Angry Americans admonish President Obama

The US mid-term election held on November 04 was marked by poor turnout of voters. Around 33 per cent voters cast their ballots while 67 per cent decided not to exercise their right of franchise.
On the election day, unlike on previous occasions, neither the assembly of voters at the polling stations nor much of excitement and vigilance of agents of the political parties was noticed. Why did the voters behave in this way? We posed this question to many among our acquaintances and the response was: "We have been let down by the President." Their anger and frustration allowed the Republican Party to regain control of the Senate by 54 to 44 (Independent 1, undecided 1) and the House of Representatives by 254 to 181.
The Republican Party would now control both the chambers of the Congress with effect from January 2015. The jubilant Republican leaders warned should President Obama choose to rule by executive orders they would table impeachment motion against him. They reiterated their vow to undo the Affordable Health Care Act, commonly known as the Obamacare.
President Obama, in reaction to electoral disaster, said, "To everyone who voted, I want you to know that I hear you". But he added pointedly to the two- thirds of voters who chose not to cast votes, "I hear you too". The President's approval rating for variety of reasons plummeted to below 30 per cent and many of his party candidates preferred the President not to visit their constituencies. The fallout was due to Obama's lack of effectiveness and his hesitation and inability to lead at home and abroad.
OBAMACARE, IMMIGRATION REFORM: Last year, the President went ahead in rolling out the Obamacare but soon it encountered technical problem. As the deadline approached, people hurried for enrolment but their applications got jammed. Though it was salvaged, the enrolment fell far below the expected number. Consequently the Health Secretary resigned.
Following his re-election in 2012, Obama had committed to initiate immigration reform but during the last two years, not much has happened. On an average, about a thousand illegal immigrants are being deported every day leaving behind their young children and thus causing a humanitarian crisis. During the mid-term election campaign, Obama reiterated his pledge to roll out the reform which would prevent the illegal immigrant parents of American-born children from deportation. That would target about 4.0 million, mostly Latino parents/children to be ultimately lawful citizens of the country. The Senate could pass the Immigration Reform bill since Democrats still enjoy the majority and the President could endorse it. But the Senate doesn't seem keen to take it up. The Republicans have threatened that they would address the issue when the newly-elected Senate comes into session next year under their leadership. Is Obama incapable of pushing his cohorts in the Senate to get this done?
Weeks after Obama's re-election, 23 school children were mercilessly gunned down in Connecticut by a gun-loving lunatic. There was an outcry for effective gun control and the President pledged for the same. He submitted a number of gun control measures but all these were finally rejected by the Congress. The gun control did not make any headway not because the Republicans opposed it but many Democratic Senators vowed to the NRA's (National Rifle Association) pressure and didn't endorse Obama's proposals. The gun control remained as elusive as before. Now gun violence has become rampant and every month children are falling prey to gun-mongers within the school premises. The sale of guns reportedly reached a record high during the weeks preceding the last 'Veterans Day'.
Obama's bid to raise minimum wage, equal pay for women and support to small business initiatives fell through causing disappointments in the middle class. About 13 Ambassadorial nominees have been awaiting confirmation of the Senate for months while the US Embassies are functioning without the Ambassadors. Loretta Lynch was nominated by the President as the new Attorney General. She is an experienced prosecutor. She had accepted the offer and awaiting confirmation of the Senate. If confirmed, she would be the first African-American female Attorney General. The Republican Senators suggested confirmation to be deferred until the newly-elected Senate takes office which is another six weeks away. The existing Senate, led by the Democrat, could arrange the confirmation any time even before the end of November. The President also prefers early confirmation but it will not happen any time soon. This speaks volume of the 'disconnect' between the White House and the Democrat- controlled Senate.
In a fund-raising dinner in September, Obama talked about positive developments in the country. This is true; unemployment has dropped to 6.5 per cent, gasoline price fell below $ 3.00 a gallon, housing market is turning around and the economy is recovering from worst recession of our time. But people want more and the administration would not disseminate the information.
INTERNATIONAL CRISIS MANAGEMENT: Russia annexed Crimean peninsula in March and vowed to repeat the same in the event ethnic Russians are threatened anywhere within the former Soviet Union. Obama responded by imposing rounds of economic sanctions against Russia and sought similar actions by the European allies. France, Germany and Britain did not follow the suit, mostly for the sake of commercial interests. The sanction did not cause hardships as expected and Russia continues to support the separatist movement in the east and south of Ukraine. In the name of humanitarian assistance, wagons loaded with ammunitions are being delivered to the rebel groups. The writ of Kiev does not apply to rebel-held areas in Ukraine, about one-third of the country.
PALESTINE: Since 2012, twice Palestinian resistance against occupation led to armed conflicts with Israel. Israel responded with full military force, killed civilians, destroyed homes, schools and hospitals and imposed blockade around Gaza. The last conflict that continued for over eight weeks led to the death of over 2,000 Palestinians, 70 per cent of whom were women and children. About 10,000 homes, schools and hospitals were razed to the ground. On both the occasions, Obama reiterated his commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel but did not condemn Israeli brutality in Gaza. Following the July 2014 conflict, Israel ran short of hardware and the US government immediately replenished the stock worth over US$1.2 billion. The US complicity in the persecution of Palestinians has angered the people in the Muslim world but Obama's half-hearted opposition of settlement in occupied territories has upset Benjamin Netanyahu. The Swedish government has now accorded recognition to Palestine. The British and the French parliaments have passed resolutions proposing recognition of Palestine state. The US is being sidelined.
ISIS/ISIL: The prolonged civil war against Syrian dictator Assad and sectarian measures of the Iraqi government led to the resurrection of the ISIS/ISIL militants. They were embraced by the Sunni population which was marginalised by Baghdad. Their strength grew fast and now reportedly around 30,000 fighters have joined the outfit. Their brutalities to minorities, treatment to women and assassination of foreign journalists have shaken the conscience of the people around the world. Obama waited too long to allow the rebels to overthrow Assad but in the process, the collation of rebels fragmented and Assad consolidated his position with the support of Russia and Iran.
Now the US has forged a coalition and authorised air strikes on ISIS positions. It has decided to deploy another 1,500 military advisors in Iraq to intensify the offensives against the militants. To succeed, they would need the active participation of the Iraqi troops and Syrian rebels on the ground. Military analysts believe these would take time since the Iraqi army has lost 'chain of command' following the defection and Syrian rebels are too fragmented. Peshmarga, the Kurdish fighters, have joined their compatriots in Syria and put up remarkable resistance against the ISIS. But it would take years to contain the ISIS and will cost billions. There is no quick-fix available.
IRAN: The six-nation negotiation with Iran on nuclear issue has reached a crucial point. The disagreement centres on a number of centrifuges that Iran would retain for enriching uranium, time-frame for lifting sanctions and the duration of comprehensive nuclear accord. The next round of talks is scheduled to resume in Vienna today (November 18). Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister has sent a letter to the six nations urging not to be too hasty in making a deal. He warned, "This terrorist regime in Iran must not be allowed to become a nuclear threshold power." Obama said last week that ultimately, it might be impossible to reconcile the wide gaps. It would be a mistake to miss the historic opportunity to come to terms with Iran, a regional power, which could be an important partner in peace building in the region.
The poor turnout of the voters has hurt the Democrat nominees but a better turnout would not have necessarily guaranteed their victory. The middle class, small businesses and the immigrants, among others, make the vote banks of the Democrats. Should the voters continue to remain angry with Obama and his party remain impervious to the grievances, it would cause great harm to the next Presidential aspirant of the Democratic Party.

The author is a former official of the United Nations.
darahman.chowdhury@hotmail.com