Blaming the boss

By Chevelle Blackburne

Kenwood Academy High School

As the 2012 presidential election nears, some Americans have lost their faith in President Barack Obama’s capabilities as president.

According to an August 2011 Gallup poll of 1,008 adults, a new low of 26 percent of Americans approve of President Obama’s handling of the economy. Only 24 percent approved of his handling of the federal budget deficit, and 29 percent supported his methods of creating jobs.

Matt Fruth, president of the Young Democrats of Illinois, remains a supporter of President Obama.

“People aren’t aware of everything the administration has done,” Fruth said.

Although Fruth stands by Obama, he still says some aspects of his presidency could have been improved.

“I felt that [he] should’ve been more aggressive trying to get certain legislation put through, working closer with the men of the House and the Senate to get certain things passed.”

Fruth pointed out that he was not satisfied with the progress Obama has made with the healthcare bill or the financial reforms for the Consumer Protection Bureau.

According to the Gallup poll, Obama also endured a nine-point decline in his foreign affairs rating, to 42 percent from 51 percent in May. In fact, terrorism is the only issue where Obama’s current approval rate is higher than it was at the start of 2010.

Unlike Fruth, 17-year-old Whitney Young High School student Jessica Velazquez does not consider herself a supporter of Obama.

“I think when he was campaigning there was a lot of talk. He’s a great orator and I think people got caught up in the way he was giving his speeches rather than [what] he was saying.”

Danny Gonzalez, a Move America Forward representative, sides with Velazquez as he is not an Obama supporter as well.

“I actually expected spending increases and an increase in taxes between budgets every year.”

No one knows what the election will bring but Fruth stayed positive as he looked toward the future.

“I think with the realization of what [the executive branch] faces, support will emerge,” he said. “Given the opportunity, the president’s campaign needs to focus on the accomplishments they’ve made.”