Barack Obama: Broken Promises

[no limit]

Run time: 04:19 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF3gUoAhoW8   Posted on YouTube: March 15, 2011 By YouTube Member: leftunderground Views on YouTube: 6   Posted on DU: March 15, 2011 By DU Member: no limit Views on DU: 3636

 
Feedback, comments, and discussions would be appreciated. This is one of my first videos, thanks for watching.

I know there are those who don't believe we can do all these things. I understand the skepticism. After all, every four years, candidates from both parties make similar promises, and I expect this year will be no different. All of us running for president will travel around the country offering ten-point plans and making grand speeches; all of us will trumpet those qualities we believe make us uniquely qualified to lead the country. But too many times, after the election is over, and the confetti is swept away, all those promises fade from memory, and the lobbyists and the special interests move in, and people turn away, disappointed as before, left to struggle on their own.

- Senator Obama During His Presidential Announcement - 2/10/2007

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Swampguana]

2. He did set his standards pretty high with what he

wanted to accomplish but he's a big disappointment in a lot of ways for not following through with most of his intentions.

[dennis4868]

4. Yes....

he is a failure...

in just 2 years he did all of this -----> www.whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com

IN JUST 2 FREAKIN YEARS! Historical! Plus. I read somewhere the other day that compared to many other past presidents, Obama's record on keeping his promises after just 2 years is extremely good.....Obama kept telling us that change would not come fast, but instead it would take baby steps. Many on the left act as if he never said that and want complete and perfect change by yesterday....THAT'S NOT REALITY!!!!

[Divernan]

7. Again, claims but no link.

You claim he kept telling us change would not come fast. So where did he say this pre-election?

[dennis4868]

10. He said it may times...

even on the night he won the presidency, that was one of the first things he said....I will get a link for you if you do not know how to use Google.....

[Divernan]

16. But not until he got our votes. The video documents campaign promises.

And those promises were unqualified.

[dennis4868]

19. Okay....

here is just one of many mnay many examples of Obama telling us that change takes time....this is from his election night victory speech:

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there."


I can provide you with many more examples of this but this is a good start....DUers and the PL don't understand that change in washington happens in baby steps....it has for the last 200 years! They wanted absolutre and perfect change ASAP.....that's not reality....

[Divernan]

41. I've repeatedly asked for PRE - ELECTION quotes.

How glib, to repeat the canard that anyone who criticizes Obama's policies is demanding total and immediate change.
DUers are a politically sophisticated group. We expected him to TRY. As that famous cartoon shows, Obama's playing poker with 3 GOP leaders. The cartoon above his head: "I fold". The cartoon above Boehner's head reads: "But he hasn't finished dealing the cards yet."

[no limit]

56. That poker cartoon is awesome, I forgot about it

[JDPriestly]

54. People supported Obama because of his promises.

He has broken far too many of them.

[Swampguana]

74. A politician not living up to their word?

Absolutely unheard of...

[Buzz Clik]

3. Taking lessons from O'Keefe? He'd be proud of his mentoring.

Your first "broken promise" on health care was attempted by Obama but was derailed by our Democratic Congress. Democrats sold him out, but this is Obama's fault?

EPIC FAIL.

Try again with more honesty.

[Divernan]

5. No link? Of course not.

So, where's the link of Obama, AFTER the election, where he spoke out in favor of the public option? Where's the link from any politician stating they had met with Obama, and he asked for their support for a public option?

[Buzz Clik]

8. Link? Did you sleep through 2009?

Google is your friend. Look it up and quit buying into the lies.

[Divernan]

12. Oh, admit it - you make unsubstantiated, sweeping statements w/no proof.

[Buzz Clik]

60. No. On the contrary, that is EXACTLY what is going on in the OP.

That ridiculous video simply plays on the rank stupidity being plumped here at DU and in conservative discussion boards everywhere.

I'm sick of the distortion, and I'm calling it at every opportunity.

[dennis4868]

6. You didn't get the DU memo?

Everything is Obama's fault. Just one example - if congress won't fund the closing of Gittmo, that's Obama's fault according to DUers....EVERYTHING IS OBAMA'S FAULT.

Hey, anyone here see my shoes, they are missing. Damn that Obama....it's his fault!

[Buzz Clik]

9. +1

[Divernan]

11. "Obama vowed to close Gitmo down within one year of taking office.

Even if he can't get the budget to close it down, he didn't have to continue Bush's policies there.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41957269/ns/politics/


WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama approved on Monday the resumption of military trials for detainees at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, ending a two-year ban.

It was the latest acknowledgement that the detention facility Obama had vowed to shut down within a year of taking office would remain open for some time. Even while announcing a resumption of military commission trials, however, Obama reaffirmed his support for trying terror suspects in U.S. federal courts, which has met vehement resistance in Congress.

"I strongly believe that the American system of justice is a key part of our arsenal in the war against al-Qaida and its affiliates, and we will continue to draw on all aspects of our justice system — including Article III courts — to ensure that our security and our values are strengthened," the president said in a statement.

The White House also reiterated that the administration remains committed eventually to close the prison in Cuba, although Monday's actions did not seem to bring that outcome closer."


http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504564_162-20040353-504564.html

Obama effectively continues Bush's Gitmo policy
President Obama today approved the resumption of military trials at Guantanamo Bay for those detainees designated by the Justice Department for the military justice system. New military trials at Guantanamo were stopped in January 2009 by Defense Secretary Robert Gates pending a review of US detention policy.

It's worth taking a minute to stop and consider that this is coming from a President who, as a U.S. Senator, repeatedly blasted George Bush's detainee policies and referred to Guantanamo as a "legal black hole" that he said he'd close within a year of taking office. Today, he is in some ways preserving a system the Bush Administration created.

Senior administration officials this afternoon were going to great lengths to say these are NEW and IMPROVED policies that both protect national security and preserve American "values." And they do provide more protections for detainees. But the changes really are just tinkering with the margins of the system that Bush set up.

For example, the most controversial component of the Bush Administration's legal terror policies was the notion that the government could hold certain suspects at Guantanamo indefinitely, without charging them with a crime. That policy of so-called "indefinite detention" was once considered so lawless that civil liberties groups said it put America in the same league as a tyrannical, despotic state. But Obama signaled 18 months ago that he was going to continue the policy, and today he did so officially by Executive Order.

[dennis4868]

15. So you are basically saying that....

Obama is a wealthy man and should have used his own money to close down Gittmo...do you have any idea how Washington works? Congress must fund any action the president want to take....if they don't fund it, the president cannot do it.

[Divernan]

22. Please take the time to read posts before you respond.

He's continuing Bush policies toward Gitmo prisoners. That's not controlled by the budget. I was a legislative attorney for 10 years. That included reviewing and analyzing annual budgets. So yes, I understand how Washinigton works

[dennis4868]

27. I am an attorney also...

and he is not continuing the same policies as Bush....read the executive order....it's a different policy than Bush's and one that is fair.....

[Divernan]

37. Others read that Exec. Order as effectively continuing Bush's policies.

As my link documented. Again, you guys, give us some links to something other than your subjective opinions.

And as a lawyer, you were trained to cite the authorities/case law for your arguments. Please give the DU audience the same level of professionalism which would be demanded of you from a judge or supervising attorney to whom you submit briefs.

[Dawgs]

18. Don't you know that everything good is because of Obama, and everything bad is Congress's fault?

At least according to today's meme.

[Divernan]

24. I'm always curious to see what their daily meme will be.

[_ed_]

77. Don't forget that Obama is either a hapless fool at the mercy of Congress

or a 115-dimensional chess player who is playing them for fools. It just depends on what the Obama apologists are defending at that current moment.

[Dawgs]

14. Sorry. You can't have it both ways.

President Obama has to share the good and bad. This tired argument of him not getting any blame when things go bad and all of the credit when things are good is getting really old. If Congress is too blame for ALL of the bad stuff, then they should get ALL of the credit for the good stuff. If not, then the same is true for the President.

[dennis4868]

21. I am not saying Obama is perfect....

Obama would be the first to tell you that....But on DU is seems like EVERYTHING is Obama's fault no matter what the facts are....

[Divernan]

26. "Giving facts" is not defined as telling people to go google.

Which on this thread seems to be the received "wisdom" of the true believers.

[dennis4868]

29. Are you saying that...

Google does not have transcripts of Obama's speeches?

[Divernan]

34. You respond by putting words in people's mouths.

The OP put up powerful excerpts. If you want to disagree with him, the burden is on you to come up with examples.

You remember that concept from the bar exam? It's called Burden of Proof!

[polmaven]

53. But you are not

at all tired of getting all the blame for everything that does not go "right" and no credit at all for any accomplishments? :shrug:

[no limit]

58. I can't speak for anyone else but I always give credit where credit is due

lately I can't think of very many areas where I would give credit however, which is unfortunate. Don't ask don't tell is obviously a huge exception, the president did a good job on that (eventhough I still have some complaints about it). But on everything else? Disappointment after disappointment.

[no limit]

20. Obama signed the bill that prevented him from getting to funding to close Gitmo

I guess you didn't get that memo.

Anything specific about the video you don't like?

[dennis4868]

23. That's the game played in washington....

they attach something that the president does not like to a bill THAT HAS TO BE PASSED....the budget! This has been going on for 200 years now....

[no limit]

28. But it is always the democrats that need to cave, right?

When congress was attaching things Bush didn't want he would veto the bill (or atleast threaten it) and democrats would cave because they would tell us they would get the blame.

Now when congress adds something Obama doesn't like Obama must be the one to cave because he tells us he will get that blame.

The only reason the game is played this way in Washington is because too many people have accepted that game.

Nothing forced Obama to sign that bill. The very least he could have done was put some pressure on congress to strip that provision out using a veto threat. If you don't think a veto would have made sense then do you have any other examples of Obama trying to pressure congress on this issue? I looked and couldn't find a single example.

[dennis4868]

31. Because the repubs...

don't give a shit about the country and dont act responsibly....they would drive the car of the cliff if they have too (Rachel Maddow had a show about this)....dems, thank the good lord, do not do these things!

[no limit]

33. And how has that turned out for democrats and this country?

Who is more liberal at this point? Richard Nixon or Barack Obama?

You didn't give me a single example as I asked for.

[dennis4868]

36. Yes...

I am sure Nixon would have just loved all of this:

www.whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com

What utter bullshit posts by some DUers....

[no limit]

39. Still waiting for those examples

Nixon established the EPA, he tried to pass a public plan which was way more liberal than the public option Obama started with then cut after making a deal behind closed doors.

Nixon certainly wasn't a liberal by any means. But if you compare him to Obama? Well then he seems like he was pretty far out there in left field.

Also, this is the 3rd time I am asking you for examples on Obama putting any pressure on congress on Gitmo. Just need one.

[dennis4868]

40. Huh?

He signed a freakin executive order to close Gittmo and requested funds time after time for the funds that Congress (including Dems) did not give Obama...WTF?

[no limit]

42. First lets get this right. He didn't request any money from congress, congress banned the money

in a bill that Obama signed.

So where did Obama place any pressure on congress to strip that provision?

[dennis4868]

43. I think this discussion needs to end...

you are not making sense....buh bye!

[no limit]

45. I'm not making any sense?

[Divernan]

44. As an attorney, do you use this foul mouth in court?

[dennis4868]

46. foul mouth?

what u talking about willis? :-)

[Divernan]

48. "WTF", "freakin" and "give a shit" are not terms acceptable in court.

And you have argued motions in court, of course? At least prepared briefs in support of motions?

[dennis4868]

57. I did not know that my being in DU....

is considered being in a court of law....

[Divernan]

67. If you choose to identify yourself as a lawyer on a thread, then act like an officer of the court,

i.e, as a professional. And aside from the foul language, you don't argue like a lawyer and you don't sound like a lawyer.

[dennis4868]

69. oh yes...

lawyers never curse outside of the courthouse....they are good little church goers....hahahaha!

[Divernan]

32. I also asked for other examples. None have been provided,

That's the part where they're backed into a corner and tell one to go google.

[Divernan]

30. And then they pass supplemental bills to fix the problem.

[_ed_]

76. I suppose you defended Bush during his term

and said that everything was not his fault, right? Because if it works for one Pres., it should work for the other.

[no limit]

17. Are you saying I used something out of context? Or are you saying reconciliation wasn't used?

As I mention in the video Obama did not truly attempt to pass a public option. If he did he would have as he only needed 50 votes. Around August of 2009 Obama started backing away from the public option, the new york times at the time reported that a deal was made not to include a public option:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/miles-mogulescu/ny-times-reporter-confirm_b_500999.html

So since you compared me to O'Keefe which implies I'm a liar I would appreciate your response. What specifically about my video is false? I not only referenced the NYT I also mentioned the fact he used reconciliation which only needed 50 votes which he could have gotten in the senate none of which you seem to dispute yet you insist I'm lying.

[Buzz Clik]

62. The context of the speech is fine, but the absence of telling why he was unable to excute is missing

This is a tea party, conservative, knuckledragger trick, and you're trying to play it on us?

This kind of blind ignorance might fly in a rightwing echo chamber, but many of us on the left refuse to play dumb and will call you out when you distort.

[_ed_]

75. It's no use arguing with them

They will support Obama no matter what he does. For people like this, the person Obama is more important than actual policies that affect millions of Americans. They don't care about policy at all -- it's just personality politics. It's like sports teams for them. It's just like Republicans supporting Bush.

[Youth Uprising]

51. And you people have the "audacity" of calling US trolls!?

[Buzz Clik]

63. What does that mean? Who are "you people"? Did I call you a troll?

[Dokkie]

13. I saw this coming just b4 inaguration

The cast he assembled to run his administration told me all I needed to know. Also we all have to realize that Obama is just a politician who just like other politician would tell us what we want to hear while doing what his real supporters want. Hes going to need all the donations he can get his hands on to battle a well financed GOP candidate and truth to be told , your $100 - $200 individual donations ain't gonna cut it.

We need to fix campaign financing in this country and also find a way to hold these politicians accountable to their campaign promises. Because If i voted for Obama believing that hes for ending the war, drug importation, against health insurance mandates, and supports repealing the Bush tax cuts, then he should find a way of supporting those policies and vetoing bill that are against those promises. Or at least give a press conference and town hall meeting with voters explaining why he had to go against his promise, making the process as uncomfortable (at times even embarrassing)
to his administration

Campaign financing reform and accountable politicians is what we need.

Btw, srry for unreccing the post. Unrecced without thinking or watching the video

[no limit]

25. No problem, thank you for the reply.

I actually had really high hopes when he first made that speech announcing his presidency. He truly seemed like a genuine liberal that could get it done. I wish like you I saw it coming back then, lessons learned.

[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dotymed]

35. Unless WE non-violently, relentlessly protest

in the streets, we do not stand a chance in hell of getting our country back.
The system of "Wall Street Governance" has already, within a dozen years of implementation, become solidly entrenched.
All of the rest, just as previously, is designed to keep us fighting among ourselves. However, they are not as worried about that anymore. They have established this new government model. Sure it has taken over 30 years to weaken regulatory laws and strengthen laws that strip individual freedoms. That has been accomplished. The NWO (as some call it), has been implemented.
Will we exist under this type of rule as long as the Egyptians did or will we immediately stand up and reclaim what is ours?
I hope that all Americans watch the award wining Documentary, INSIDE JOB, this one was not even made by Michael Moore, so the people who believe (wrongly,IMO) that Mr. Moore is just trying to stir up trouble, listen to another producer/director and hear the FACTS. Maybe then, you too will be ready for the next step to save our country for our future generations. Sure, we are suffering now, but our progeny will not even have the luxury of knowing any other type of existence. Without that experience, there are no comparisons to be made. That will complete, totally, the take-over.

[no limit]

38. Inside job was a great movie, just watched it the other day.

It's enough to make your blood boil.

[disillusioned73]

47. I seriously think.. someone needs to set up some sort of

virtual primary (website) where 2008 candidate Obama challenges 2012 incumbent Obama..

The highs & lows that our President has put us( liberal, progressive, leftist) through are astonishing. And most of the highs were mainly during the campaign process.. as he once said - WE are the ones we've been waiting for...

[Divernan]

49. Excellent idea.

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Enthusiast]

52. That is real change!

:sarcasm:

[DeSwiss]

59. Great quote.

Here's another one:

"Unfortunately, when hope diminishes, the hate is often turned most bitterly toward those who originally built up the hope." ~Martin Luther King Jr.

- K&R

[no limit]

61. Thanks for that, would have loved to include it in the video.

[VidGardnr]

64. So disappointing.

[Divernan]

68. Goodness me! Quelle surprise! The attacker of the OP turns out to be

wait for it . . . .

a troll who got tombstoned.

Check the profile: Here lies a disrupter. He disrupted poorly!

[Lorien]

65. Can we afford four more years of this kind of "leadership"?

Four more years of "working with" and "compromising with" bullies and thugs who want to destroy life in America for all but the richest 0.5%? Just look at how much ground we've lost over the past 2 1/2 years. Obama MUST have a Primary challenger who is willing to FIGHT for the people and Progressive values, otherwise America will be unrecognizable by 2016.

[no limit]

66. At this point I have no clue what can be done.

[nonoxy9]

70. Jesus wept...

:cry:

[ReggieVeggie]

71. well produced

[no limit]

73. Thank you!

[cantbeserious]

72. Most Disappointing President That I Have Voted For In My Lifetime

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