Barack Obama: Redefining America

By Jane Pomeroy

EARLY LIFE & POLITICAL CAREER

Born in Hawaii in 1961 of a former Kenyan goat herder and small-town Kansas woman, Barack Obama grew up both in Hawaii and Indonesia before moving to mainland USA to study and graduate from Colombia University in 1983.

Ever interested in community service, Obama has consistently participated humanitarian efforts to reduce crime and improve living conditions of poor neighborhoods. Upon graduating from Harvard Law School as the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review, he went on to become a civil rights lawyer, and then was elected to the Illinois State Senate where he served for eight years.

CURRENT POLITICS

Somewhat of an idealist, Obama seeks to unite the US not under a single political party, but as humans deserving economic, political, and social equality. He fought for tax cuts for low income families, disability payment for veterans, non-proliferation legislation to reduce weapons of mass destruction around the globe, and has promoted the use of alternative fuels and higher fuel standards.

THE ISSUES

With the economy in a downward spiral as of late, voters will be looking to the presidential candidates to propose the best plan to boost the economy. Proposing his “Making Work Pay” tax credit to middle income families across America, Obama is seeking to appeal to middle class America, turning away from current economic policy which provides tax breaks for the wealthy, following Ronald Reagan’s “Trickle Down” theory. Supposedly, this plan will completely eliminate income taxes for 10,000 families, as far-reaching as it sounds. As well, the “American Opportunity” tax credit seeks to cut costs of university education, appealing to the younger population so avidly supporting his campaign across the US.

A black man himself, Civil Rights and the fight for true equality are quite important to Obama. Among other actions, Obama proposes to strengthen civil rights enforcement, combat employment discrimination, expand hate crime statutes, and end racial profiling, thus appealing not only to the youth of America, but minority populations as well.

Though requiring health coverage to children, coverage for adults will be voluntary. This plan has been highly criticized, predicted to fail as only those in need of immediate health care will presumably buy health insurance (and often those in need of health care are lower class), increasing premiums for those who actually need it and then will not be able to afford it. Though in theory, guaranteed eligibility and comprehensive premiums are appealing, many are skeptical and are shying away from Obama in search of another candidate with a more “universal” healthcare plan.

THE RACE TODAY

So? Will he come out on top? Criticized for unprofessional participating with Hillary Clinton in bickering and mudslinging against his fellow candidate of the same party during recent Democratic debates, and for presenting a seemingly naïve health care plan, Will Obama’s fresh face and shining optimism be enough to gain votes beyond South Carolina? We’ll just have to wait until February.