President Obama Taking Heat From All Sides

May 14, 2009— -- Despite enjoying a still robust public approval rating, President Obama is feeling the heat from both sides of the political aisle as both the right and the left take on his policies.

Obama's first commencement as president at Arizona State University Wednesday night was marked by protestors calling for an end to the war in Afghanistan and controversy surrounding his honorary degree from ASU.

The protests came as the president tried to encourage graduates to "try harder" and "dig deeper" in these challenging economic times, and to convey the message that he fully embraced his own achievements in life.

"I come here not to dispute the suggestion that I haven't yet achieved enough in my life," the president said. "I come to embrace the notion that I haven't done enough in my life; I heartily concur; I come to affirm that one's title, even a title like president of the United States, says very little about how well one's life has been led -- that no matter how much you've done, or how successful you've been, there's always more to do, always more to learn, and always more to achieve."

And the president may be learning that he cannot please everyone, even liberal activists.

The American Civil Liberties Union is downright angry that Obama took a U-turn and decided to fight the release of photographs depicting alleged detainee abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"It only confirms that the Obama administration promise of transparency and accountability is essentially meaningless," said ACLU attorney Amrit Singh.

The ACLU had called for the release of the photos under the Freedom of Information Act, and the court had ruled in their favor. Last month, the administration said the Pentagon would release those photos, but Wednesday the president announced he would fight their release, as it might endanger U.S. troops. White House sources said Obama changed his mind after talking to commanders on the ground, who fear such a step would only enflame anti-American sentiment.