When asked at last night’s news conference what “surprised” him most about his role as the nation’s chief executive, President Barack Obama shared with the nation the enormity and randomness of the challenges he’s confronted over the past 100 days. “I’ve been surprised by the number of critical issues that appear to be coming to a head at the same time,” he says. “The typical president I think has two or three big problems. We’ve got seven or eight big problems. So we’ve had to move quickly.”
He’s had to contend with problems he knew would require his immediate attention as he assumed the presidency: an ailing economy, rising unemployment, a failing financial system, a crippled auto industry and two costly wars. And from day one, he hit the ground running, unveiling a slate of policies and legislation — the centerpiece being the $787 billion economic stimulus package — that rivaled the output of presidents Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson.
Then there were issues he didn’t even fathom, including scuttled cabinet nominations, pirates and the spread of the H1N1 virus — commonly known as ” swine flu” — into a global pandemic. The administration yesterday committed $1.5 billion to tackle the latest health scare as the World Health Organization raised its global alert level to phase 5.
But there was good news as Obama entered what some officials termed a “Hallmark holiday.” Two days ago, Republican Sen. Arlen Specter switched parties and now represents the state of Pennsylvania as a Democrat. Specter’s move positions the Democrats to gain full control of a filibuster-proof Senate, which would be key to Obama’s ability to get other planks of his legislative agenda enacted. And to cap his 100th day, the president received news that Congress passed the $3.5 trillion budget proposal.
During the one-hour news conference, attended by Black Enterprise and scores of other media outlets, Obama maintained
that the administration was “off to a good start but it’s just a start. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved but I’m not content. I’m pleased with our progress but I’m not satisfied.”At the session, Obama displayed his usual cool, calm, and confident demeanor. He used his answers as educational opportunities on the short-term and long-range policy objectives, his policies’ components and, at times, engaged in humorous exchanges with reporters.
In the coming months, he says the administration will stay focused on his economic program which he framed as a “new foundation for growth,” emphasizing future investments in education and renewable energy.
On the international front, he discussed his concerns about the stability of Pakistan’s government but expressed confidence that its nuclear arms would not fall into the hands of Islamic insurgents.
He also addressed recent criticism from conservatives like former Vice President Dick Cheney regarding the use of harsh interrogation techniques such as waterboarding to gain information
from terror suspects. Obama views such practices, which were used by the Bush administration, as torture and asserts he would “make sure we’re not taking short cuts that undermine who we are.”One role he does not relish is that of shareholder-in-chief, responding to a question about the government’s stake in financial institutions and domestic auto makers Chrysler and General Motors. “I don’t want to run auto companies. I don’t want to run banks,” he said. “Our first role should be shareholders looking to get out.”
Related to the White House Auto Task Force’s involvement with Chrysler and General Motors’ restructuring plans, he said that “I don’t think we should micromanage. Like any investor, the American taxpayer has the right to scrutinize what’s being proposed.” He believes, however, that if foreign auto makers can develop an “affordable, well-designed, plug-in hybrid” then “dog gone it, the American people should be able to do the same.”
And so today, the task force announced that Chrysler has taken the necessary steps to give the car maker a new lease on life.
“I am pleased to announce that Chrysler and Fiat have formed a partnership that has a strong chance of success,†said the president. “It’s a partnership that will save more than 30,000 jobs at Chrysler, and tens of thousands of jobs at suppliers, dealers and other businesses that rely on this company.â€
Chrysler will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, giving the automaker time to firm up its partnership with Italian car maker Fiat Group SpA. The government will provide at least $6 billion more to carry the company through bankruptcy. The government will also help appoint a new board of directors.
Click here for “Obama’s 100 Days: A Look at the Historic Beginning of President Barack H. Obama,” a day-to-day multimedia slide show of the first 100 days of the Obama Administration.