President Obama's First 100 Days
April 29, 2009 | By Nathaniel Ward
Today marks President Obama's 100th day in office. Few will disagree that these past three months have been consequential: the new administration has enacted unprecedented changes to economic policy, foreign and national security policy and social policy.
However, while the mainstream media goes out of its way to praise these as "change we can believe in," Heritage Foundation experts suggest that not all these changes are for the best.
Economic Policy
The president's economic policies have perhaps made the most headlines during his short tenure in office. To date, the president has potentially doubled the national debt by endorsing such legislation as:
- $787 billion "stimulus'" bill, which the CBO projects could cost $3.27 trillion.
- $410 billion earmark-packed omnibus bill; and
- $3.6 trillion budget proposal for FY2010.
In a Washington Post commentary, Heritage distinguished fellow and former Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao argues that President Obama has done little more than increase spending, taxes and the size of government. She says that if he switches gears and promotes "government doing more, better and with less, then he will truly be a transformative leader."
This has been, Heritage's Conn Carroll writes, "a presidency that is every bit as comfortable as Franklin Delano Roosevelt's was in blending the power of big government, big business, and big labor into one national industrial policy."
Foreign and National Security Policy
When considering the president's record on foreign and national security policy, let's not forget his quick action in the rescue of Navy Capt. Richard Phillips from the Somali pirates, or his prudent decision to continue, in large part, the Bush administration's strategy in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Nevertheless, other administration initiatives temper this good news:
- Shutting down the terrorist detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba;
- Drastically reducing funding for missile defense, despite increased threats from rogue nations such as North Korea and Iran;
- Cutting the overall defense budget to unsustainable levels, leaving the military without critical new tools and incapable of meeting the growing challenges we face; and
- Going without "a coherent approach to homeland security."
Heritage Vice President Kim Holmes notes that perhaps the President's greatest asset is his global popularity, as was demonstrated during his two whirlwind tours in Europe and Latin America. Holmes questions, however, "whether the President's personal popularity abroad is translating into concrete results for the United States. So far it has not."
Social Policy
President Obama has wasted little time in reversing social policies—both longstanding policies and those enacted by his predecessor. Within the first three months of his presidency, he has:
- Discouraged volunteerism by signing a costly national service bill allowing government funding and expansion of Americorps;
- Extended taxpayer financing to abortions abroad; and
- Invited taxpayer funding for controversial embryonic stem cell research.
Many of the president's proposals, such as eliminating successful school-choice programs for low-income families and rolling back conscience protections for medical professionals, would further undermine civil society.
—Amanda Reinecker
Swine flu: Don't panic
"We are not close to having a pandemic yet," Heritage national security expert James Carafano cautions in a New York Times article about how to deal with the swine flu.
Arguing that misleading terminology does little more than trigger unnecessary concern, Carafano criticizes the media's loose characterizations of swine flu as a "pandemic," "epidemic" or "outbreak."
Mounting concerns about the virus have generated calls to restrict travel and close the border between the US and Mexico. But Carafano explains that both strategies, while they make for good PR, are ineffective and uncalled-for, especially since we know so little about the disease
Instead, in a new Heritage analysis, Carafano suggests a "steady, common-sense response" through good public health policies, such as:
- Treating those affected with the virus;
- Continuing to collect useable and timely information about the flu; and
- Educating Americans on the proper means of preventing transmission.
While we should continue to actively monitor the virus and those infected, Carafano warns that closing the border "will not stop the spread of the flu – but it will stop the economy."
—Amanda Reinecker
The prefect Mother's Day gift
Parents and grandparents across the country have spoken: "We need help!" That's why 30 Ways in 30 Days to Save Your Family, a new book by Heritage Foundation fellow Rebecca Hagelin, has hit number five on the Washington Post's bestseller list! Sean Hannity and Hugh Hewitt and Elisabeth Hasselbeck agree: This is one handbook every parent needs.
Just in time for Mother's Day, Hagelin lays out 30 simple and specific actions you can take-one day at a time-to reconnect with your children and restore peace in your home. Please order a copy today for the mother in your life - or perhaps a neighbor or friend who needs someone to come along beside her and help with the most honorable job in the world - being a mom.
» Order 30 Ways in 30 Days to Save Your Family from Amazon.com.
Other Heritage work of note
- Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) has announced his plans to campaign as a Democrat for the 2010 Congressional election, bringing the party closer to the 60-votes necessary to resist a filibuster. Heritage's Mike Franc explains what this means for the Senate on National Review Online.
- Heritage regulation expert James Gattuso hosted a panel discussion at The Heritage Foundation today about the government's increasing steps to prop up the economy. Will these measures help rescue financial institutions—or will they make the situation worse? Read more and watch the video.
- Brad Caudell of Lexington, KY has won The Heritage Foundation's free trip giveaway. This young conservative will be attending Heritage's President's Club meeting next Monday in Washington. The sold-out meeting features keynote speaker Rush Limbaugh, plus special guests including Senators Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Thanks to everyone who participated in the contest!
- America should not support the conclusions of the recent Durban II conference, argue Heritage United Nations experts Brett Schaefer and Steve Groves. The relevant document "makes significant references – overt and implicit – that run counter to U.S. policy regarding Israel and the fundamental right to freedom of opinion, expression, and assembly." Schaefer and Groves maintain this is a "testament to the fundamental problem with letting the UN take the lead on human-rights issues."
- Heritage legal analyst Andrew Grossman takes to the pages of USA Today to criticize the trend towards "never-ending lawsuits seeking to disclose state secrets and undo national security measures approved by Congress and the president." Such classified measures used to be protected from courtroom interrogation, argues Grossman, who defends limiting national security policy to the executive and legislative branches.
- In her weekly Washington Times column, Heritage's Rebecca Hagelin addresses the porn industry's attack on children through the Internet. "The purveyors of hard-core porn are so fixated on creating addicts out of our sons and daughters that they have made it virtually impossible for children to escape their clutches." The solution? Hagelin recommends that parents download reliable internet filters.
In other news
- Rep. Van Hollen (D-MD) has announced that the House may not vote on the controversial cap-and-tax global warming legislation this year, especially since the proposal appears likely to fail in the Senate
- Increased fears of swine flu transmission have led overseas governments to control imported Mexican and American meat products. US officials object to the ban, arguing that the disease is not spread through properly-cooked meat.
- President Obama has apologized for causing a panic in New York City when his official plane flew low over the city for a publicity photo shoot.
- The United Auto Workers labor union would own 55 percent of auto giant Chrysler under a government-imposed restructuring plan.
- By a 65-32 vote, the Senate confirmed former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services. She is the last of President Obama's cabinet to be confirmed.
- The economy shrank at a worse-than-expected 6.1 percent pace in the first three months of the year. Business cutbacks and a drop in exports overwhelmed a rebound in consumer spending.
- North Korea has issued an ultimatum threatening to conduct more missile tests and initiate a uranium enrichment process if the United Nations does not apologize for criticizing the communist regime's recent rocket launch.
- The Supreme Court has upheld FCC's "fleeting expletives" policy, which penalizes "accidental" slips of the tongue on live television. The Justices did not rule out subsequent constitutional challenges, however.
Coming up at Heritage
To attend these or any other events at Heritage please RSVP at Heritage's website. Or you can view these events live online. All times are Eastern.
- On Thursday, May 30 at 1:00 p.m., Heritage's Bruce Klingner hosts a discussion on North Korea's human rights violations.
- On Friday, May 1 at 10:00 a.m., a panel of experts reviews President Obama's immigration and border security policies.
Nathaniel Ward is the Editor of MyHeritage.org—a website for members and supporters of The Heritage Foundation. Amanda Reinecker contributed to this report.
