How Obama Screwed Up

Lack of bipartisanship undercuts campaign promises
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 27, 2009 3:39 AM CST
How Obama Screwed Up
Barack Obama walks down the steps in front of the US Capitol, July 9 2008.   (Getty Images)

It's polarized, lobbyist-laden business as usual in Washington, and President Obama is largely to blame despite his campaign pledges to change the way business is done in the capital, writes Fred Barnes. Obama mistook his personal election victory for a victory for liberalism and failed to try hard enough for bipartisan compromise when he had the chance, Barnes writes in the Wall Street Journal.

Obama has failed to move congressional Democrats onto the center ground and has been pushing through one liberal initiative after another despite polls showing this is is still a center-right country, Barnes writes. The president has grown government, which has caused an increase in lobbyists, despite his promise to reduce their role. "Nothing has changed, except maybe that Washington is now more acrimonious than it has been," Barnes concludes. (More politics stories.)

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