The election has come and gone, and America spoke loud and clear: President Barack Obama will remain our commander-in-chief for four more years. While the president will always have a solid support system, there are distinct challenges he will face over his next term. Here are a few to note:
Creating true bipartisanship
In the past, many presidents have tried and failed to achieve true bipartisanship. Lately, it seems as if working together to solve problems either never happens, or politicians are criticized for it when it does. What the president needs to do is to create an environment that decreases bitter party politics and increases the idea of embracing solutions from both sides of the table.
In the end, that’s the beauty of having a two-party democracy: realistic proposals from two schools of thought. Bill Clinton did it. Ronald Reagan did it. President Obama can also do it if active measures are taken, including understanding what the public wants and allowing Americans to have their say.
Staying connected
President Obama is obviously savvy on social media. And he’s a great public speaker. However, it’s also important for him to to stay connected about key issues during his next term.
For instance, if a promise he made over the past few years was broken — such as raising taxes — we need him to be honest about it. If a promise wasn’t fulfilled, does he need more time or is it just not a priority at the moment? Not staying connected to the audience in this respect may harm his approval rating and make some Americans more bitter about the state of their nation. Therefore, it’s vital for the president to always keep the public in the loop on his progress, no matter how big or how small — and be candid when a promise is broken.
Holding the right people accountable
It’s easy to blame Republicans for the economic mess President Obama inherited. However, what about finding and reporting on the reasons for the problems and upholding justice? Though the Obama administration came down hard on Wall Street two years ago, the Justice Department has yet to convict a single high-profile banker. This makes his administration look weak and incapable.
Over the next four years, President Obama should take a firm look at those who caused the messes, including his and his party’s blunders, state who is actually responsible, acknowledge mistakes, and discipline people when warranted.
Maintaining America’s image
According to a recent Pew Research survey, the world opinion of the United States has increased since the Bush era. However, since early in Obama’s first term, overall confidence in and attitudes towards the United States have slipped. The same survey found the world opinion that China has risen beyond the U.S. as the leading economic power, which is particularly troubling since China is the first non-democracy superpower.
In the recent past, there have been incidents which may have dampened the world opinion of the United States. For instance, most of the countries surveyed disapproved of our country’s ongoing drone-strikes policy. More than half of those asked to give their opinion condemned drone attacks on extremist countries, such as Pakistan and Somalia. This may have also eroded gains in Muslim countries, with only seven percent of Pakistanis holding a positive view of the president a year after the raid on Osama Bin Laden.
Despite this, the president continues to assist other countries when they need it. For example, helping Israel and Gaza reach a cease-fire will likely reflect positively on the United States. Another possible leadership position may be committing with China to a follow-up on the Kyoto Protocol. By taking such firm stances, the United States can maintain a leadership role to the world and leave a solid legacy for the president.
President Obama may have his challenges, but with the right plan, team, and support from the public, America will continue to be leader in the world, as well as a country to be proud of in the eyes of its citizens.
What do you think? What are some other challenges for President Obama?