Paradise Lost

During last year's Presidential campaign I was a fan of neither major party's candidates. However, at least there seemed to be some kind of hope, however remote, that Obama would introduce a new era in understanding and respect into American politics. While I greatly respect the sacrifices and service John McCain did for this country, I really did not think he had much of a chance of changing the DC environment given his long term membership in the political class. Also, while I did not see it, many friends and family were greatly excited by the potential of an Obama victory.

Well, eight months later I have concluded that what started out with great fanfare for change has dissolved into Paradise Lost. This disappointment is driven by Obama's less than stellar performance in two areas, 1) broken promises and 2) his silence in critical and/or symbolic situations:

His Broken Promises:

1) Iraq - one of Obama's primary policy positions was to get us out of Iraq as soon as possible. Unfortunately, eight months after his swearing in, we are at least 18 months away from leaving. As I have blogged before, Bush may have gotten us out sooner than Obama's plan.
2) No Lobbyists In Government - another campaign position was to make sure that "no political appointees will be permitted to work on regulations or contracts directly related to their prior employer for two years." However, according to a St. Petersburg Times article on March 18, 2009, this policy had been violated any number of times within the first 60 days of his term in office. As an example, the article points to former Raytheon lobbyist William Lynn who became deputy defense secretary despite having lobbied for Raytheon in 2008.
3) Close Guantanamo - although he says he will close the Cuban island prison, he has not done that as of today and may not for a while.
4) Indefinite Preventive Detention - although he admonished the Bush administration for holding prisoners for years with no justice or trial, on May 22, 2009 the Washington Post reported that Obama would continue this Bush era policy for those people that "might" commit a terrorist act in the future even though they have not proven guilty or had a trial. Obama tried to cover his tracks by calling this Bush policy extension as Indefinite Preventive Detention.
5) Don't Ask, Don't Tell - despite wide spread support from the gay community during his campaign, Obama has done nothing to lift the insulting Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy of Clinton and Bush.

His Silence:

1) When the ACORN organization was accused of forging voter registrations in favor of Obama during the campaign, he should have come out, without singling out any organization, and stated that voter fraud would not be tolerated in a democratic society. He was silent.
2) When Democrats in the Ohio state government started digging for dirt and personal information on "Joe The Plumber", who happened to support McCain, Obama should have come out and stated that no American citizen should be investigated by any government organization for expressing his political opinion. He was silent.
3) When Henry Reid stated in a public dedication of the new DC visitors center that American tourists to the Capital physically smelled, Obama should have reminded Reid that these same tourists pay his salary. He was silent.
4) When Nancy Pelosi accused citizens of being unAmerican for voicing an opposing opinion on health care reform, Obama should have reminded her and the rest of the country that freedom of speech, even if it is a difference of opinion, is a guaranteed right in this country. He was silent.
5) When a citizen in St. Louis was recently physically accosted by union members while peacefully handing out literature at odds with the administration's health care reform plans, Obama should have reminded everyone that violence is no way to settle difference of opinions in this country. He was silent.
6) ACORN Part 2 - when ACORN personnel were recently caught advising clients on how to beat the IRS and other government regulations in order to get funding, Obama should have launched an investigation, regardless of how Democratic leaning ACORN is, in order to assert his duty to prevent the waste of government funds. He was silent.

Let's review - broken promises, many similarities to Bush, and silence when the very foundations of American democracy are under attack. Sounds like Paradise Lost is now a reality and the Mr. Obama is really just an ordinary.........politician.