When Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 2009, millions of people considered his presidency to represent the onset of a "new era" in American society—one with the potential for a significant shift in stance on every important issue in the nation. Did Obama and his administration fulfill their progressive promise?
How has Barack Obama done in his first term as a "progressive president," especially in relation to his campaign assertions? This book analyzes the performance of Obama and his administration in promoting progressive causes in a wide range of policy areas, including the economy, education, immigration, healthcare reform, criminal justice, and foreign affairs.
Grading the 44th President: A Report Card on Barack Obama's First Term as a Progressive Leader is written in clear language that is free of jargon and from a leftist perspective, offering a comprehensive analysis and critique of Obama's performance as a progressive president during his first term. The authors provide in-depth analyses with respect to Obama's handling of specific issues, including the economy, education, healthcare, criminal justice policy, the environment, immigration, Iraq and Afghanistan, race relations, gender issues, and gay/lesbian issues, covering topics in detail that general biographies of Obama and examinations of his political career miss. This book presents clear, accessible information for general readers, and contains in-depth discussion of topics useful to high school, college, and university students of sociology, government, political science, philosophy, and history.
Highlights
• Provides a balanced and wide-ranging critique of Barack Obama's performance as a "progressive president"
• Presents a detailed, critical, and historical account of the Obama presidency from 2008–2012
Luigi Esposito, PhD, is associate professor of sociology and criminology at Barry University, Miami Shores, FL. He earned his doctorate in sociology from the University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL. Esposito has published numerous journal articles and book chapters in areas such as globalization, race relations, social theory, and ethics.
Laura L. Finley, PhD, is assistant professor of sociology and criminology at Barry University, Miami Shores, FL. She is author or coauthor of seven books as well as numerous journal articles and book chapters. She also serves on the board of No More Tears, an organization devoted to providing assistance to victims of domestic violence in the United States.
