President Obama's DNC Speech

The fundamental issues in America today are centered on our poor economic situation. Obama acknowledged the long road we have faced since his time as a Senator, but asserted that our problems can be solved.

"The first time I addressed this convention in 2004, I was a younger man; a Senate candidate from Illinois who spoke about hope -- not blind optimism or wishful thinking, but hope in the face of difficulty; hope in the face of uncertainty; that dogged faith in the future which has pushed this nation forward, even when the odds are great; even when the road is long..."

"But know this, America: Our problems can be solved. Our challenges can be met. The path we offer may be harder, but it leads to a better place. And I'm asking you to choose that future. ..."

Obama created a sense of hope in his audience through the proposal of a relatively concrete plan for the next four years, but it was obvious that he did not directly reference the Obama Healthcare Plan. This, as well as the stimulus, was not touched on in Obama’s speech, as it is controversial among voters according to opinion polls. What Obama stressed was the need for concession in democracy: “No democracy works without compromise."

Four successes that Obama referenced in his speech seemed relatively invalid. He touched on the increase of domestic energy; withdrawal of troops from Iraq; decrease in the cost of education; and reduction in the country’s deficit.

When Obama spoke to the increase of domestic energy, his facts were fallacious, according to The Daily Beast. While he claims that we cut oil imports by one million barrels a day, an independent analysis noted during a Congressional appearance in May 2012, that crude oil production on federal lands actually fell 14 percent in 2011. Natural gas was also calculated to have dropped 9 percent over the same 2011 period. Much of the increase of oil production has come from private companies. The decrease in oil import could likely be attributed to the poor economic situation of many Americans. Obama’s assertion about the decrease in our reliance on foreign oil and the need to utilize the resources of our nation is not a responsible proposal. This will create many environmental crises in our nation and cannot be managed in a responsible or environmentally conscious manner.

“Four years ago I promised to end the war in Iraq. We did.” – Obama 

Though Obama was commander-in-chief during the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, the date on which drawback of American soldiers would be carried through was predetermined according to the Status Forces Agreement signed by George W. Bush in December of 2008.

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, education debt of American students exceeded $1 trillion in March of 2012. Though Obama claims that college loan reforms have helped college students save, the cost of a four-year college education increased 15 percent from 2008 to 2010.

Obama also spoke about a plan that would cut the United States deficit by $4 trillion. This proposed plan is, in actuality, includes the $1 trillion in federal cuts that are already being considered, as well as billions of dollars that will no longer be spent due to our lesser involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. His proposal is not an accurate representation of his potential to introduce more cuts if granted a second term in office.

While Obama’s speech proposed a relatively promising plan for his next term in office, many of his claims have been proven invalid or stretched. Unfortunately, Obama is not responsible for many of the upturns in our national state-of-being. It’s lucky for him that his morals and commitment to the well-being of all American citizens are crucial in this next election.