Is Barack Obama a bad President in your opinion?

Answer 1

Opinions from Answers.com contributorsNote: opinions may not be based on fact, be sure to fact check for yourself before accepting all of this as accurate.

• As of right now, I believe that he is not. He is running up too much debt in the government spending.
• No he is an awful president!
• Many US citizens are pleased, he has a good approval rating in the polls (55% approval in March 2013, an almost-unheard-of good approval rating for a sitting president).
• He won the 2012 re-election with a large margin. This would be another good sign that most Americans believe he has been a very good president. For a list of things some believe he has done right as president, see the related question below.
• My answer to this question would be that I don't think he is good or bad because he is trying his best. It is a question that no one can get right or wrong because it is asking for an individual's opinion. You figure out yourself if he is a good president or bad.
• Someone said, "...it is not in our place to judge..."? I think you'll find, in a democracy, it's OK. In fact: "that government of the people, by the people, for the people" positively encourages it.
• History will tell how he does after two terms in office when the true worth of President Obama's contributions can be analyzed fully. For many reasons, people have put their faith in the Democratic rhetoric, hoping for substance behind the words. By the end of President Obama's presidency, the US will be stronger. It may not look, feel, or taste the same, but it will be respected.
• It depends on who you ask... Republicans don't like his policies and the Democrats like his policies. I'm not sure we will truly know until his second term is over.
• He has continued US attacks on foreign countries. He has started bombing Pakistan. He hasn't restrained Israel from its militant expansion. He looks bad to me.
• The last I heard he was withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, and I think he'll get back up when the war between Israel and Palestine needs to stop. So leave the man alone until his terms are done and then criticize his work. And may I remind you a great man once said, "It gets bad before it gets good."
• He's trying the best he can. I would like to see you to try to spend small amounts of money to get us out of a war that took trillions to get into.
• If he decides to invade Afghanistan and Pakistan to continue bombing that is obviously what he thinks is best to keep the security of the US intact. I truly believe that he will get us out of this war.
• The health care bill is the thing that will be the biggest change in our government and economy. Some people in the medical and insurance companies may have to take to financial set backs but I honestly think that some doctors don't always need the amount of money that they have. Millions of people go to work and function without a doctor's salary. It is more of an insurance reform anyway. It is meant to make sure that everyone in the country can, if needed, go to the hospital and still be able to afford it.
• All in all yes I think Barack Obama is a good president.
• I think that you are wrong. It's not too early to judge him he's been in office for a year now. He'll not have another 4 year term in my opinion.
• I think Obama is an "OK" president; he's doing his best. I would have him over McCain any day.

• It is literally impossible to judge whether or not Barack Obama is a good president now. You may say he is spending our nation's money, and getting us into things we shouldn't be getting into. But the main thing Obama believes in, is the audacity of hope and the tenacity of the American people. I can honestly say there is no man more suitable for this position than Obama. What our country needs right now, is hope, we don't think about what will happen. The main thing that separates humans from any other animal, is that we have insight, the ability to look into a certain situation and determine its outcome, and people who do not believe in Barack Obama need to put insight into the current situation.

• I think he is. He was voted into office with all of these problems and he can't fix them all right away. I think he is being a good president.

• As we all know, President Bush was a pretty bad president. Driving our economy into the ground. I am pretty sure that President Obama won't be able to fix that big of a crisis in only one year. If you were in charge of a country with 300 million people who expect you to take them out of 14 trillion dollars debt, I am pretty sure you cannot solve the problem.
• Most people believe he is a good president.
• No, he is not. He has tripled the national debt and is obscenely spending our country's money. He is also on diplomatic terms with Hugo Chavez and Mahmoud Ahkmadinejad.
• Yes he is the best president of the US of America.
• He is very nice in nature and listens to everyone very carefully.
• No because he wants to make the government control everything. We fought for independence in 1776 and he doesn't want independence. He also makes promises he cant keep.
• I think the initiative he's taken with our country (A DEMOCRACY i.e. democrat) is admirable. While most Republicans dislike his highly liberal views, like the ones of Franklin D. Roosevelt, they at least give credit where it's due. Just because a powerful and intelligent leader applies principles that you disagree with, you can't just pin on the word "bad".
• If you are going to say a down right "NO" to Barack Obama's being a good president, you need to support that with EVIDENCE. Many things that he does are reported, but taken out of context. We don't live in the white house with him, and we can't say if doing something was a good or bad choice because NO ONE EXCEPT FOR HIM WILL EVER UNDERSTAND OR EVEN KNOW ABOUT ALL THE FACTORS INVOLVED IN ANY GIVEN ISSUE until time passes and history tells the full story. We can, however, determine what he has done that has positively affected the country. Here are a few of these deeds (also see the related question in the related question section about what people believe he has done right):

1. Saved the collapse of the American automotive industry by making GM restructure before bailing them out, and putting incentive money to help the industry

2. Shifted the focus of the war from Iraq to Afghanistan, and putting the emphasis on reducing terrorism where it should have been all along

3. Relaxed Anti-American tensions throughout the world

4. Signed order to close the prisoner "torture camp" at Guantanamo Bay

5. Has made the environment a national priority, and a primary source for job creation

6. Has made education a national priority by putting emphasis and money behind new ideas like charter schools, but speaking directly to school children in telling them they have to do their part.

7. Won the Nobel Peace Prize

8. $789 billion economic stimulus plan

9. Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court

10. Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles

11. Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans

12. Renewed dialogue with NATO and other allies and partners on strategic issues.

13. Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force… this includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc.

14. Better body armor is now being provided to our troops

15. "Cash for clunkers" program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulates auto sales

16. Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan

17. Closed offshore tax safe havens

18. Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan

19. Ended media "blackout" on war casualties; reporting full information

20. Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts

21. . Ended media blackout on war casualties and the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB.

22. Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules

23. Ended previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings

24. Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports

25. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has created 2.1 million jobs (as of 12/31/09).

26. Ended previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions

27. Ended previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back

28. Ended previous policy on torture; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards

29. . Launched Recovery.gov to track spending from the Recovery Act, an unprecedented step to provide transparency and accountability through technology.

30. Ended previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry's predatory practices

31. Ended previous "stop-loss" policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date

32. Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources

33. Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient

34. Established a new cyber security office

35. Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children

36. Expanding vaccination programs

37. Families of fallen soldiers have expenses

38. . Provided the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with more than $1.4 billion to improve services to America's Veterans.

39. Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research

40. Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools

41. Responded with compassion and leadership to the earthquake in Haiti

42. Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters

43. . Launched Business.gov - enabling conversation and online collaboration between small business owners, government representatives and industry experts in discussion forums relevant to starting and managing a business. Great for the economy.

44. Improved housing for military personnel

45. Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals

46. Changed failing war strategy in Afghanistan.

47. Improving benefits for veterans

48. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants…) after years of neglect

49. Donated his $1.4 million Nobel Prize to nonprofits.

50. Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program

51. Provided tax credits to first-time home buyers through the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 to revitalize the U.S. housing market.

52. Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel

53. Increasing student loans

54. Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return "home" to visit loved ones

55. Cracked down on companies that deny sick pay, vacation and health insurance to workers by abusing the employee classification of independent contractor. Such companies also avoid paying Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance taxes for those workers.

56. Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000

57. Limits on lobbyists' access to the White House

58. Protected 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors through the Recovery Act that would have otherwise been lost.

59. Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration

60. Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act on February 4, 2009, provides quality health care to 11 million kids - 4 million who were previously uninsured.

61. Lower drug costs for seniors

62. Making more loans available to small businesses

63. Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration

64. . Signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first piece of comprehensive legislation aimed at improving the lives of Americans living with paralysis

65. Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals

66. New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans

67. Announced creation of a Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record for members of the U.S. Armed Forces to improve quality of medical care.

68. New federal funding for science and research labs

69. New funds for school construction

70. Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending

71. Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices

72. . Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals.

73. Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren't even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan

74. Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions

75. Provided tax credit to workers thus cutting taxes for 95% of America's working families.

76. Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic

77. Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research

78. . Helped reverse a downward spiral of the Stock Market. On January 19, 2009, the last day of President Bush's presidency, the Dow closed at 8,218.22. In February 2010, the Dow closed at 10,309.24

79. Renewed loan guarantees for Israel

80. Restarted the nuclear non-proliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols

81. Provided attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles.

82. Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters

83. Sent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years; reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy

84. Unveiled a program on Earth Day 2009 to develop the renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. These regulations will enable, for the first time ever, the nation to tap into our ocean's vast sustainable resources to generate clean energy in an environmentally sound and safe manner.

85. Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program

86. States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards

87. Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced

88. Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job

89. The FDA is now regulating tobacco

90. Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date.

91. The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010

92. The public can meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (the new plan can be completed in one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying

93. The "secret detention" facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed

94. US financial and banking rescue plan

95. US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast

96. . Signed the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act to stop fraud and wasteful spending in the defense procurement and contracting system.

97. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office

98. Improved relations with Iran

99. Improved U.S. policy on climate change

100. Set timetable for exiting Iraq (already started removing troops)

101. Improved relations with Russia

102. Improved relations with the Islamic World

103. Made progress towards grater cooperation on limiting nuclear proliferation

104. Economic stimulus plan has created jobs. (Unemployment rate decreasing)

105. Drastically slowed down the recession

106. Saved Wall Street

107. Passed the Lilly Ledbetter Act (equal work for equal pay)

108. HEALTHCARE REFORM

• Good is a matter of opinion. There are those that think he is amazing, those that think he is the worst ever, and all sorts in between. The best thing to do is to look up the history of his actions on the issues that matter the most to you and the matters you feel are the most important to our county. Be sure to read the points of view of both sides, and then see what facts you can find to back them up. It takes some time and effort, but is very important to have your own beliefs on this sort of thing, not just listen to what other people tell you to think.

Answer 2

It depends on which side you ask. If you ask Democrats, they will say President Obama has done many important things, including expanding health care to millions of Americans, ending the war in Iraq and bringing the troops home, and rescuing the American auto industry. If you ask Republicans, they will say he has been a failure because he has not reduced the deficit or improved the economy. Many Americans seem to like this president, and he was elected to serve a second term. But like many presidents before him, he is a very polarizing figure: people seem to either really approve of the job he has done, or really disapprove of it. There seems to be no middle ground.

Answer 3

This is yet to be seen. And whether or not he is one depends on who you ask and what polls you read. There are wildly varying opinions of him, from madly in love to blind hatred.

It will be much easier to assess his presidency some years after the fact.

Answer 4

This is a question that calls for an opinion, and we try very hard to be neutral and objective on this site. So, let me quote from his supporters. The people who believe Mr. Obama is a good president would say he inherited a serious mess from President Bush and that his policies saved the economy from a depression. They would say he has pursued economic strategies that helped the middle class (including two tax cuts), and he saved the US auto industry from going bankrupt. They would also note that he has kept America safe, led the mission that killed Osama bin Laden, put new oversight on banks, championed a new health care law that will expand coverage to millions of Americans, and appointed two qualified women to the Supreme Court. They would also note that despite constant Republican obstructionism, and a record number of filibusters, he has continued to try to keep the country moving forward, and as a result, he deserves a second term.

Answer 5

Opinions from Answers.com contributors

• Yes absolutely !

• I agree. Though most of his plans wont really get started soon because his goals are long term.

Answer 6

Each of us has to make that decision for ourselves after we have found out the facts. So much of the information being spread is just flat wrong. Don't believe it because someone says it as if it were true, research yourself (kudos for asking this question). But whether you like his policies or dislike them, there is little evidence that he has been bad for the country so far. Some of the current problems will take a while to resolve, and are as much about congress and the global economy as they are about who is the person in the White House.

For many opinions on what he has done right or wrong so far, see the related questions below. Remember, these are opinions of Answers.com contributors and may not be based on facts. It is also worth noting that the president has been elected twice (2008 and 2012), and he won by a considerable majority both times, which says that many people do think he is doing a good job.

You might also want to check out some of the reliable (and non-partisan) fact-checking sites, which analyze exaggerations and myths about the president. I recommend factcheck.org, politifact.com and snopes.com as three sites you may find useful. Also, there are objective news magazines like Time (which is online or at the newstand) and USA Today that cover the president in a fair and generally accurate manner.

Answer 7

Good president. But he believes Muslim people.