When US President Barack Obama began his campaign for the presidency, his slogan, “Yes we can”, was about hope and change. His campaign managers promoted him as the messiah who would build a new America where poverty, unemployment and other social ills would become history. On his own, Obama was a good product that any marketer would be willing to endorse. He proudly announced his audacity and bragged about his capability. He spoke about how he was obliged to run for president by what he termed “the fierce urgency of now”.
Like Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr and Bill Clinton, Obama is a master of public speech. Using the power of rhetoric, he dazzled Americans with his messages of hope and new beginnings. He spoke glowingly on how he would create jobs, improve the economy, regulate taxes, reduce deficits, improve energy and education in addition to promoting world peace. The magic paid off! Swayed by his oratorical power, Americans elected Obama president, thereby making him the first African-American to hold sway at the White House. Thus began the making of a legend. Before long, Obama became not only the toast of Americans, but, indeed, that of the whole world.
Upon his inauguration, expectations were high across the world, particularly in America. At last, the messiah who would bring succour to a wounded people has been enthroned. Obama’s first inaugural address elicited hope as he proclaimed: “Today, the work of remaking America has begun.” And truly, the change came swiftly. With Democrats in control of both the House and Senate, Obama shortly signed into law an “economic stimulus” package that would cost nearly $1 trillion and would keep unemployment under 8 percent and usher in a robust economic recovery. Goodbye to depression. Welcome prosperity. How erroneous!
Now in the middle of a second tenure in office, rhetoric is fast succumbing to reality. With millions of Americans out of work, and many others underemployed, it seems Obama has lost the momentum. The signs are actually patent. The burden of the presidency is, no doubt, taking its toll on Obama’s frail figure as he now looks thinner and his dark hair rapidly going grey. Suddenly, his ‘Hope and Change’ slogan is being sarcastically derided by Americans with “We hope he change”.
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As he comes close to the sixth anniversary of his presidency, things are no longer at ease for Obama. His approval rating is currently at an all-time lowest. His support base is fast shrinking. A recent survey indicates that much of his compatriots see him as ‘incompetent’ or ‘lame duck’. His foreign and domestic policies are being fiercely criticised. According to a new ABC polls, 65 percent of his countrymen are of the view that America is on the “wrong track”. Aside from domestic challenges, international crises in Ukraine, Iraq, Syria and Israel are complicating things for Obama.
The outcome of the recently held mid-term elections, which saw the Republicans taking charge of both the House and Senate, without a doubt, is a reflection of the current abysmal rating of Obama and a huge blow to his political career. Though Obama did not contest at the mid-term polls, experts see the Republican Party’s impressive showing as a vote of no-confidence on him. The signs were so bad that before the polls actually started, most pundits were so sure that Obama would be a major factor in the failure of his Democratic Party. The loss of the Democrats became the gains of the Republicans who are now, except a miracle occurs, favourably positioned to occupy the White House after Obama’s tenure. No doubt, Obama has metamorphosed from the leader who elicited hope to the one who institutes despair.
Unfortunately, things are not likely going to get any better for Obama and his presidency as America faces more complex and tricky challenges. With the country currently battling the Ebola virus on one hand, and the Islamic State on the other, in addition to other complicated domestic issues such as healthcare reform, racism and immigration, it is obvious Obama would need more than his legendary oratorical skill to weather the storm. The present political equation which places both houses under the control of rival Republican Party would further make things more delicate for Obama and his party. In short, in the days ahead, tough battles await the president, on all fronts.
Most of Obama critics accuse him of engaging in more talks than actions. Having ascended the presidency on the wing of his oratorical proficiency, Obama has not been able to draw the line between flowery public speeches and actual accomplishments. Take, for instance, his speeches which portray him as one who is willing to reach out to the Muslim world by allaying its fears of exclusion and subjugation. While he demanded radical changes in Israeli-Palestinian relation, Obama has actually done nothing tangible in the Middle East to herald the hope of the change he so much mouthed publicly. His inability to act promptly equally gave impetus to the rise of the Islamic State. While the Kurds and the Iraqi government raised alarm about the deteriorating state of affairs as the Islamic State continued its aggressive territorial expansion, Obama failed to produce the needed ‘Reaganic’ or Bush-like response that could have sent across the right signal.
Most Obama’s diehards believe that Americans and world’s expectations of him were too extravagant from the outset. They hinge their argument on the fact that the American economy was almost in a shambles when Obama took over and he couldn’t have performed any quick magic to turn things around. However, the truth is that Obama himself worked quite hard to stimulate the people’s expectations. Undoubtedly, when the American voters opted for him, they did so on the strength of their conviction that he would not only talk the talk, but would actually walk the talk. Now they know better!
The lesson from the Obama situation is simple. Rhetoric is good. Every ambitious politician must possess great oratorical skill. But the snag is that while rhetoric could turn the polls in favour of a political candidate, it cannot sustain him in power. The problem with rhetoric is that it sometimes comes to hunt the orator himself. Having talked his way into the presidency, Obama is now in a dilemma of meeting the huge expectations of his people. Now, the power of rhetoric that swayed the ballots in his favour could not stop surging unemployment and other uncertainties at home. In the eyes of his compatriots, Obama remains a man of rhetoric. Unfortunately, rhetoric alone won’t help Americans triumph over their troubles. Herein lies the dilemma of Obama and, indeed, that of his nation.
Tayo Ogunbiyi
