President Barack Obama swept into office in 2009 with the promise of hope and change. He also promised transparency in his administration and that he would work across the aisle with Republicans to find solutions to America’s problems. What has Mr. Obama done?

He continues to divide the nation. He has repeatedly shown that his real enemy is not al-Qaida and those who want to destroy America, but the Republican Party. The term War on Terrorism is unspoken, but the president and his followers continue to attack Republicans mercilessly at every opportunity. Whatever happened to the pledge to find and punish the people responsible for the attack on our diplomats in Benghzi, Libya? Mr. Obama and his administration have caused distrust through misinformation and by viciously attacking those who have honest differences. There cannot be fair compromise without trust.

With the help of Democratic Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Mr. Obama pushed through the Affordable Care Act. This was the crowning achievement of his first four years in office. Lawmakers passed this law before even reading or fully evaluating it. As this government mandate continues to be implemented, it is becoming clear that Mr. Obama either didn’t have a clue about the real cost of this legislation or he intentionally misled the American people. We are $16.7 trillion in debt. How can we afford bigger bureaucracy and even more government spending?

What I detest about Mr. Obama is not his skin color, but his foolish, destructive and failed liberal ideas and his aversion to the truth.

 

Paul Westrum
Albert Lea