So, allow me to be the first to provide our president with a grade for his performance. I've been giving grades to college students for the last 16 years, and one thing my students will tell you is that I am fair. My other argument is that I never actually GIVE you a grade; I simply report the grade that you've earned.
1) Handling of the Economy (B-): President Obama is better than John McCain ever could have been when it comes to managing our economic downturn. The problem is that while the president has spiraled our deficit out of control, our nation has yet to see any concrete evidence that the economy's fundamental strength has returned. He has made an enemy out of Wall Street by grandstanding around executive pay issues, but he has lost the backing of Main Street because job losses continue to mount. That's the problem with always reaching across the isle: Sometimes, you don't have firm support on either side of it. The president's inability to translate massive spending into real jobs is going to cost him big time.
2) Management of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (B): On one hand, the president must face the stern reality that you can't just walk out of a war in the middle of it. We all know that Bush got us into these messes, and Obama must get us out. At the same time, Obama pledged to get us out of the wars faster than he is actually doing it, and it is incredibly awkward for a man to accept a Nobel Peace Prize while simultaneously escalating the troop presence in an occupied country. Sure Obama didn't give himself the Nobel Prize, but he still must be held accountable.
Presidents Health Care Fight
WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: (AFP-OUT) President Barack Obama speaks to the press flanked by (L-R) Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in the Roosevelt Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on December 15, 2009 in Washington, D.C. President Obama met with members of the Senate Democratic Caucus to discuss health care reform legislation. (Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chuck Schumer;Patty Murray;Dick Durbin;Harry Reid;Max Baucus;Chris Dodd;Tom Harkin;Barack Obama
WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: (AFP-OUT) President Barack Obama walks in with Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) before speaking to the press in the Roosevelt Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on December 15, 2009 in Washington, D.C. President Obama met with members of the Senate Democratic Caucus to discuss health care reform legislation. (Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Max Baucus;Barack Obama
WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: (AFP-OUT) President Barack Obama walks out with Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) after speaking to the press in the Roosevelt Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on December 15, 2009 in Washington, D.C. President Obama met with members of the Senate Democratic Caucus to discuss health care reform legislation. (Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Barack Obama
WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: (AFP-OUT) President Barack Obama walks out with Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) after speaking to the press in the Roosevelt Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on December 15, 2009 in Washington, D.C. President Obama met with members of the Senate Democratic Caucus to discuss health care reform legislation. (Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chris Dodd;Tom Harkin;Barack Obama
WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: (AFP-OUT) President Barack Obama speaks with Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) after making a statement to the press in the Roosevelt Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on December 15, 2009 in Washington, D.C. President Obama met with members of the Senate Democratic Caucus to discuss health care reform legislation. (Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Max Baucus;Barack Obama
WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: (AFP-OUT) President Barack Obama speaks to the press with Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) (L) and Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) in the Roosevelt Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on December 15, 2009 in Washington, D.C. President Obama met with members of the Senate Democratic Caucus to discuss health care reform legislation. (Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Barack Obama
WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: (AFP-OUT) President Barack Obama speaks to the press as Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) listens in the Roosevelt Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on December 15, 2009 in Washington, D.C. President Obama met with members of the Senate Democratic Caucus to discuss health care reform legislation. (Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Barack Obama
WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: (AFP-OUT) President Barack Obama speaks to the press as Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) listens in the Roosevelt Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on December 15, 2009 in Washington, D.C. President Obama met with members of the Senate Democratic Caucus to discuss health care reform legislation. (Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Barack Obama
WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: (AFP-OUT) President Barack Obama speaks to the press as Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) listens in the Roosevelt Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on December 15, 2009 in Washington, D.C. President Obama met with members of the Senate Democratic Caucus to discuss health care reform legislation. (Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Barack Obama
WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: (AFP-OUT) President Barack Obama speaks to the press with Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) in the Roosevelt Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on December 15, 2009 in Washington, D.C. President Obama met with members of the Senate Democratic Caucus to discuss health care reform legislation. (Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chris Dodd;Tom Harkin;Barack Obama
3) Keeping campaign promises (C-): OK, let's face facts: Most politicians lie. But they lie to us because deep down, we really want them to say things that make us feel good. As voters, we are entirely too idealistic to truly appreciate the complexities that come with running a nation -- we see the world as it should be and forget about what it actually is. But President Obama went overboard, as he seduced wide-eyed liberals like a 40-year-old pimp in the night club with 10 gold teeth in his mouth. He whispered in our ears and made promises that could never be kept. "Don't worry about it baby, we'll work out the details later. Hope and change girl, hope and change." As a result, many on the far left are feeling used and disillusioned by a politician who turned out to be (surprise!) just another politician. This reminds you of love relationships, where men work to convince women that they are the one man who is different from all the other men. At the end of the day, like politicians, we usually turn out to be the same.
4) Attention to Black America (D+): If you are black and educated, Barack Obama is your friend. If you are Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, the president is even willing to ruin a critical press conference on health care to help you win a urination contest with a local police officer. But if you are among the working class in black America, the president fully leverages your commitment to the black royalty of our nation, as we spend our time fantasizing about Ebony Magazine covers of the first family. Don't ask for targeted economic policy, because you aren't getting any of that (hopefully, the CBC can remedy this). Don't even ask for a black reporter to get to ask a single question at many of the White House press conferences (even when Obama made the error of weighing in on Henry Louis Gates, not one single black reporter was allowed to speak). Obama has given black America more hope than it could have expected, but less concrete policy than they would have gotten from Hillary Clinton. I am hopeful that 2010 is different.
5) Healthcare Reform (A-): When it comes to health care reform, the president deserves most of his A- for good old-fashioned effort. In the middle of two wars and a bad economy, the idea that the president would take on such a herculean task communicates that he may likely be as idealistic as his followers wanted to believe he is. He is going to get a health care reform bill passed early next year, and it is going to save lives. While he, like many other politicians, is still partly owned by the insurance companies who destroyed health care in the first place, I congratulate President Obama on a job well done.
6) Overall Grade (B-): I can't give you a specific formula for how the grade was weighted, but I can say that the president's dismissal of black America plays a significant role in the final score. Additionally, President Obama likely agrees with this assessment, since I presume that he was smart enough to inflate his own grade a little bit when Oprah asked him about it. That's the game: inflate your grade so that your honest critics can give you what you really deserve. Obama knows how to play it right.
Dr. Wilmer Leon, a prominent political scientist out of Howard University, gives the president a "B" for his overall performance. Dr. Leon makes the claim, correctly, that 80% of the president's problems were inherited by the other guy who controlled the White House for the previous four years. He also says that we should consider Obama's performance relative to the alternatives.
"If we're grading on a curve, the president should get an A. John McCain would not have been able to do nearly as good of a job under the current circumstances," says Dr. Leon, who is the host of the Sirius/XM satellite radio show, "On with Leon."
Dr. Leon makes a very good point. McCain would have been a tragedy for our nation, continuing the downward trajectory of his predecessor. At the same time, it's hard to grade on a curve when there are only two people in the class. It is my greatest wish that one day, American political leadership will be given to the best person for the job, rather than the most politically-wired graduate of Harvard University. We can't trust socially-disconnected Ivy League institutions to be the sole guides for our nation's destiny.
Georgetown University Professor Christopher Metzler gives the president a lower grade:
"The president has earned a B-. He came into office promising change. However, his administration looks, thinks and behaves no differently from previous administrations," says Dr. Metzler, who is an attorney. "To his credit, he appears to have averted a financial crisis. Transforming America requires that he reform the way that Government works, not tweak the edges. Government does not need to be reinvented, it needs to be invented. This requires innovation, not recycling."
We also must acknowledge that when it comes to Obama's performance, it's too early to tell. This is the first quarter of a four quarter game, and right now, the score is tied. Obama's work during the next three years will tell us much more about him as a man and as a leader than what we've learned during the first year. He is also a young politician, with tremendous upside. I sincerely hope that this time next year, we'll be able to give him a better grade. Long story short, we're cheering for him to be successful.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Professor at Syracuse University and founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (28)
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By: NostraChronus on 12/16/2009 1:13PM
he deserves a resounding F for preying on people's hopes and dreams. Sure, most presidents can't fulfill campaign promises, but this dude went above and beyond when he declared things such as he would end child poverty in the country by 2015. Obama is a clown, plain and simple, a one-term president who serves the interests of the Establishment more than anyone could have ever imagined.
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By: dre on 12/16/2009 1:25PM
I do not believe that the President has singled out Polish Americans, Greek Americans, Italian Americans, Chinese Americans or any other group of Americans who claim ancestry from another nation - to personally help them. My point is that the President is the elected leader of the United States of America, not the President of Black America. I also do not believe that taking the President to task for black reporters or black economic policy is fair, given the lack of any substantive amount of time - as given to the other presidents. I would reserve comment for this President on his performance until at least the middle of his presidency. I get the distinct sense that this bandwagon effort to decry Barack Obama so soon into his presidency comes from the handout section of haters.
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By: Will Bostic on 12/18/2009 1:31PM
I agree. He is not the president of black folk and if he makes good decisions for Americans we will benefit also (e.g. health care). Imagine where black folk would be if the bottom fell out of the economy (you think our unemployment rate is high now, you ain't seen nothing yet).
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By: W illie C. on 12/19/2009 11:45PM
No one is saying Obama should single out African-Americans simply because he is African-American, but if he does no better than the multitude of white presidents that have preceeded him, he should indeed be taken to task. If he was in fact a Polish-American,or any other ethnicity, if they were the most downtrodden in every facet of society, any intelligent would expect the president to do the right thing by them. That does not mean a hand out for special treatment, just a leveling of the playing field. As you said Obama is President of all of America, and African-Americans are a part of that, despite the fact that our history has been sorely neglected and often misrepresented or simply ignored. Remember only the Native Americans are non immigrants in America, and only African Americans did not come of their own free will. So don't waste your words and display your ignorance, if not your racism, by trying to put African Americans on a guilt trip for thinking that maybe, just maybe, equality would be more than just a word with Obama. I voted for him as did millions of others of all ethnicities, and I am willing to give him time to deal with things that have taken years, even decades, and in some cases hundreds of years to get to the present state. But in a country which often professes to be the greatest country in the world, which has progressed in 100 years from horse and buggy to putting a man on the moon, from the first radio, the first TV, the first telephone, to the incredible computers , etc. that we now have, it is well past the time for equality, in every area of life to be more than just a word. I pray for the president, his family, his administration, and indeed our country and our world, but as anyone knows, whether in school, or in sports, the final score or grade is what really counts. In Obamas case, he has done some good, but in my opinion he should remember the mandate that put him in office, and display far more backbone against the GOP aka "The Party of No". If not his grade will plummet just as his poll numbers will.
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By: mila on 12/20/2009 9:00PM
To: Dre
KC, Yvonne, Willie C
I read the response prior to yours and said,OK this is their opinion of the President. Most people do not fully understand the political make up and how the ones elected work and make laws for humans and relate with foreign matters. I took a huge look at the world and said, my my, the creator of this world and the things thereof is mighty. Without humans and laws this world would not stand too long. Take a class in Political Science or study on your own. Like you, I have seen President Barack Obama make accomplishments this far and it is too early to draw a conclusion. How in the world can he do all the things he has stated when it takes time. Only the CREATOR can as Genesis states, In the beginning GOD, created heaven and earth. The President is not a GOD. Our gifts and talents are given to us before we are born. Leaders have attributes, and President Obama has them. Also the CONGRESS runs a lot of things in the Peoples House (aka White house).
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By: Beckw on 12/21/2009 11:37PM
You are in denial! Get your head out of the sand.
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By: Marlene Franklin on 12/16/2009 3:05PM
He should get an A because he has set African Americans back 200+ years. The president, insurance companies and wall street criminal bosses made back room deals to create this so-call American health-care plan. Did you hear that those with chronic diseases i.e, hypertension, diabetes, etc. will have to pay higher premiums than other Americans? African Americans suffer more than any others with these diseases and have the worst health and health-care coverage in America.
I believe there are 2 BV articles regarding diabetes for African Americans and its future prognosis doesn't look promising.
Congratulations to our people who voted in the modern day Pharoah to kill off the modern day True Children of Israel. The jobs he's going to create for us may be making bricks without straws like our ancient ancestors. Even the Black Caucus can see the moves he is making Against our people. This man hates African Americans because we are not his people. Is Mrs. Obama still proud to be an American while her husband is involved in genocide of her people? Presidents are chosen they are not elected. He was chosen for this. The republicans were right, his insurance plan will kill grandma, - ours!
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By: Will Bostic on 12/18/2009 1:33PM
I think you are a tad bit kooky to say the least. I'd rather have a beer with a birther than you.
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By: eddie g. on 12/21/2009 5:43PM
Black people need to stop identifying themselves with success of other "black people". We were all screaming in joy, some of us even cried, when white America granted to give us a “brotha” for the first time in history. I won’t lie, I was ecstatic as well, however after this first quarter under our “brotha”...I think cracker would be more befitting to describe him. I think he is just as white as his predecessors. And this is why:
(1) The health plan he is trying to implement is only a good idea or music to your ears if you make six figures or if you currently have a good health care plan. Yes...this bill will create competition amongst insurance companies thus lowering their rates. However, health insurance is soon going to become like car insurance, without it you are breaking the law. What’s happening to our constitutional freedoms? They are being stripped away as you watch and cheer just because it’s a brotha doing it. Uncle Sam is already taking Medicare and social security out of your check. Now you are giving them the power to take even more out for a national insurance plan. Who do you think is providing the coverage? It’s the same companies that structured the health crisis we are already in. think about it…if you own your own business. Would you prefer 10 rich fellas each paying $100 or 1000 poor fellas each paying $10? However you choose to look at it, insurance companies are going to have way more customers who may be paying less but together…they will make some people even richer. If the current administration was working in your best interest, they would regulate the insurance companies and prevent them from overcharging the people. Not charging us 12% on our wages so that we can get coverage regardless of your medical situation. I am particularly mad about this because I can’t fathom paying 12% for something I don’t necessarily need. I am young and in my opinion healthy. I have been to a doctor in years. I won’t lie…this is a personal choice I made. The only way the doctor will see me is if I am unconscious and someone calls 911 on my behalf. I think we should get a choice to whether we want coverage or not. Nothing is ever done in your best interest if it’s against your will.
(2) Sending more $30,000 more troops…wait what!!! And to think I was just about to enlist in the army. If this administration was trying to rebuild the countries they have played a major role in destroying…more troops would definitely not be the answer. I can unquestionably guarantee you that those troops were not sent to build hospitals in Afghanistan. I haven’t heard of Osama blowing away humanitarians who are currently over there providing health care to the victims of that war. The Middle East will keep rebelling as long as there foreigners carrying weapons on their streets.
(3) The current immigration situation. Most Americans, whatever their color, are actively against immigrants in this country. Most of us may not realize this but we are all immigrants in this country. we killed off nearly all the Native Americans and those that we couldn’t find, we segregated them to particular parts of the country and we made sure that they never talk by giving them casinos and letting their offspring go to school for free, even if your nativity is only 1%. For black people, can’t we call Obama an immigrant? His dad certainly was. For white people, this country was built by immigrants for example, the Manhattan project was the work of German and Polish immigrants granted citizenship for their work. Since Obama took office, student immigrants in this country have been victimized by the current regime. If you’re a student here, and working (they aren’t supposed to) you can barely get a peaceful night’s sleep. Homeland security is picking them up around the country. When you hear a bang on your door at 5am…Start packing. Another thing most Americans don’t know is that the govt. isn’t deporting them anymore. Most are paying a cash bond of $5000 to $15000 and are being released right back onto the streets. It has become big business. I agree that if you out here from another country and can barely utter a complete sentence in English while busy committing crimes in the stillness of the night, then your ass deserves to go. On the other hand, you are a student making good grades and bound to graduate in the top percentile of your class, you are bound to start working to build this country, where’s the meaning in harassing them?
As black people we should stop judging Obama because of the color of skin. We should stop blindly supporting just because he’s got some black in his blood. We should get to know the facts and make a decision based on those facts. I got three questions for all the black people out there who are cursing me out right now;
(1) What makes you black? Is it the way you talk? The clothes you wear? The people you hang out with? The ignorance we share? What exactly is it?
(2) What makes Obama black? Is it that he has a black father who didn’t play any significant role in raising him? Is it that he was raised by a white society? Is it that he went to white schools?
(3) What makes you as a black person identify with and support Obama?
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By: kc on 12/17/2009 2:46PM
Leave Obama the heck alone. what have you done BV grade yourselves,D-
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