Obama’s Checklist: 60 Percent of Promises Fulfilled
EmailPresident Obama has crossed off 60 percent of his 2008 campaign promises from his to-do list, he told supporters in Los Angeles Monday as he asked them to help him check off the remaining items.
“I keep a checklist in my desk, and I kind of see, all right, I made a bunch of these promises during the campaign and let me see, yes, I got that done and that one, yes. No, that one’s not done yet. So we’ve got about 60 percent done in three years,” Obama told the crowd at the L.A. home of actors Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith. “So I’m pretty confident we can get the other 40 percent done in the next five years.”
The president listed health care reform, the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and passing consumer protections among the promises that he has fulfilled.
“A lot of the things that we promised we’d do, we’ve done… we’ve made great progress, but we’ve got so much more work to do,” the president said earlier in the night at a $35,800 per person event at the home of James and Mai Lassiter. Items left on the president’s agenda include comprehensive immigration reform, passing energy policy “that makes sense” and, of course, fixing the economy.
To check off the remaining 40 percent, the president said lawmakers will have to put politics aside. “Obviously, in Washington, the politics that I think people are hoping for is not what they’re getting. It’s still dysfunctional, it’s still perversely partisan. You still have folks who seem to be more interested in the short term and the party and elections than they are in the long term and the future and the next generation,” he told the small audience which included actor Will Smith and former basketball star Magic Johnson.
The president went on to promote his jobs bill and highlight the executive actions that he is taking to spur job creation, including his new housing plan intended to make it easier for homeowners to refinance their mortgages and avoid foreclosure.
The president admitted that “this election will not be as sexy as the first one,” but he called on supporters to “grind it out.”
“I’m going to keep on making the case, I’m going to keep on pushing, but I’m also going to need to know that we’ve got a strong base of support behind us that is able to amplify our message, support our message, and get out there and have the same enthusiasm, the same passion as we did the first time,” the president said.
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At some point perhaps he’ll realize that fulfilling his campaign promises hasn’t been especially good for the country.
Posted by: MayBee | October 25, 2011, 11:35 am 11:35 am
Obama is announcing later this week the development of an electric plane in order to deal with the Eu’s carbon tax. The problem with it so far the only way it can be recharged is flying it through an electrical storm.
Posted by: deadwrestler | October 25, 2011, 11:44 am 11:44 am
Dang right Mr. President ! 5 more years will be an honor and a privilege sir. Great CIC , he goes after the baddies abroad and he has the conservatives idiots @ home running around like their hair is on fire . Perfect !!
Posted by: DaveM | October 25, 2011, 11:56 am 11:56 am
The last item on his list: Destroy the United States of America permanently. Let’s hope he doesn’t get there. Herman Cain 2012! NOBAMA!
Posted by: John | October 25, 2011, 11:58 am 11:58 am
He HAS fulfilled 60% of the campaign promises he made while at the same time trying to fix the huge mess that was left to him by the previous administration. He saved us from a depression and he has done FANTASTIC on Foreign Affairs (something that Cons try to SAY only THEY could be good at – BULL), and hey who knows what GREAT things would have happened IF the Repukes in Congress had just done their damned jobs and voted in a few things that even THEY once wanted but since they want Obama to FAIL and ALONG with him our whole NATION – they have proven themselves to be the LOSERS that they ARE and will hopefully be on election day!! I detest what the Republicans have done over the past 11 years and I will vote accordingly. Obama 2012!!!
Posted by: demNme5 | October 25, 2011, 11:58 am 11:58 am
Dang right Mr. President ! 5 more years will be an honor and a privilege sir. Great CIC , he goes after the baddies abroad and he has the conservatives idiots @ home running around like their hair is on fire . Perfect !!
Posted by: DavetM | October 25, 2011, 12:06 pm 12:06 pm
“At some point perhaps he’ll realize that fulfilling his campaign promises hasn’t been especially good for the country.” – Maybee
When will that be?
A couple of Decades from now?
60% is rather good except when you consider a few of the items on the list.
- Dog for kids
- Beer Summit
- Golf with Bohner
- Nobel Prize
- Stimulate Unions
- Apologize
- Kill Bad Muslims
- Proceed with Bush Iraq Timetable
Posted by: Noz | October 25, 2011, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm
Any body went back to see the Bush-Gore debate recently? Imagine what the conversations would look like today if America kept Gore and elected democrats into office? It has been a long time since we had a real president like Obama. I am glad we had him in such a turbulent times. America’s middle class is paying for having Reagan in office and the super rich are reaping the prize of swindling the blue collar workers into voting Reagan and his supply side economics. Good for China and the super rich bad for American workers and the middle class.
Posted by: zazu | October 25, 2011, 12:25 pm 12:25 pm
Zazu,
You are correct in that we haven’t had a president like this one in a long time. The last one was Jimmy Carter.
Posted by: Ken | October 25, 2011, 12:42 pm 12:42 pm
I am glad of the 60% but wish we had less Repubs in Congress to make the other 40% a bit easier to get. The number of good bills that they either blocked or filibustered is ridiculous. One example is a bill that would have increased the percentage of goods that the government and military buys from U.S. companies. The Republicans blocked it! They seem to be doing everything they can to not grow American jobs.
Posted by: Lydia | October 25, 2011, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm
Before you try and re-elect this guy you all need to ask yourselves if you are now better off than 3 years ago? If you where low income are you now low income? better or worse? If you where poor are you still poor? while Obama sits in his 30,000.00 plus a plate dinner. Good luck
Posted by: Jim Rod | October 25, 2011, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm
zazu…can you imagine how much debt we would have had Gore been president? Can you imagine how much weaker our country would be as a result of the incomprehensible debt? Seems to me there are a lot of people (some say nearing 50%) who don’t contribute any personal, federal income taxes to help pay for our federal government’s activities. Leeches. Sycophants. Hosts. Takers. Call them what you will. How do expect them to have a vested interest in the future welfare of the USA when they have no skin in the game? It’s a shame they’re even allowed to vote. They just don’t understand how dangerous people like Obama are. No one is stopping anyone in this country from reaching for his/her dreams. Look at Obama. We have a (1/2) black president, female CEOs, female Sec’y of State, women running for president, etc., etc. No one is stopping anybody from pursuing their goals in this country. Why do you favor politicians who want to systematically destroy this country with spending that is clearly unsustainable? It’s a mystery.
Posted by: s | October 25, 2011, 12:47 pm 12:47 pm
Why is Obama really just concerned about keeping his campaign promises? NONE of those campaign promises have put people back to work or solved the mortgage and economic problems, or paid down the $14.2 trillion of debt we now are faced with! His health care reform was a cruel joke played on folks that cannot afford health insurance, its unconstitutional and will likely be tossed out by the courts! The worst part is, it only drove up the cost of insurance higher and faster than before Obamacare was passed!!!! So if Obama is going to run on his record, there is not much to crow about!!!
Posted by: RadioMan77 | October 25, 2011, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
“One example is a bill that would have increased the percentage of goods that the government and military buys from U.S. companies. The Republicans blocked it! ” – Lydia
That one really bugs me too Lydia.
If only the Congress had passed that then Barry’s Bus could have been American made instead of Canadian. You can’t blame Obama on that one. The federal Government needs to Mandate what we are supposed to buy. How on earth can we expect Obama to buy American on his own?
Those Darn Repubs!
Posted by: Noz | October 25, 2011, 1:38 pm 1:38 pm
We need some serious fact checking on that claim. Serious, fact checking.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | October 25, 2011, 2:01 pm 2:01 pm
Noz, so now you think that the president okays every purchase that the government and military makes. I guess you’ve never worked in a large business if you think the president of a company gets involved in the thousands of purchase orders.
The 21st Century Buy American Act should have passed Congress if the Republicans really wanted to grow jobs here more than knuckle under to their big corporate donors wishes.
Posted by: Lydia | October 25, 2011, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
Why vote for this president? Fair question.
1. He did not create the Economic Mess that we are in today.
2. Not to vote for him is to vote for the same people who created this mess.
3. He saved the economy from crashing-granted, alot of work still need to be done, but he is giving an effort unlike the GOP.
4. The alternative party have decided that doing notting to help the unemployed is the best thing for this country. They don’t care about the avarage American.
5. A strategy of protecting the top 1% against the lower 99% is not a good strategy for America.
Any one with common sense cannot vote for the republican party. A vote for the republican party is a vote against the interest of 99% of Americans.
6. For 99% of Americans, the republican party strategy-you are on your own.
Posted by: Ben | October 25, 2011, 2:19 pm 2:19 pm
One thing on his check list has to be to thumb his nose at the constitution every chance he gets.
Washington Examiner:
“It’s not every day that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that the Executive Office of the President violated federal law, but that’s the conclusion the GAO released in a report this month, after reviewing bilateral talks with the Chinese government hosted by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
The White House Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) disputes GAO’s analysis, arguing that the law does not constitutionally apply to the OSTP’s diplomatic activities.
The disagreement stems from meetings this past May in which officials from the OSTP met with representatives of the Chinese government to discuss technology innovation and economic issues.”
Posted by: wheresmymoney | October 25, 2011, 2:24 pm 2:24 pm
zazu, I agree with you that we wouldn’t be in the mess we are in economically if Gore had won. 8 years of Bush is a lot of damage to overcome. For one, the Iraq War wouldn’t have happened, which cost us so much in money and lives. The Afghanistan War would have been long over, as we would have concentrated our resources there. We would be way ahead on renewable energy which would have lead to lower oil prices. And then there is a the banking and housing crisis which would have been prevented with a little bit of intervention, as plenty of experts warned we were heading for problems!
Posted by: Librarian53 | October 25, 2011, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm
At some point perhaps he’ll realize that fulfilling his campaign promises hasn’t been especially good for the country.
POSTED BY: MAYBEE | OCTOBER 25, 2011, 11:35 AM 11:35 AM
Oh, like Bush and the Republicans were? No thanks.
Posted by: Jamie | October 25, 2011, 2:26 pm 2:26 pm
Politico reports:
“What happened to [McCain] was, he — I think he feels he got mugged first by the Democratic nominee, Barack Obama, who walked away from the public financing of the general election, and then by the press, who let Obama get away with it,” said Potter in an interview for POLITICO’s video series on money and politics that launched Tuesday.
According to Potter, McCain “felt the principle there wasn’t the political reality of who could raise more money. It was his belief in the importance of a public funding system, which he thought Obama shared, until he didn’t share it,” Potter said. “The result of all of that is that we now don’t have a functioning presidential public financing system. And that’s, I think, bad news for the country.”
And the press continues to cover up for Obama.
Posted by: wheresmymoney | October 25, 2011, 2:39 pm 2:39 pm
Keeping is campaign promise is good for the country. What is not good for the country is the republicans blocking everything that could create jobs-by their calculation, a win for the American people will be a win for Obama. To the republican party, that is not a winning strategy for the GOP.
Posted by: Ben | October 25, 2011, 2:41 pm 2:41 pm
What about transparency, no lobbiest, no blue state/red state, unemployment below 8 percent, bribes and pay offs, to just name a few. Come on ABC stop carrying this failures water.
Posted by: Freedom | October 25, 2011, 3:03 pm 3:03 pm
POSTED BY: FREEDOM | OCTOBER 25, 2011, 3:03 PM 3:03 PM
Far more transparent than the Republicans, far fewer lobbyists than the Republicans, blue and red states, jobs being added every month in the private sector, no bribes or pay offs proven in any way. Whas ya problem?
Posted by: Dennis | October 25, 2011, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm
Ben, I agree with your comment that follows:
”Why vote for this president? Fair question.
1. He did not create the Economic Mess that we are in today.
2. Not to vote for him is to vote for the same people who created this mess.
3. He saved the economy from crashing-granted, alot of work still need to be done, but he is giving an effort unlike the GOP.
4. The alternative party have decided that doing notting to help the unemployed is the best thing for this country. They don’t care about the avarage American.
5. A strategy of protecting the top 1% against the lower 99% is not a good strategy for America.
Any one with common sense cannot vote for the republican party. A vote for the republican party is a vote against the interest of 99% of Americans.
6. For 99% of Americans, the republican party strategy-you are on your own.’
Every time I read a bill that the Republicans have written, it has something to benefit big corporations or wealthy people. They might throw a crumb in for working or retired people, but the generally it is about lowering taxes or regulations for the rich or big companies at the expense of us lesser mortals. I don’t understand why anyone who is middle-class would vote for them.
Posted by: Librarian53 | October 25, 2011, 3:50 pm 3:50 pm
You liberals make me laugh believing obama cares about fixing the economy instead of fundraising money. This president divides the county and make class warfare so that he doesn’t have to run on his accomplishment. Cause as much chaos just like the republican and hope the people vote for the lesser evil.
He in the pockets of big business that he accuse the republicans of and have soros contribute more as the same with the republican dallor daddy contributors.
Both parties don’t have our interest in mind and just all hogwash to brainwash the masses of us to vote for them and then forget about is until the next election.
They going to be a time where blaming that pig head bush is not going to work anymore and he got to take responsibility with his actions.
Posted by: Rick | October 25, 2011, 4:03 pm 4:03 pm
NONE of those campaign promises have put people back to work or solved the mortgage and economic problems, or paid down the $14.2 trillion of debt we now are faced with! His health care reform was a cruel joke played on folks that cannot afford health insurance, its unconstitutional and will likely be tossed out by the courts! The worst part is, it only drove up the cost of insurance higher and faster than before Obamacare was passed!!!! So if Obama is going to run on his record, there is not much to crow about! – I’m sure glad that the GOP has done its best to stop the out of control Obama spending spree that has added $4.2 trillion to the debt in only 3 years! Thanks to the GOP, the country might have a chance to recover from nearly going bankrupt because of all the failed liberal spending programs!
Posted by: RadioMan77 | October 25, 2011, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm
“At some point perhaps he’ll realize that fulfilling his campaign promises hasn’t been especially good for the country.”
He doesn’t care about the country. He cares only for his wealth redistribution agenda. Remember his comments on capital gains?
Posted by: migraine | October 25, 2011, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm
Migraine, just curious if you think capital gains should be taxed at a lower rate than earnings someone has actually worked for. And why.
I’ve never gotten a straight answer from a conservative, just ‘they are the job creators’ which is bogus, the consumer is the actual job creator by creating demand for the product, then the company has incentive to hire.
Posted by: Lydia | October 25, 2011, 4:35 pm 4:35 pm
I have said it once and I will say it again, and just for the record I am not democrat or Republican, but I truth this President (Obama), I see clearly that President Obama is one of the hardest working President from day one, he had tried his best to get things done that is for the long term future to make this a better America and a more competitive America, a lot of the bills he has sent through congress in its original form would have create jobs and save America a lot of money, Plus they would have kept the citizens from victimization of those who prey upon us for greed, who do not care about the citizen or who they hurt in the process, they only care about their bottom line period! thank god for our President, he has fought the good fight, he is fighting for the middle working class American, but he had been undermined and block at every turn, most of the bills the President sent through congress only got through in pieces and only after he compromise with the Republicans, of which they the Republicans never compromise anything, the Republicans only thought was for the I%, never for the rest of America……thank God for President Obama!
Posted by: gman | October 26, 2011, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm
“I see clearly that President Obama is one of the hardest working President from day one” – Gman
It doesn’t matter how hard NoBo is trying, life is result based.
Thank God we get to pick a new President in 2012!
Posted by: Noz | October 26, 2011, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
The here are some the President result:• Pass a stimulus that stabilized the economy, halted the significant increases in unemployment and resulted in 5-6 straight quarters of GDP growth (oh, yeah, and according to dozens of prominent economists, saved or created between 1.5 million and 3.5 million jobs – as he originally said it would);•… companies to profitability and finally get them to make cars that aren’t totally butt-ugly Successfully oversee a bailout of the US auto industry saving 100s of thousands of jobs, returning the auto……..• Pass financial reform that will hopefully prevent another ridiculous taxpayer-funded bank bailout like the one the Bush administration was responsible for………..• Sign the equal pay law to ensure woman are not paid less than men for same work…..I could go on but you get the point!
Posted by: gman | October 26, 2011, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm