Americans Don’t Want a Revolution

President Obama is losing face these days. One year ago, Americans elected him president by a large margin but now, unless there’s a miracle, his party will lose several state and municipal elections. Republicans are finding resonance in their claim that their recent successes are proof that the President’s popularity is waning.

It’s also true that one year ago an appearance by Obama in support of a Democratic candidate campaigning in a traditionally conservative area was enough to ensure victory for the Democrat. That’s history. The broad coalition that elected him in 2008 has since splintered into various factions, all with differing opinions of his record thus far. There are the true believers who believed from the beginning that “yes, we can” would truly revolutionize America with health insurance for all, environmental protection via mandatory emission controls, withdrawal from Iraq, the closure of Guantanamo and much more. Obama has not succeeded with any of these issues. America’s liberals are disappointed.

The broad center of American society doesn’t want a revolution; they voted for Obama because many of his policies seemed to be sensible alternatives to those of George W. Bush. Today, these citizens are waiting to see just what Obama is able to accomplish. They supported health care insurance reform and the closing of Guantanamo as long as they remained abstract goals. How Obama intends to achieve these goals is looked on askance by America’s political moderates. That’s why it’s so difficult for him to turn Democratic party majorities in Congress to his political advantage. Congressional Democrats want to be reelected in 2010. Republicans don’t want to see Obama succeed; they are convinced that opposing his policies is the best way to ensure their return to power.

Main Street America is not as progressive as Obama’s victory last year seemed to indicate. The political center in the United States lies further to the right than it does in Germany. The goals that helped propel progressive candidates to victory in 2008 are now seen as too liberal. Obama can point to a few successes, but they serve to illustrate that change is only possible gradually. His economic stimulus measures have gained traction: in the 3rd quarter, the U.S. economy grew at a rate of 3.5 percent, but it will clearly take time for that to translate into relief for the unemployed and the price for it will be breathtakingly rising debt. Obama has slashed military spending by canceling the F-22 fighter project. If and when the public option makes it into healthcare provisions, it will be with the proviso that individual states can choose to opt out. He has no congressional majority for European-style environmental protection. Guantanamo will continue operations for some time to come.

One year ago, it appeared that Obama had put his stamp on America. Meanwhile, there has been a change: yes, he can, but only insofar as America allows.