Obama Never Promised Me a Rose Garden

One of my proudest political moments was casting my vote for President Barack Obama. Do I applaud every single move Obama has made? Not necessarily. Does Obama owe me or any supporter a litmus test? Absolutely not! In fact, he ran against litmus tests. Barack Obama never promised anyone a Rose Garden - he promised everyone an Administration that would bring Americans together and deliver change.

When asked how his Presidency should be judged, Obama set a clear marker for his first term in a June 2008 Rolling Stone interview:

"If I haven't gotten combat troops out of Iraq, passed universal health care and created a new energy policy that speaks to our dependence on foreign oil and deals seriously with global warming, then we've missed the boat. Those are three big jobs, so it's going to require a lot of attention and imagination, and it's going to require the American people feeling inspired enough that they're prepared to take on these big challenges."

From the Democratic unity rallies of June 30 through Election Day 2008, many of us repeated candidate Obama's words all along the campaign trail. Now, as President-elect Obama forms his government, it is fair for progressives and indeed all Americans across the political spectrum to ask "can he - and we - deliver the change Obama promised?"

Should I critique him? Already have. On December 1, liveblogging the national security team rollout here on HuffPost, I concluded that "while many are skeptical that former rivals can actually work together to achieve change, 66 million Americans vested Barack Obama with the responsibility to try. [Today] he recommitted to his campaign promises and built a big tent team of friends and rivals to implement them. Hungry for change, vigilant for results, we will watch and see with qualified hope."

It is healthy for our democracy that we watch and see out loud; that we do our part to help Obama do his part - we ask questions, we push for the policies he promised, and we promote public service. We have nothing to fear from a big tent or an open debate so long as we keep our eyes on the prize: change in Iraq, health care, and a green economy. So I don't draw the line at debate - I draw it at decency: respect for each other, for the rule of law, for the role of America in the world. Among his other talents, our new President is a great communicator and a great listener. For these reasons, I am confident that so long as we have debate with decency, we are well on the road to a stronger democracy and a great Obama presidency.

Follow Christine Pelosi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/sfpelosi

Comments

[ErikW65]

Thank you Christine Pelosi! That's right, some are acting as though Barack Obama promised them a rose garden. But here's my favorite way of looking at this metaphorically: the campaign was said to be a very long job interview. Now we've hired our new head coach, but some of our most vociferous fans hate the new coach's draft picks and trades, depite the fact that the first game has not even been played yet,!

In any event, these armchair pontificators will not be held accountable for their predictions the way Obama will for his campaign promises. So let's not be like the NFL Owner who second guesses the coach's strategy and undermines his authority. We chose a leader, now let's give that person the benefit of our support instead of criticizing his personnel choices him before he's taken control.

[bluehaze]

The squeeky wheel gets the grease. I will not give him a free ride anymore than I gave Bush a free ride. I will call the White House every week if need be to make sure that I am heard. There is no shame in standing up for what you believe in, and I will not hold my tongue for fear of rousing the all to dead republicans. They have nothing to stand on and history that weighs them down.

[Jalenth]

It seems to me that the progressive who have been complaining lately thinks that "change" means to sit back and complain. They think that all they have to do is "push" Obama to keep his promise.

Whatever happened to "you and me, together, we'll change this country and change the world" Which part of "together" don't the progressive understand.

And what part will the progressives play in changing the world other than just complaining and pushing back. Is that all it takes to be a part of the "change you seek"?

[hardybear]

Well put ...

So when exactly is that Complaint Window going to open up
at change.gov ? It should be manned by a supercilious British-
butler type, who looks down his aquiline nose following a specious
grumbling and counters "You call That a problem?"

It seems to me that the number of Career Disgruntled is multiplying
at a rapid rate.

[Cesaria]

I don't think Progressives, Liberals, whatever name people are using these days look at that way. People have been engaged this whole election process - from the primaries down to November 4th. The people who have given money, their time, went door to door, phone banked, I don't think these people lacked action nor did they lack an understanding of doing their part in achieving something they believed in. It seems rather simplistic and the in thing to view Progressives and Liberals as just complainers and whiners, coloring all with one brush when that's not the case.

[ouroborous]

I think I agree with this, for the most part.

As one of the screaming, raving progressives who's been so much derided in these pages, I can definitely support a call for decency in our debate. Voting for Obama was not one of my "proudest moments" -- after all, he's just a politician. But in the end, I wouldn't have voted for him if I didn't think he was the right candidate for the job.

However, I reserve the right to criticize him when I think he's in the wrong. It would behoove me to keep the criticism topical and respectful, but it also behooves more "mainstream" Democrats to remember that we can disagree... we can even *gasp* criticize Obama... and still be under the same big tent.

Maybe if we can keep the debate respectful, we can learn from one another.

[SeanGardner]

"I don't draw the line at debate - I draw it at decency: respect for each other"

Thank you so much Ms. Pelosi. Your post was short and sweet!

[Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger]

Well said Christine. We are not, and I hope we shall never be, Limbaugh style "dittoheads". Change is always messy but with your standards "...decency: respect for each other, for the rule of law..." we can all take part in the change and move forward to rebuild the country and its reputation