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The first 100 days test
Politicos share hesitations and hurrahs over Obama's progress at traditional benchmark
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April 29, 2009 | 02:39 PM
Whether it's a harbinger of the 1,361 days still ahead is open to debate but the first 100 days of a president's office have been the subject of considerable scrutiny ever since Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected in 1932 pledging economic reforms to a stabilize a nation mired in depression.
So how is President Barack Obama doing?
We asked some local politicos and politically minded individuals to weigh in on the issue.
Mark Cronin said he campaigned for the candidate because he thought Obama wanted to change the direction of the country's leadership. "I thought he merged deep-seated values that I shared along with the practicality to get things done," said Cronin, the Long Island grassroots coordinator for Obama's presidential campaign.
Faced with a multitude of problems since his election, Obama has proven to be a fast learner, the Huntington Bay resident opined. "That approach manifests itself in his economic policies, in his approach to Iraq, in his approach toward the environment, in his approach toward opening government and reaching out to involve all people," Cronin said. "He's really working hard at attacking the apathy of the country.
Legislator Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Neck), who was the Long Island chair for Obama's campaign, said the administration is off to a great start.
"He's taken on everything, from jumpstarting the economy, to the mortgage crisis, to the banking crisis, to Iraq, Afghanistan, new relations with Cuba …" he said. "There's a clear consensus by the majority of Americans that we've turned the corner and the country is now moving in the right direction. People are much more optimistic about their future than they were six months ago."
While he allowed that Obama inherited an extremely difficult situation, state Assemblyman Phil Doyle (R-Bay Shore) said he fears the country is moving too far to the left.
Assemblyman Boyle coordinated the Long Island presidential campaign for Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona). "While I wish him all the best of luck in turning this economy around, the fact is I have grave concerns that he is mortgaging not only our children's future but our grandchildren's future," he said, referring to the bailouts for banks and corporations. The auto industry, for instance, he said, should be allowed to go bankrupt and reorganize, as the airlines did.
"I would like to see more of the stimulus go toward building bridges and fixing roads — really putting people to work."
As a fiscal conservative, Boyle believes spending should be reduced, not expanded, during an economic crisis.
"If it works out for Obama and the economy turns around and we get paid back all those trillions of dollars that are being spent in taxpayer money, I'll be his biggest fan. But I just don't think that's the way to go."
C.W. Post political science professor Stan Klein from Dix Hills and Huntington Republican Committee member, said the president is doing a fine job.
While noting that neither Obama nor any other president since Roosevelt has accomplished what FDR did in 100 days, Klein said, "On the other hand, he has gotten through some of his initiatives and he may get some more through if he works diligently over the next three months."
Klein faulted his own party for holding up legislation. "We have very difficult times and this is no time for partisan nonsense. The members of the U.S. Senate are just the party of 'no.' [Republicans] have voted against Democratic initiatives without coming up with an alternative."
Suffolk County Democratic Committee woman Renee Ortiz, of Central Islip, said he is pleased with Obama. "He's right on target with most, if not all of the promises he made. The fact that he's now discussing comprehensive immigration reform is just huge to me. I didn't even anticipate that he'd be able to even start touching that his first year and he's already begun to do that as well."
Brookhaven Republican Committee chairman Jesse Garcia said that while everyone wants to see our nation succeed, "I believe that spending us out of this recession is not going to be the answer."
Rather, Garcia suggests, taxpayers and small businesses should be protected. "We need to downsize government. … We need to give our small business owners an environment in which to thrive."
Of the banking institutions that accepted funds from the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program payout, Garcia said, "Instead of advertising on baseball fields, they should be providing lending for small businesses at a lower rate and potential home owners so that we could get the fundamentals of this economy moving forward."
In the face of Obama's critics, Cronin and Cooper remain stalwart in their support of the man they helped elect. Cronin said the thinks Obama is living up to and surpassing his great expectations.
"He's brought an intelligence and an engagement to leadership of the country that's been missing. … He's moving forward aggressively in a comprehensive way that's looking to both address the problems facing us right now … as well as addressing the structure of the economy so we'll be stronger in the future."
Of the president's critics, Cooper said, "There are some who say he's not doing enough. There are others who say he's tackling too much concurrently. … I think he's handling things at the right pace."
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