CNBC held an economy-centric town hall meeting with President Obama last week. Many people expressed their concern and frustration with the progress, or lack thereof, that the president has made on the promises he delivered when he entered the White House.
Many of the people who spoke were supporters of the president. They said Obama’s campaign was not being actualized and that the change people expected to see was not there.
The spectrum of questioners ranged from a married, female African-American CFO with children to recently graduated students, small business owners and even people working on Wall Street. The common thread between all of them, however, was the hope that President Obama would begin to convince them that he could, after all, make an impact once more.
Additionally, during the course of the meeting, one person, a recent graduate of law school, asked if the American dream was dead for him. This was a highly off-putting statement, especially for a current student. To make matters worse, President Obama continued to blame the previous administration’s part. These portions of the meeting, along with the alarmingly small amount of hope the president’s supporters had, made this meeting a frightening one.
This town hall meeting should be an eye-opener for the president, especially with mid-term elections rapidly approaching. Supporters of President Obama and his administration are beginning to lose hope in him and the change he promised.
The president sits at a turning point in American history. We are facing the worst recession since The Great Depression itself, which makes it all the more important that the president stand up at this juncture.
Obama has the ability to unite and, once again, instill hope in the American people. Although the technicalities of doing this are immense, they fall under the umbrella of two basic needs. The need to follow through with the campaign promises that he made just over two years ago, and to listen to the people of this country.
If President Obama can perform those two actions, he will not only regain the trust of his supporters, but he will likely be able to, as he often requests, reach across the aisle. This is a pivotal moment in our nation’s history, and my hope is that President Obama can step up to the challenges ahead and lead us, the people, to a future that is both unified and secure.