Last Updated on November 19, 2022 by Lily Connel
As Obama’s presidency comes to a close, it’s time to take a look back at the good and the bad. Obama passed the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. This was a very controversial political action that many thinks will be remembered in history as one of the biggest accomplishments in American politics. It allowed for all Americans to have “healthcare” and made it easier to keep healthcare without changing jobs or losing a job – previously, if you had any sort of pre-existing condition it would be difficult or even impossible to find medical insurance. Also included is birth control coverage at no charge for women, which many see as an essential step towards gender equality.
Pros and Cons Of Obama’s Presidency – The Table Comparison
| Serial | Pros Of Obama’s Presidency | Cons Of Obama’s Presidency |
| 1. | Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, which ensures that all Americans have access to healthcare. | The economy suffered during the Obama administration. |
| 2. | Obama, the president of the United States, was the first to give same-sex couples the right to marry. | According to Obama, raising the debt of the United States. |
| 3. | He ended the war in Iraq, saving billions of Taxpayer Dollars. | Obama allowed the IRS to target conservative groups. |
| 4. | Obama signed the Stimulus Bill, which created millions of jobs. | Obamacare has forced many Americans to lose their health insurance. |
| 5. | President Obama has increased funding for education. | Obama was unable to deal with illegal immigration in the United States. |
| 6. | President Obama ended the war in Afghanistan, which saved billions of dollars. | Obama was criticized for being too secretive and not open to bipartisan cooperation. |
| 7. | Unemployment rates were very high when Obama took office, but by the end of his second term, he was able to cut them in half. | No other president has increased military spending more than Obama nor foreign aid. |
Pros Of Obama’s Presidency:
1) Affordable Care Act
He signed the Affordable Care Act. This act ensures that all Americans have access to healthcare, regardless of their income or health status.
2) The Stimulus Bill
He signed the Stimulus Bill, which helped to create millions of jobs and keep the economy from collapsing.
3) Increased Funding For Education
Under Obama, federal funding for education was increased by $22 billion. This led to more students being able to afford college tuition.
4) Ended the War in Iraq
He ended the war in Iraq, which saved American taxpayers billions of dollars.
5) Improved Relations With Cuba
Obama lifted the embargo on Cuba, which has led to improved relations between the two countries.
6) Repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
He repealed the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which allowed LGBT Americans to serve openly in the military.
7) Nominated Sonia Sotomayor And Elena Kagan To The Supreme Court
He nominated two highly qualified women to the Supreme Court, which diversified the court’s makeup.
8) normalized relations with Iran
Under Obama, relations with Iran were normalized, which led to a nuclear deal being reached.
9) Cut Unemployment In Half
Unemployment rates were at their highest when Obama took office, but he was able to cut them in half by the end of his second term.
10) Approved Same-Sex Marriage
Obama was the first president to approve same-sex marriage.
11) Ended The War In Afghanistan
He ended the war in Afghanistan, which saved American taxpayers billions of dollars.
12) Recovery Act For Puerto Rico Debt Crisis
Obama signed the Recovery Act to help address Puerto Rico’s debt crisis.
13) Negotiated Peace Between Israel And Palestine
Obama negotiated a peace treaty between Israel and Palestine, which ended decades of fighting.
14) Create Policy:
Repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” He repealed the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which allowed sexual minorities to serve openly in the military.
15) Supreme Court Appointed:
Nominated Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to Supreme Court Appointed two women to the Supreme Court, allowing it more diversity.
16) Normalized Relations:
Normalized Relations with Cuba He normalized relations between the U.S. and Cuba, which lead to a better relationship between the two countries.
17) Unemployment Issue:
Cut Unemployment in Half He cut unemployment by over 60%, from its highest point of 10% down to 4%.
18) Increased Healthcare Coverage:
Increased Healthcare Coverage Healthcare rates increased under Obama, with an additional 12 million Americans gaining coverage since 2010.
19) Improved Foreign Relations:
Improved Foreign Relations Under Obama, America’s foreign relations vastly improved.
20) Signed Paris Agreement:
Signed Paris Agreement Obama signed the historic Paris Agreement on climate change.
Cons Of Obama’s Presidency:
1) The Economy
The economy suffered during Obama’s presidency. He was unable to get it back on track, and many Americans lost their jobs as a result.
2) High Unemployment Rates
Unemployment rates were high throughout Obama’s presidency. He was never able to bring them down to pre-recession levels.
3) Increased National Debt
Obama added more debt to the United States than any other president in history. This could have long-term consequences for the country.
4) Benghazi Attack
The Benghazi attack, which left 4 Americans dead, was one of the biggest scandals of Obama’s presidency.
5) IRS Scandal
Obama allowed the IRS to target conservative political groups. This is one of many scandals that marred his presidency.
6) Obamacare
Many Americans have lost their health insurance because of Obamacare, and the program has become very expensive for taxpayers.
7) Worsening U.S.-Russian Relations
Relations with Russia deteriorated during Obama’s tenure as president, which threatens global peace and security.
8) Illegal Immigration
Obama was unable to pass comprehensive immigration reform or strengthen border security to deal with illegal immigration into the United States.
9) Stagnating Workforce Participation Rate & Lackluster Economic Growth Rate
The workforce participation rate remained low throughout Obama’s presidency, while economic growth rates were below average.
10) Lack Of Transparency
Obama was often criticized for being too secretive and not being open to bipartisan cooperation.
11) Overspending On Military & Foreign Aid
Obama increased military spending more than any other president in history, as well as foreign aid. This could lead to budget deficits in the future.
12) Poor Relations With Congress
Obama had a poor relationship with Congress, which resulted in little bipartisan cooperation.
13) Scandals Throughout his presidency, Obama was plagued by numerous scandals, such as the IRS scandal, the Benghazi attack, and the Fast and Furious gun-running scandal.
14) Syrian Civil War
Syria descended into civil war during Obama’s presidency, and he was unable to stop the bloodshed.
15) The Iran Deal
The Iran deal has been criticized by many for being too weak and failing to stop Iran from gaining nuclear weapons.
16) Failure To Address Cybersecurity
Obama failed to address growing cybersecurity threats during his presidency. This could have disastrous consequences for America’s security.
17) Guantanamo Bay
Guantanamo Bay Still Open Obama promised on multiple occasions to close the controversial Guantanamo Bay prison, but it remains open even today.
18) Lack of Transparency & Violating
Lack of Transparency & Violating Whistleblower Protection Obama was criticized for not being transparent and failing to protect whistleblowers who exposed wrongdoing in government agencies.
19) NASA Mission
Altered NASA Mission Obama changed NASA’s mission from space exploration and research to global warming advocacy. This has been heavily criticized by many Americans.
20) Unconstitutional War
Unconstitutional War in Libya Without Congressional approval, Obama participated in a war
Who Is Obama?
Born in 1961 in Hawaii, Obama is the first African American president of the United States. He was raised by his grandparents and attended Columbia University and Harvard Law School. After working as a community organizer in Chicago, he ran for political office and was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1996. He then won the election to the U.S. Senate in 2004 and was re-elected in 2010. In 2008, he was elected president of the United States, and he was re-elected in 2012.
Obama’s presidency will be remembered for many things – some good, some bad. His healthcare reforms were a major accomplishment, as were his efforts to improve America’s image abroad and increase access to education. However, he also presided over an economic recession and the controversial use of drone strikes. In the end, Obama’s presidency is a complex and multi-faceted one that is still being evaluated by historians.
Conclusion
In the end, Obama’s presidency had both good and bad aspects. He will be remembered as the president who legalized same-sex marriage, ended the War in Iraq, and normalized relations with Cuba, but he will also be remembered for his failures to improve the economy and lower unemployment rates. What do you think are the biggest pros and cons of Obama’s presidency? Let us know in the comments.
