Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

San Jose State U. caucus grades Obama's first 100 days
By Michael Le Roy
Spartan Daily, San Jose State U.
April 23, 2009

As the end of spring semester approaches, students and San Jose State University's Democratic Caucus gave a report card for President Barack Obama's first semester in office on Wednesday at the Student Union.

Peter Allen, a political consultant involved with the Obama campaign during the presidential primary, and Yacanex Posadas, a sophomore finance major, led the discussion.

Obama was graded on a range of issues, from the war in Iraq, to health care and education. More than 15 students were present to give the president a grade.

Top marks were given by the panel for Obama's cabinet. Allen gave Obama an A- for his cabinet and Posadas a B+.

"I think the change comes from the president, I mean the first in charge will dictate what the cabinet will be doing," Allen said. "The president dictates what their duties are; their responsibility is to serve the president."

The grades given by students varied for Obama's cabinet picks, ranging from an A to an F. Posadas said that Obama is doing a good job in Iraq and gave him an A grade.

"It's about time we have actually have a timetable," he said.

Fernando Marquez, a political science major, said that Obama could do a better job in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Certain things were out of his control, obviously," Marquez said. "He did inherit both of these wars, that was something he knew from the moment he got inaugurated. I think with the surge in Afghanistan—I am not sure of that 50 percent surge [will] necessary work out the way he anticipates. There has been signs that al-Qaida and the Taliban are around Pakistan actually."

Marquez said he would still give President Obama a grade of a B despite disagreeing with his policy on Iraq and Afghanistan. Both Allen and Posadas were Obama supporters.

"It was a little one-sided considering they were both for Obama," said Mark Young, a junior civil engineering major. "On the other side, well it wasn't a frothing from the mouth sort of thing, they gave thoughtful questions."

Young also said that other viewpoints on the panel would have been nice. His final assessment of Obama as president so far was a C-.

A question was asked about Obama's future job approval numbers. RasmussenReports.com, a Web site that collects public opinion polls, currently states that 54 percent of Americans approve of the president's performance.

"Honestly it's up to him," said Allen when asked what he thinks the future approval ratings will be for Obama.

"I think the popularity he has now, he should push it to eventually get stuff done in education and health care," said Omar Torres, a senior political science major. "I know past presidents have always talked about health care and education, but never done anything about it," he said.

The SJSU Democratic Caucus intends on sending the report card to the White House. The group gave Obama a B- overall.

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