answersLogoWhite

0

No, he is a Democrat with a social conscience.

The idea that Barack Obama's policies are 'socialist' is a great exaggeration popularized, many would argue, by the Republican Party's efforts to put down, through any means, a very strong opponent.

At the very most, President Obama's policies are Social Democratic in nature. His philosophy is democratic. He taught Constitutional Law at the University level and understands the rights and freedoms it gives the people, which his actions support with an attitude of reformation of some of Capitalism's inherent flaws, as opposed to the revolutionary attitude of true Socialists.

His healthcare plan, for example, is something seen by Europeans as rather conservative. Britain has had health care through the government (NHS) for over 70 years. This is far from being symptomatic of extreme leftism. The president's plan is a fairly moderate policy aimed at ending what many would see as a poor way to treat citizens by allowing socio-economic backgrounds to decide levels of health care.

Whilst one can only really speculate as to Barack Obama's private leanings, his policies are certainly not of the far-left nature that his opponents make out.

The term Socialist can be used in various fashions.

Some people feel that President Obama is a socialist because the laws and regulations he is trying to pass could be interpreted as taking away personal freedoms. They believe that some of the regulations President Obama is attempting to pass go beyond what the Constitution states is the government's role.

In his book The Audacity of Hope, President Obama states that:

"They conclude that the Constitution itself was largely a happy accident... that we can never hope to discern the Founders' 'original intentions' since the intentions of Jefferson were never those of Hamilton, and those of Hamilton differed greatly from those of Adams; that because the 'rules' of the Constitution were contingent on time and place and the ambitions of the men who drafted them, our interpretation of the rules will necessarily reflect the same contingency, the same raw competition, the same imperatives- cloaked in high-minded phrasing- of those factions that ultimately prevail. ... so I see a certain appeal to this shattering of myth, to the temptation to believe that the constitutional text doesn't constrain us much at all, so that we are free to assert our own values unencumbered by fidelity to the stodgy traditions of a distant past."

This alarms some people because they interpret it to mean that President Obama does not respect the Constitution or believe that it should be followed and upheld.

Also in The Audacity of Hope President Obama constantly advocates spreading the wealth around. This system would be extremely wonderful, but if one "robs the rich to give to the poor", soon enough the rich decide that they don't have to work for their money. If they do nothing at all, the government will make sure they get money anyway. This creates problems because if no one wants to work anymore, then the government has to force people to work, thus taking away personal freedoms. This is why some people believe that President Obama may have socialist intentions.

He does, however, according to some, have sympathy for certain "socialistic" ideals. For example, his statements regarding a need for medical care for even those that don't have the money to afford it is interpreted by some as socialistic. However, this has been something that the people in the US and those in all civilized Western nations have wanted to provide to the less fortunate for decades and have been providing through the state and Federal Medicaid program for the indigent, and for senior citizens through Medicare. The democratic capitalist nations in the UK, France, Australia, Canada and the US (to name only a few) are not characterized as socialist even though they have programs to assist those needing medical care who can not afford it.

See the link below for a definition of socialism.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What are the Barack Obama chris moyles lyrics?

Chris says he just wrote "Barack Obama" but I've worked out the following: Barack Obama Barackobama Barack Obamaba Rackoba Mabarack Obama Barack Obama Baracka Bama Barack Obama Barack Oba Ma Barack Obama Barack Obama Barack Obama Barackobama Barack Obamaba Rackoba Mabarack Obama Barack Obama Baracka Bama Barack Obama Barack Oba Ma Barack Obama Barack Obama Ba - Rackaba Barack Obama - a Barack Obama SING! Barack Obama - a Barack Obama Barackobama Barack Obamaba Rackoba Mabarack Obama Barack Obama Baracka Bama Barack Obama Barack Oba Ma Barack Obama Barack Obama Baaaaaaaaaa - Rackaaaaaaaaaa Obama - a - aaaaaaaaaa - maaaaaaaaaa Baaaaaaaaaa - Rackaaaaaaaaaa Obama - a - aaaaaaaaaa - maaaaaaaaaa Ba - Rackaba Barack Obama - a Barack Obama Barack Obama - a Ba - Rackaba Barack Obama - a Barack Obama Barack Obama - a Ba - Rackaba Barack Obama - a Barack Obama SING! Barack Obama - a Ba - Rackaba Barack Obama - a Barack Obama Barack Obama - a Baaaaaaaaaa - Rackaaaaaaaaaa Obama - a - aaaaaaaaaa - maaaaaaaaaa Baaaaaaaaaa - Rackaaaaaaaaaa Obama - a - aaaaaaaaaa - maaaaaaaaaa Barack Obama Rackabama Rackabama Rackabama Rackabama Rackabama Rackabama (Repeat to finish)


Who is Barack Obama the first?

Barack Obama, Sr. Is barack Obama's dad


Who is more famous Barack Obama or Adele?

barack obama


Who is Barack Obama's father?

Barack Obama's father is Barack Hussein Obama


Obama father name?

Barack Obama. (The President is Barack Obama II.)


Who is really Barack Obama's father?

Barack Obama's father is Barack Hussein Obama


Who is more famous Elvis Presley or Barack Obama?

Barack Obama


The president is what?

Barack Obama


What is the birth name of Barack Obama.?

Barack Obama's birth name is Barack Hussein Obama II.


Where was Barack Obama was raised?

Senetor Barack Obama was raised in Africa Senetor Barack Obama was raised in Africa


When did Barack Obama retire?

Barack Obama is still in office as the US President.


What is Barack Obama's reglion?

Barack Obama is Protestant