The Obameter: Tracking Obama's Campaign Promises

[min0 lee]

Here's a cool sight to keep tabs on Obama, in 2 days he's kept 5.

PolitiFact | The Obameter: Tracking Barack Obama's Campaign Promises

PolitiFact has compiled about 500 promises that Barack Obama made during the campaign and is tracking their progress on our Obameter. We rate their status as No Action, In the Works or Stalled. Once we find action is completed, we rate them Promise Kept, Compromise or Promise Broken.

The 5 kept.

No. 125: Direct military leaders to end war in Iraq
On "my first day in office, I would give the military a new mission: ending this war".>>More

No. 239: Release presidential records
"Will nullify the Bush attempts to make the timely release of presidential records more difficult.">>More

No. 241: Require new hires to sign a form affirming their hiring was not due to political affiliation or contributions.
"Will issue an executive order asking all new hires at the agencies to sign a form affirming that no political appointee offered them the job solely on the basis of political affiliation or contribution.">>More

No. 427: Ban lobbyist gifts to executive employees
"Barack Obama will issue an executive order banning registered lobbyists or lobbying firms from giving gifts in any amount or any form to executive branch employees.">>More

No. 503: Appoint at least one Republican to the cabinet
Interview with Steve Kroft of "60 Minutes": Question: "Will there be Republicans in the Cabinet?" Obama: "Yes." Question: "More than one?" Obama: "You're not getting any more out of me.">>More

 

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Stalled.
Stalled rulings on the Obameter

No. 505: Create a $3,000 tax credit for companies that add jobs
"During 2009 and 2010, existing businesses will receive a $3,000 refundable tax credit for each additional full-time employee hired.">>More

 

[DOMS]

Well, he's my president now. So I need to give him my support until you loses the right to have it.

Not that I agree with all of his aims, some of them I do. Plus, he's not Bush, which is a plus is many ways (just not in the defense of my country).

*sigh*

What I really want is just for someone to make it a better...even if only a little.

 

[danzik17]

Well, he's my president now. So I need to give him my support until you loses the right to have it.

Not that I agree with all of his aims, some of them I do. Plus, he's not Bush, which is a plus is many ways (just not in the defense of my country).

*sigh*

What I really want is just for someone to make it a better...even if only a little.

I don't agree with a lot of programs either, but I was extremely impressed with his first few days.

Or maybe it's because the bar was so damn low after Bush

 

[lnvanry]

No. 125 was already agreed upon by Bush and the Iraqi gov't...the date was set for May something 2010.

 

[DOMS]

I don't agree with a lot of programs either, but I was extremely impressed with his first few days.

Or maybe it's because the bar was so damn low after Bush

Again, not that I agree with all of his decisions, but you do have to give him credit for making so many decisive moves on day 1.

I also liked his gesture of pointedly including a Republican in his cabinet. Wait...that almost sounds horrific.

 

[min0 lee]

Obama ends funding ban for abortion groups abroad - Yahoo! News
Obama ends funding ban for abortion groups abroad
WASHINGTON (Reuters) ??? President Barack Obama on Friday will lift restrictions on U.S. government funding for groups that provide abortion services or counseling abroad, reversing a policy of his Republican predecessor George W. Bush, an administration official said.
"It will be today. He's going to make an executive order (lifting the global gag rule)," the official said.
The Democratic president's decision is a victory for advocates of abortion rights on an issue that has become a tit-for-tat policy change each time the White House shifts from one party to the other in recent years.
When the ban was in place, no U.S. government funding for family planning services could be given to clinics or groups that offer abortion services or counseling in other countries even if the funds for those activities come from non-U.S. government sources.
It has been called the Mexico City Policy because it was unveiled at a United Nations conference there in 1984 and became one of the centerpiece social policies of the conservative administration of Republican former President Ronald Reagan.
Former President Bill Clinton rescinded the rule when he took office in January 1993 and his successor, Republican George W. Bush, reinstated it in January 2001

 

[min0 lee]

In the Works rulings on the Obameter

No. 27: Change standards for determining broadband access
Will direct the Federal Communications Commission to "provide an accurate map of broadband availability using a true definition of broadband instead of the current 200 kbs standard and an assessment of obstacles to fuller broadband penetration.">>More

No. 32: Create a tax credit of $500 for workers
Enact a Making Work Pay tax credit that would equal 6.2 percent of up to $8,100 of earnings (yielding a maximum credit of approximately $500). Indexed for inflation.>>More

No. 58: Expand eligibility for State Children's Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP)
"Expand eligibility for the Medicaid and SCHIP programs and ensure that these programs continue to serve their critical safety net function.">>More

No. 59: Invest in electronic health information systems
"Invest $10 billion a year over the next five years to move the U.S. health care system to broad adoption of standards-based electronic health information systems, including electronic health records.">>More

No. 177: Close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center
"As president, Barack Obama will close the detention facility at Guantanamo.">>More

No. 178: Develop an alternative to President Bush's Military Commissions Act on handling detainees
"He will reject the Military Commissions Act, which allowed the U.S. to circumvent Geneva Conventions in the handling of detainees. He will develop a fair and thorough process based on the Uniform Code of Military Justice to distinguish between those prisoners who should be prosecuted for their crimes, those who can't be prosecuted but who can be held in a manner consistent with the laws of war, and those who should be released or transferred to their home countries.">>More

No. 373: Encourage community service through online outreach and social networking
Will build on the foundation of sites like USAFreedomCorps.gov and VolunteerMatch.org and leverage technology to increase awareness of and participation in service opportunities. There will be a comprehensive, easily searchable web presence with information about service opportunities, and a full strategy to ensure that people interested in opportunities can find them. This will essentially be a craigslist for service. Best practices from the private sector will be imported, including user ratings and social network features. Users will be able to rate their volunteer experiences, and those requiring service will be able to specify skill sets and time commitments required. Users will also be able to track their hours of service if they choose and perhaps compete for awards from local chambers of commerce or foundations..Will also use technology to make service opportunities available for people who may prefer to work out of their homes or at unusual hours.">>More

No. 392: Expand broadband's reach
Will "get true broadband to every community in America through a combination of reform of the Universal Service Fund, better use of the nation's wireless spectrum, promotion of next-generation facilities, technologies and applications, and new tax and loan incentives.">>More

No. 393: Double federal funding for basic science research over 10 years
Will "support doubling federal funding for basic research over ten years, changing the posture of our federal government...to one that embraces science and technology. This will foster home-grown innovation, help ensure the competitiveness of US technology-based businesses, and ensure that 21st century jobs can and will grow in America.">>More

No. 405: Create White House performance team and chief performance officer
"Barack Obama and Joe Biden will create a focused team within the White House that will work with agency leaders and the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to improve results and outcomes for federal government programs while eliminating waste and inefficiency. This unit, a SWAT team, will be composed of top-performing and highly-trained government professionals and be headed by a new Chief Performance Officer (CPO) who will report directly to the president. The CPO will work with federal agencies to set tough performance targets and hold managers responsible for progress. The president will meet regularly with cabinet officers to review the progress their agencies are making toward meeting performance improvement targets.">>More

No. 452: Weatherize 1 million homes per year
"Will make a national commitment to weatherize at least 1 million low-income homes each year for the next decade, which can reduce energy usage across the economy and help moderate energy prices for all.">>More

No. 476: Modernize the nation's electricity grid and use "smart grid" practices
"Will establish a Grid Modernization Commission to facilitate adoption of Smart Grid practices across the nation's electricity grid to the point of general adoption and ongoing market support in the U.S. electric sector. They will instruct the Secretary of Energy to: (1) establish a Smart Grid Investment Matching Grant Program to provide reimbursement of one-fourth of qualifying Smart Grid investments; (2) conduct programs to deploy advanced techniques for managing peak load reductions and energy efficiency savings on customer premises from smart metering, demand response, distributed generation and electricity storage systems; and (3) establish demonstration projects specifically focused on advanced technologies for power grid sensing, communications, analysis, and power flow control, including the integration of demand-side resources into grid management.">>More

No. 502: Get his daughters a puppy
"The pledge is (Sasha and Malia) will get their dog, win or lose.">>More

No. 507: Extend unemployment insurance benefits and temporarily suspend taxes on these benefits
"Obama and Biden believe Congress should immediately extend unemployment insurance for an additional 13 weeks to help families that are being hit hardest by this downturn. In addition, they believe we should temporarily suspend taxes on unemployment insurance benefits as a way of giving more relief to families.">>More

 

[min0 lee]

Countdown until Obama leaves Office
1456 Days, 12 Hours, 16 Minutes, 03 Seconds.

 

[maniclion]

Obama ends funding ban for abortion groups abroad - Yahoo! News
Obama ends funding ban for abortion groups abroad
WASHINGTON (Reuters) ??? President Barack Obama on Friday will lift restrictions on U.S. government funding for groups that provide abortion services or counseling abroad, reversing a policy of his Republican predecessor George W. Bush, an administration official said.
"It will be today. He's going to make an executive order (lifting the global gag rule)," the official said.
The Democratic president's decision is a victory for advocates of abortion rights on an issue that has become a tit-for-tat policy change each time the White House shifts from one party to the other in recent years.
When the ban was in place, no U.S. government funding for family planning services could be given to clinics or groups that offer abortion services or counseling in other countries even if the funds for those activities come from non-U.S. government sources.
It has been called the Mexico City Policy because it was unveiled at a United Nations conference there in 1984 and became one of the centerpiece social policies of the conservative administration of Republican former President Ronald Reagan.
Former President Bill Clinton rescinded the rule when he took office in January 1993 and his successor, Republican George W. Bush, reinstated it in January 2001

Doms should be happy about this one, if they can convince at least 10 mexican women to get abortions that's 100 less little Mexicans running around multiplying like rabbits later....

 

[trener]

Obama seems to be cool president, i like him

 

[min0 lee]

Well of course he is, he's our funky overlord.

 

[Chubby]

Stalled.
Stalled rulings on the Obameter

No. 505: Create a $3,000 tax credit for companies that add jobs
"During 2009 and 2010, existing businesses will receive a $3,000 refundable tax credit for each additional full-time employee hired.">>More

I hope that he is talking about adding more full time jobs in the US and not in the overseas businesses.

 

[min0 lee]

I hope that he is talking about adding more full time jobs in the US and not in the overseas businesses.

He has mentioned keeping and creating jobs here in America.

That's one of the things I like about him.

 

[BigDyl]

500?????

 

[min0 lee]

500?????

Yep.

 

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Stalled rulings on the Obameter

No. 505: Create a $3,000 tax credit for companies that add jobs
"During 2009 and 2010, existing businesses will receive a $3,000 refundable tax credit for each additional full-time employee hired.">>More

 

[AKIRA]

So when can "No Action" be identified exactly..?

 

[min0 lee]

So when can "No Action" be identified exactly..?

Once his term is over.

 

[AKIRA]

Well, as of now, its in the lead.

 

[min0 lee]

Promise Kept
No. 411: Work to overturn Ledbetter vs. Goodyear
"Obama will work to overturn the Supreme Court's recent ruling that curtails racial minorities' and women's ability to challenge pay discrimination.">>More

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

 

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Promise Broken

No. 234: Allow five days of public comment before signing bills
To reduce bills rushed through Congress and to the president before the public has the opportunity to review them, Obama "will not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days.">>More

 

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Promise Kept
No. 411: Work to overturn Ledbetter vs. Goodyear
"Obama will work to overturn the Supreme Court's recent ruling that curtails racial minorities' and women's ability to challenge pay discrimination.">>More

Obama Signs Equal Pay for Equal Work Bill
Ending Gender Pay Discrepancies: The New Legislation Amends the 1964 Civil Rights Act
Calling pay equity not a women's issue but a family issue, President Obama today signed a new bill seeking to end decades-long pay disparities between men and women. Joined in the East Room of the White House by Nancy Pelosi, the first female speaker of the House, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, first lady Michelle Obama and Lilly Ledbetter, the 70-year-old tire plant supervisor for whom the bill is named, Obama said it was "fitting that the very first bill I signed -- the Lilly Ledbetter...

 

[DOMS]

Obama Signs Equal Pay for Equal Work Bill
Ending Gender Pay Discrepancies: The New Legislation Amends the 1964 Civil Rights Act
Calling pay equity not a women's issue but a family issue, President Obama today signed a new bill seeking to end decades-long pay disparities between men and women. Joined in the East Room of the White House by Nancy Pelosi, the first female speaker of the House, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, first lady Michelle Obama and Lilly Ledbetter, the 70-year-old tire plant supervisor for whom the bill is named, Obama said it was "fitting that the very first bill I signed -- the Lilly Ledbetter...

Great. Another law that uses race, gender, or creed to force inequality.

 

[KelJu]

Obama Signs Equal Pay for Equal Work Bill
Ending Gender Pay Discrepancies: The New Legislation Amends the 1964 Civil Rights Act
Calling pay equity not a women's issue but a family issue, President Obama today signed a new bill seeking to end decades-long pay disparities between men and women. Joined in the East Room of the White House by Nancy Pelosi, the first female speaker of the House, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, first lady Michelle Obama and Lilly Ledbetter, the 70-year-old tire plant supervisor for whom the bill is named, Obama said it was "fitting that the very first bill I signed -- the Lilly Ledbetter...

This is lame.

 

[min0 lee]

Promise Kept

No. 58: Expand eligibility for State Children's Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP)
"Expand eligibility for the Medicaid and SCHIP programs and ensure that these programs continue to serve their critical safety net function."
>>More

 

[bio-chem]

i think i may have preferred to remain in ignorance with this guy. the more he does that i learn about, the scarier it is

 

[min0 lee]

I'm a sucker when it comes to kids needing help.....

Obama signs SCHIP
Updated: Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 | By Angie Drobnic Holan

Back in 2007, President Bush twice vetoed legislation expanding SCHIP, a health insurance program for low-income children. Democrats vowed it would be one of the first things they addressed under a new administration.

On Feb. 4, 2009, President Obama signed a new SCHIP law.

"I refuse to accept that millions of our kids fail to reach their full potential because we fail to meet their basic needs," Obama said at the signing ceremony. "In a decent society, there are certain obligations that are not subject to tradeoffs or negotiation — health care for our children is one of those obligations."

Promise Kept.

Sources:

White House Web site, CHIP , accessed Feb. 4, 2009

Thomas, SCHIP legislation , accessed Feb. 4, 2009


House passes SCHIP
Updated: Sunday, January 18th, 2009 | By Angie Drobnic Holan

Even before Obama took office, the House of Representatives approved an expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). It passed, 289-139, on Jan. 14, 2009.

Obama praised the vote and said he wants SCHIP to be "one of the first measures I sign into law when I am president."

If it passes the Senate, he'll get his wish. We rate this promise In the Works.

Sources:

U.S. House of Representatives, Roll call vote for SCHIP , Jan. 14, 2009

Washington Post, "House Votes to Expand Child Health Insurance ," Jan. 14, 2009

 

[min0 lee]

No. 220: Reinstate special envoy for the Americas

The Promise: "In the past, American presidents have filled the position of special envoy to bring senior-level attention to hemispheric matters that might otherwise get buried in the normal diplomatic process. Unfortunately, the position was eliminated after the post was vacated in June of 2004. As president Barack Obama will reinstate the position."
Update January 18th, 2011: Administration engages Latin America, but not with a special envoy>> More

 

[min0 lee]

No. 520: If you don't have insurance, or don't like the insurance you have, you'll be able to choose a new plan on a health insurance exchange

The Promise: "If you don't have insurance, or don't like your insurance, you'll be able to choose from the same type of quality private plans as every federal employee - from a postal worker here in Colorado to a congressman in Washington. All of these plans will cover essential medical services including prevention, maternity, disease management and mental health care. No one will be turned away because of a pre-existing condition or illness."
Update January 18th, 2011: State-based exchanges will create insurance options>> More