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RUSSELL HODINCourtesy New Times (Calif.)

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The Obama Administration

Barack Hussein Obama in January took office as the first black presi-dent of the United States. Although he faced a staggering economic cri-sis, the media hailed him as a new hope for real change. Many in thepress were accused of losing their journalistic balance in their enthu-siastic support for him. Candidate Obama promised to bring new open-ness to government, to reject congressional earmarks, and to closeAmerica’s internment center at Guantanamo.

Within weeks, however, Congress had passed a monstrous earmark-laden spending bill and a stimulus package totaling trillions of dol-lars. Massive bailouts went to banks, lending institutions, andautomakers.

Obama found it difficult to close Guantanamo and came under firefor allowing the Justice Department to investigate CIA methods ofinterrogation. The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan remained majorchallenges.

Obama chose universal health care as his top priority. Most insuredAmericans, however, expressed satisfaction with their medical cover-age and opposed the government takeover of health care. As oppositionto health care reform grew, Obama’s personal approval ratings dippedbelow 50 percent.

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TOM STIGLICHCourtesy Northeast Times (Pa.)

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ROB SMITH JR.Courtesy DBR Media

MICHAEL RAMIREZCourtesy Investors Business Daily

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DANA SUMMERSCourtesy Orlando Sentinel

STEVE ARTLEYCourtesy artleytoons.com

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JAY LAMMCourtesy Franklin Times

GLENN FODENCourtesy Artizans.com

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J.D. CROWECourtesy Mobile Press-Register

TIM JACKSONCourtesy Chicago Defender

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TED RALLCourtesy Universal Press Syndicate

JEFF PARKERCourtesy Florida Today

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WALT HANDELSMANCourtesy Newsday

BOB GORRELLCourtesy Creators Syndicate

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JOHN LARTERCourtesy Artizans.com

LINDA BOILEAUCourtesy Frankfort State Journal (Ky.)

DAVID HITCHCourtesy Worcester Telegram &

Gazette (Mass.)

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STEVE BREENCourtesy San Diego Union-Tribune

MICHAEL RAMIREZCourtesy Investors Business Daily

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