Dear Editor,

From health care, to closing Guantanamo, to defending labour rights, US President Barack Obama promised many things but has failed to deliver.

Voters lifted Obama into the White House with high expectations of hope, change and positive thinking. However, two years into his presidency and as he enters his re-election campaign many supporters have been forced to grapple with the reality that is the Obama presidency — broken promises.

(1) Hope, change and health care for all have not come to reality. Despite the passage of Obama’s health care reform plan, many Americans still find it challenging to see a doctor or pay for necessary medical needs.

Obama wanted to ensure no American was without access to medical care. It was the goal behind his push for health care reform. His health bill, however, did not grant such coverage. Although Obama’s party once controlled the Congress, he was unable to push through health care for all. While the new law addresses some much-needed issues with the US health system, such as eliminating pre-existing condition clauses, much of the measure will not take effect until 2014. At that point in time, the Congressional Budget Office estimates over 22 million Americans will still be without proper access to basic medical care.

(2) After initiating a two-year freeze on military trials of detained terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, Obama has lifted the ban just in time to try self-professed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. On the 2008 campaign trail Obama promised not only to cease the trials permanently, he said he would close the base too. He has gone in a completely different direction. While his Democratic Party controlled Congress, Obama could have tackled the trials and military base, but failed to do so. He caved to pressure from Republicans and military leaders.

(3) “Understand this,” Obama said at a campaign rally in 2007, “if American workers are being denied their right to organise and collectively bargain when I’m in the White House, I will put on a comfortable pair of shoes myself, I will walk on that picket line with you as President of the United States of America.”

States across the Union, however, recently passed laws cracking down on labour rights and union workers, eliminating benefits, abolishing collective bargaining rights and more. Obama was nearly silent. After pressure mounted he issued a statement expressing his opposition to Republican bills across the county, but did little more to support organised labour. Obama failed to show up at the picket line and march as promised.

(4) Also on the campaign trail Obama stated his belief in civil liberties, transparency and judicial prudence. However, he has continued to stand by the Bush-era PATRIOT Act which restricts civil liberties.

The US president called for changes to warrantless searches and wiretaps. He called for a greater respect for the people. But at every chance to kill these rules instituted by former President George W Bush, Obama opted to extend them, instead of letting them expire.

(5) In addition to his call for a restoration of American civil liberties, Obama called for an end to America’s wars abroad. Afghanistan and Iraq, however, remain conflict zones, and now Pakistan and Libya have been added to the list. The anti-war American president extended US military operations overseas.

Sixty per cent of American deaths in Afghanistan have occurred under the Obama presidency. Conflicts have expanded, locations increased and violence escalated.

Recent public opinion polls show less than half of Americas believe Obama deserves re-election, conservatives continue to despise him, liberals and moderates are increasingly becoming disillusioned.

Thus far, Obama has failed to deliver on his top promises and is yet to even address others he committed to in the 2008 campaign season.

Yannick Nesta Pessoa

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