President Obama with his wife, Michelle, and Chief Justice John Roberts after taking the oath of officeDuring his first year, President Obama angered conservatives who saw him as unwilling to compromise on issues like health reform. Yet some liberals saw him as too willing to compromise. They were disappointed with decisions like sending more troops to Afghanistan and not closing the Guantanamo Bay prison.
Many political experts are mixed in their opinions. But Larry Sabato at the University of Virginia says not to judge too much from the first year.
LARRY SABATO: "If you look back in history you will find that many presidents who were enormously popular in that first year became failed presidents over time. Other presidents who were not terribly popular in their first year and had lots of controversies served two full terms and went out of office in a reasonably positive way."
Congressional elections will be held in November, and Republican gains are likely. Smaller Democratic majorities could force the president to reach out to the opposition and to conservatives in his own party.
And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. I'm Mario Ritter.
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25