US Politics

Vocabulary

• vocab list
• vocab test
• Vocab-Sheet I
• Vocab-Sheet II
• Vocab-Sheet III

Qualities of a President ...

• Qualities of a President

What people expect from President Obama

Europeans

• Obama is favorite candidate in Europe because he promises change
  
• German and french chancellor send congratulation for obama after the election
  
• They are looking for an intensive trans- Atlantic cooperation
  
• In Europe there is an almost euphoric mood about obama
  
• Obama says that there are many problems to be solved but as sarkozy said he is ready "to change the world" with obama

EUROPE ...

• ... fears there would be some disagreements between the EU and USA concerning foreign policy with Afghanistan, Iran and Russia
• ... does not want Obama to send more troops to Afghanistan
• ... wants Obama to close Guantanamo
• ... wants to work together with the United States concerning the climate change und set an example for the rest of the world

Source: sources: http://euobserver.com/9/27436

Muslims

Muslims' hopes on Obama

1. Less-militaristic policy in the Muslim world
2. Open his administration to the ideas and talents of Muslim-Americans
3. Against near-east wars
4. Want Obama to seek counsel from U.S.Muslims
5. More respect towards people of all faiths
6. Muslims want to have a say in issues of domestic and foreign policies
7. No prejudices against the Islam (terrorism)
8. In Obama they see an opportunity to redefine themselves and make themselves heard
9. More muslims in Obama's administration
10. Muslims want Obama to encourage American Muslims and say something positive about them

Second Text [hier]

1. There's more Obama has to do than getting elected to win over the Muslim World
2. Don't believe Obama would change the support of Israel, which overshadows any optimism about the new U.S.leader
3. "This is such a historic moment for people around the world and especially for Muslims"
4. Obama is also in favor of the Muslim World because he spent a great part of his childhood in an islamic country
5. "People have high expectations."
6. Al-Qaeda fears that Obama will take away a good deal of the eastern hatred against the West
7. The support of Israel, which is not going to be stopped, annoys the Muslims

Arab States

what Iraq expects from OBAMA

• most people in Iraq want the war to end and US troops to leave the country
• politicians don´t expect an overnight change
• some think that the troops will stay while Obama is president
• they want him to initiate the dialogue with Iran and Syria
• they expect him to fulfil his promises in the near future (he said, that by August 31, 2010 the mission in Iraq would end)

US-Republicans

• Rush Limbaugh (US radio presenter and entertainer) as an example for some Republicans and their attitude to President Obama:

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/20/limbaugh-obama-fail/

• Limbaugh was asked to explain his hopes for the Obama presidency in a public-opinion poll.
• His hopes are:

1. Obama will fail
2. liberalism will fail

• Limbaugh "disagrees fervently" with the Republicans who hope he will suceed.

Hispanics

1. Hispanic Business Magazine Underrepresentation of Hispanics in federal agencies
2. VOA News Expectations and hopes of Hispanics concerning Obama and his government

Article 1 (Hispanic Business Magazine):

• Hispanics are underrepresented in federal employment → President Obama wants to change this.
• Obama has already appointed many Hispanics to "high level administration positions".
• The text also mentions two examples of Hispanics living the "American Dream": Ken Salazar and Hilda Solis - the first Hispanic woman to serve in the U.S. Cabinet.

Article 2 (VOA News):

• Many Hispanics voted for Barack Obama.
• They want Obama to be fair and to pay attention to the requests of the steadily growing Hispanic population in the US.
• They for example want Obama and his government to offer them the opportunity to get a good education and to put an end to the war in Iraq, where also many Hispanic soldiers fight for the US.
• Furthermore the Hispanics stand up for a immigration reform.

Hispanics:

1. Largest minority group. Hopes: solution for economy crisis, immigration and education
2. More than 45 Mio. People. 15% of US-population ; critical part of workforce in industry and agriculture ; fast growing minority
3. Education, Economy, Prosperity, Health Care Access, Safety in streets (inner cities)
4. Hispanics identify with Obama
5. Many Hispanics in Obama's Cabinet
6. Hispanics want to help Obama in his administration
7. Tackle issues of immigration reform and border security
8. Latino community younger than the American one. ==> Education most important
9. Many Hispanics serve in U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan ==> Stop war
10. 70% of Hispanics voted for Obama
11. 30% of U.S. population are Hispanics by mid-century

African Americans

• 89% of the African Americans think their dream will come true with a black president
• 53% think that Obama will be held to a higher standard
• 68% think that Obamas inaugural speech will be excellent
• Fairness, clarity, truthfulness
• He will fight hard for civil rights
• Education
• Jobs
• Changes

Source: Expectations of African Americans

Young people

Vanessa van Petten, Why Young People Like Obama, access 15.10.09, http://www.radicalparenting.com/2008/02/17/why-young-people-like-obama/ O ==> Why young people like Obama .....

• Obama is young → He’s faced with their problems==> He understands them

• Obama makes them feel important → He appreciates their commitment for his campaign

• They are enthusiastic about and hope for the “change” he is talking about

US Supreme Court

Look at the following two articles! Show/explain the function of the supreme court and the power it has!

• Supreme Court on gun control 1
• Supreme Court on gun control 2

Summary of the two articles above

Supreme Court after a hearing decides if new laws (by states and districts)or federal governments are constitutional The Supreme Court has to decide if the decisions of lower courts are correct Former courts decided that the right to bear arms is not an individual right, but applies to citizens in a militia The Supreme Court can decide what limitations of citizens' rights are constitutional, e.g. it may decide that although there exists a certain basic constitutional right, the gov. has the right to impose limitations, e.g. certain conditions or times that specify when/how this const. right may be exercised. Decision to be made here: … is the District of Columbia's gun law unconstitutional? It bans private "ownership of handguns, but permits rifles and shotguns, if kept disassembled or under an easily removed trigger lock."

If you want to know a lot more ....

• Wikipedia: Supreme Court

Lobbying

• Pros and Cons of Lobbying