuse in the defense procurement and contracting system.
http://bit.ly/hOw1t1http://bit.ly/fz8GAd
Through an executive order, he created the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.
http://bit.ly/hwKhKa
Prevented a Bush Depression and Improved the Economy
Pushed through and signed the Democratic-sponsored American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as “the stimulus package.” The bill passed, even though only three Republicans voted for it. In a major departure from the previous administration, he launched recovery.gov, a website that allows taxpayers to track spending from the Act.
http://1.usa.gov/ibiFSshttp://1.usa.gov/e3BJMk
The Bush-led Great Recession was costing the economy nearly 800,000 jobs per month by the time President Obama took office. But by the end of his first year, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created and sustained 2.1 million jobs and stimulated the economy by 3.5%.
http://reut.rs/i46CEE
Not only did he completed the massive TARP financial and banking rescue plan, he also leaned on the banks and others, and recovered virtually all of the bail-out money.
http://1.usa.gov/eA5jVShttp://bit.ly/eCNrD6
He created the Making Home Affordable home refinancing plan.
http://1.usa.gov/goy6zl
Oversaw the creation of more jobs in 2010 alone than Bush did in eight years.
http://bit.ly/hrrnjY
Along with Democrats, and almost no Republicans, implemented an auto industry rescue plan, and saved as many as 1 million jobs.
http://bit.ly/ibhpxr Many are of the opinion that he saved the entire auto industry, and even the economy of the entire Midwest.
http://bit.ly/gj7mt5This resulted in GM returning to its place as the top car company in the world.
http://lat.ms/zIJuQx
Doubled funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which is designed to improve manufacturing efficiency.
http://bit.ly/eYD4nf
Signed the Democratic-sponsored Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act giving the federal government more tools to investigate and prosecute fraud in every corner of the financial system, and create a bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the financial fraud that led to the economic meltdown.
http://abcn.ws/g18Fe7
Signed the Democratic-sponsored Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which was designed to to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive credit card practices.
http://1.usa.gov/gIaNcS
Increased infrastructure spending after years of neglect.
http://bit.ly/f77aOw
Signed the Democratic-sponsored and passed Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, expanding on the Making Home Affordable Program to help millions of Americans avoid preventable foreclosures. The bill also provided $2.2 billion to help combat homelessness, and to stabilize the housing market.
http://bit.ly/eEpLFn
Through the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, he and Congressional Democrats provided tax credits to first-time home buyers, which helped the U.S. housing market recovery.
http://bit.ly/dZgXXwhttp://bit.ly/gORYfL
Initiated a $15 billion plan designed to encourage increased lending to small businesses.
http://1.usa.gov/eu0u0b
Created business.gov, which allows for online collaboration between small businesses and experts re managing a business. (The program has since merged with SBA.gov.)
http://www.business.gov
Played a lead role in getting the G-20 Summit to commit to a $1.1 trillion deal to combat the global financial crisis.
http://nyti.ms/gHlgp5
Took steps to improve minority access to capital.
http://bit.ly/f9xVE7
Signed an Executive Order instructing federal agencies to review all federal regulations and remove any unnecessary and/or burdensome regulations from the books.
http://1.usa.gov/Lpo5bd
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, saved at least 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors that would have otherwise been lost.
http://1.usa.gov/ez30D
Dismantled the Minerals Management Service, thereby cutting ties between energy companies and the government.
http://nyti.ms/bw1MLu
Along with Congressional Democrats, provided funding to states and the Department of Homeland Security to save thousands of police and firefighter jobs from being cut during the recession.
http://bit.ly/g0IKWR
Used recovered TARP money to fund programs at local housing finance agencies in California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Michigan.
http://on.msnbc.com/i1i8eV
Crafted and signed an executive order establishing the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability to assist in financial education for all Americans.
http://bit.ly/eyqsNE
China’s largest manufacturer, Foxconn, is building a large plant in Pennsylvania
http://cnnmon.ie/1k7LT4S
Worked with Apple Computer to get them to build more product here, and thecompany is building two large plants to manufacture products here; one in Texas
http://zd.net/1nkpt2O and one in Arizona
http://bit.ly/1mXY5Vg
Oversaw increase of manufacturing jobs by more than 500,000 since 2010, and created an institute to invest in more manufacturing jobs in the technology fields of the future.
http://nyti.ms/1egyXrV
Ordered all federal contractors to pay a minimum wage of $10.10 per hour, leading the way to a national increase.
http://wapo.st/1iaU5kd
Ordered the completion of the International Trade Data System, a digital trade record book, by 2016. This move will streamline and simplify the process through which small- and medium-sized businesses set up the export of US goods.
http://bit.ly/1nwSRF4
Created a climate in which there have been 55 consecutive months of job growth, totaling more than 10 million jobs, which is roughly 10,000,000 more jobs than Bush created in eight years.
http://1.usa.gov/1vBDeyCThis is also the longest stretch of private-sector job growth in US history.
http://wapo.st/1w3J8Zy
Led the country to 64 consecutive months of economic expansion, eclipsing Saint Reagan’s record, by far.
http://onforb.es/1sxJ2by
Oversaw a reduction in the dollar amount of the federal budget deficit by two-thirds since taking office.
http://bit.ly/1xKMmjY
Reduced the federal budget deficit from 9.8% of GDP in Fiscal Year 2009 under Bush, to 2.9% of GDP in FY 2014.
http://www.cbo.gov/publication/45653
Under Obama, the stock market has reached record highs, restoring most of the economic losses felt during the Bush Recession, when it reached record lows, adjusted for inflation.
http://bit.ly/1z4FAtL
Brought Much-Improved Transparency and Better Government
Signed an order banning gifts from lobbyists to anyone in the Executive Branch.
http://bit.ly/fsBACN
Signed an order banning anyone from working in an agency they had lobbied in previous years, and put strict limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House.
http://nyti.ms/gOrznV
Held the first-ever first online town hall from the White House, and took questions from the public.
http://bit.ly/gVNSgX
Became the first to stream every White House event, live.
http://1.usa.gov/kAgOP5
Established a central portal for Americans to find service opportunities.
http://www.serve.gov
Issued an Executive Order on Presidential Records, which restored the 30-day time frame for former presidents to review records, and eliminated the right for the vice president or family members of former presidents to do the reviews. Provides the public with greater access to historic White House documents, and severely curtails the ability to use executive privilege to shield them.
http://1.usa.gov/gUetLb
Improved aspects of the Freedom of Information Act, and issued new guidelines to make FOIA more open and transparent when processing FOIA requests.
http://1.usa.gov/gjrnp2
Proposed rules that would streamline the Department of Education’s procurement policies and make them more transparent.
http://bit.ly/1r9oQvh
Provided the first voluntary disclosure of the White House Visitors Log in history.
http://1.usa.gov/hQ7
Signed a law to completely reform NSA Data Collection program and keep phone records in the hands of the phone company.
http://bit.ly/1dG34vD
Wall Street Reforms and Consumer Protection
Ordered 65 executives who took bailout money to cut their own pay until they paid back all bailout money.
http://huff.to/eAi9Qq
Along with Congressional Democrats, pushed through and got passed Dodd-Frank, one of the largest and most comprehensive Wall Street reforms since the Great Depression.
http://bit.ly/hWCPg0http://bit.ly/geHpcD
By signing Dodd-Frank legislation, created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
http://1.usa.gov/j5onG
Created rules that reduce the influence of speculators in the oil market.
http://bit.ly/MDnA1t
Fashioned rules so that banks can no longer use YOUR money to invest in high-risk financial instruments that work against their own customers’ interests.
http://bit.ly/fnTayj
Supported the concept of allowing stockholders to vote on executive compensation.
http://bit.ly/fnTayj
Endorsed and supported the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 that would close offshore tax avoidance loopholes.
http://bit.ly/esOdfBhttp://bit.ly/eG4DPM
Negotiated a deal with Swiss banks that now permits the US government to gain access to the records of criminals and tax evaders.
http://bit.ly/htfDgw
Signed the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, which closed many of the loopholes that allowed companies to send jobs overseas, and avoid paying US taxes by moving money offshore.
http://1.usa.gov/bd1RTq
Established a Consumer Protection Financial Bureau designed to protect consumers from financial sector excesses.
http://bit.ly/fnTayj
Oversaw and then signed a Democratic bill constituting the most sweeping food safety legislation since the Great Depression.
http://thedc.com/gxkCtP
Through the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, extended the False Claims Act to combat fraud by companies and individuals using money from the TARP and Stimulus programs.
http://bit.ly/SLTcSa
Set up rules for banks in handling legal marijuana money.
http://nyti.ms/1b80o2K
Signed Executive Order to add a number of further protections to consumer financial transactions, to further limit instances of identity theft.
http://1.usa.gov/1pjfUFq
Took steps to prevent pirate fishing and protect fish populations, and ordered stricter labeling requirements on labeling of seafood products in stores.
http://1.usa.gov/1BYhTUn
Enhanced Civil Rights and Anti-Discrimination
Along with Congressional Democrats, advocated for and signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which made it a federal crime to assault anyone based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity.
http://bit.ly/gsMSJ7
Pushed through, signed and demanded the Pentagon enact a repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy that forced soldiers to lie in order to be eligible to fight for their country, and put our troops at risk by disqualifying many qualified soldiers from helping.
http://bit.ly/fdahuHhttp://bit.ly/mZV4Pz
Extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.
http://1.usa.gov/g2RLCj
Appointed more openly gay officials than anyone in history.
http://bit.ly/g1lA7D
Appointed first openly transgender Cabinet Official in History.
http://bit.ly/58zUp7
Changed HUD rules to prohibit gender and sexual orientation-based discrimination in housing bit.ly/9RxEnP
Changed his mind and publicly expressed support for same-sex marriage.
http://bit.ly/JsiFKp
Issued a Presidential Memorandum reaffirming the rights of gay couples to make medical decisions for each other.
http://1.usa.gov/aUueGT
Wrote and signed an Executive Order establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies evaluate the effect of their policies and programs on women and families.
http://bit.ly/e1puTkhttp://1.usa.gov/rFfqMM
Signed the Democratic-sponsored Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which restored basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers. This was after the GOP blocked the bill in 2007. Only 5 Republican Senators voted for the bill.
http://bit.ly/fT3Cxg
Signed two executive orders that mirror provisions of the Paycheck Fairness Act, because the GOP Congress refuses to pass it. It makes is possible for employees to talk about their salaries without retaliation, and orders salary data collection. These measures will make it harder for employers to pay women less.
http://huff.to/1nwVOWf
Expanded funding for the Violence Against Women Act.
http://1.usa.gov/dSbI0x
Under his guidance, National Labor Relations Board issued final rules that require all employers to prominently post employees’ rights where all employees or prospective employees can see it, including all websites and intranets.
http://1.usa.gov/qu2EhQ
Advocated that United Nations adopt a policy supporting gay rights worldwide.
http://lat.ms/pQe1RS
Issued an order requiring hospitals to allow visitation by same-sex couples.
http://reut.rs/llNJek
Appointed Kareem Dale as the first ever Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy.
http://1.usa.gov/fi5IY0
Helped Democrats in Congress pass and signed the Civil Rights History Act.
http://bit.ly/th0JC8
Established the White House Council of Native American Affairs, to improve government-to-government relations with Native American nations.
http://1.usa.gov/1cIEeEv
Formed a commission to examine and make recommendations for fixing the broken voting system.
http://wapo.st/16K0D
As soon as the Supreme Court invalidated the Defense of Marriage Act, he moved to extend federal benefits to same-sex couples.
http://wapo.st/1avDjue
At a press conference August 9, 2013, gave up a small measure of executive power, promising to create adversarial process in FISA regarding NSA surveillance.
http://1.usa.gov/1dQmnyQ
Proposed new HUD rules that would enhance Fair Housing Laws, to give HUD and other enforcement agencies more teeth in enforcing them.
http://bit.ly/1qkz4uQ
Shattered another glass ceiling by naming Janet Yellen chair of the Federal Reserve beginning Feb. 1, 2014.
http://usat.ly/1gqMBfk
Appointed several prominent gay athletes and others, and plans to show US government’s commitment to gay rights to anti-gay Russia.
http://on.cpsj.com/1fckN9h
Ordered a review of capital punishment policies after several botched executions.
http://nyti.ms/RDJp58
Obama’s Department of Agriculture propagated new rules designed to better enforce nondiscrimination when it comes to USDA investigations. These rules also extended nondiscrimination to gender identity.
http://bit.ly/1yChJhi
Obama’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission clarified and strengthened rules prohibiting discrimination against pregnant workers.
http://alj.am/1mo0kjV
Banned all federal contractors from discriminating against gay workers.
http://1.usa.gov/1ok1gfH
Created a requirement in which companies who bid on federal contracts of more than $500,000 must publicly disclose all previous violations of labor law, including unpaid claims for back wages.
http://1.usa.gov/V54qY3
Made it illegal for federal contractors with more than $1 million in contracts to force employees into arbitration to settle workplace discrimination accusations.
http://1.usa.gov/V54qY3
The Obama Department of Justice made significant reductions in drug sentencing guidelines for current prisoners, thus releasing thousands from US prisons. This is the first step in 30 years toward reducing the US prison population, which is the highest in the world.
http://n.pr/1mWBLkM
Thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, inflation in the healthcare sector dropped to its lowest point in 50 years.
http://on.wsj.com/1E6cYjF
Through a Presidential Memorandum, changed the rules to concentrate immigration enforcement on those who commit crimes, and voed to stop breaking up families.
http://1.usa.gov/1uTZ8gV
Through another Presidential memorandum, President Obama streamlined the visa process, to make it more responsive and humane for those who want to be here legally.
http://1.usa.gov/1tgDRti
Took steps to tighten the reins when it comes to providing local law enforcement agencies with military-style equipment and exercising more control over the equipment they receive.
http://1.usa.gov/1ATWV3K
Oversaw the first drop in the federal prison population in 32 years.
http://bit.ly/1B5h8rW
Vetoed Republican bill that would have blocked new NLRB rules that were designed to speed up the time it takes workers to unionize.
http://reut.rs/1agujMO He also added a Memorandum of Disagreement to make his reasons for the veto clear and made a major statement in support of unions.
http://1.usa.gov/1NG7RuA
Persevered with his campaign to turn “gay marriage” into “marriage” and won in the Supreme Court.
http://cbsloc.al/1M4qLKb
Plans to broaden his use of clemency to release thousands of non-violent drug offenders from prison.
http://nyti.ms/1KE8DJG
Created new rules to improve fair housing rules and make more affordable housing available to more people.
http://cnn.it/1JcR3qB
Major Improvements in Foreign Relations, American Status around the World
Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any previous president during his first six months in office.
http://bit.ly/hZycda
As he promised, he gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in Cairo early in his administration.
http://nyti.ms/dKvY4g
Helped to restore America’s reputation around the world as a global leader that does the “right thing” in world affairs, at least according to the rest of the world.
http://bit.ly/h743y7http://bit.ly/ho4TCr
Re-established and reinforced our partnership with NATO and other allies on strategic international issues.
http://1.usa.gov/e7QuDj
Closed a number of secret detention facilities.
http://nyti.ms/rpUc9l
Improved relations with Middle East countries by appointing special envoys.
http://1.usa.gov/tiGAGe
Pushed forward the first realistic Middle East peace strategy in more than a decade, without abandoning the two-state solution.
http://wapo.st/1avyste
Pushed for military to emphasize devlopment of foreign language skills.
http://bit.ly/AxUCLV
Offered $400 million to the people living in Gaza, called on both Israel and the Palestinians to stop inciting violence.
http://bit.ly/9axfWh
Refused to give Israel the green light to attack Iran over their possible nuclear program, and thus avoid another war that Republicans wanted.
http://bit.ly/xVmSZK
Ordered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay. It was Republicans (and, unfortunately, progressive Democrats) who prevented follow through.
http://bit.ly/eW6CVF
Ordered a review of our detention and interrogation policy, and prohibited the use of torture, or what Bush called “enhanced interrogation.” He ordered interrogators to limit their actions to the Army Field manual.
http://bit.ly/g6MTuC
Ordered all secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere to be closed.
http://bbc.in/h6N9ax
Released the Bush torture memos.
http://bit.ly/hWJ5z0
On his second day in office, he signed a detailed Executive Order that banned torture, reversed all Bush torture policies, and put the United States in compliance with the Geneva Convention.
http://1.usa.gov/dL6Zvehttp://nyti.ms/hzWWys
In response to the emerging “Arab Spring,” he created a Rapid Response fund, to assist emerging democracies with foreign aid, debt relief, technical assistance and investment packages in order to show that the United States stands with them.
http://bit.ly/zfmGv9
Ended the F-22 program, saving $4 billion. Though the single-seat, twin-engine, fighter aircraft cost $358 million each, and the military had 187 built, the F-22 never flew a combat mission.
http://slate.me/PYzmzT
Passed the Iran Sanctions Act, to prevent war and encourage the Iranian government to give up their nuclear program.
http://1.usa.gov/wLtNjb
Ended the Iraq War.
http://tgr.ph/ru0tyS
Worked to keep our withdrawal from Afghanistan on track, despite GOP opposition.
http://reut.rs/1cIOsF1Reiterated that commitment in 2014.
http://nyti.ms/1exnmRF
Authorized and oversaw a secret mission by SEAL Team Six to rescue two hostages held by Somali pirates.
http://bit.ly/y8c9Fz
Through United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice, helped negotiate a peaceful split of Sudan into two countries, this allowing for the creation of an independent South Sudan.
http://reut.rs/qzE0Tj[/quote]