Robert Kuttner Says Obama at "Crossroad" in his Presidency
Economist and author of Obama's Challenge: America's Economic Crisis and the Power of a Transformative Presidency, Robert Kuttner provides a critique of President Obama's first year in office on the February 5th edition of Bill Moyers Journal.
Kuttner asserts that the battle for healthcare has placed President Obama at the crossroad of a successful or failed presidency. Outlining what he sees as the likely and far-reaching consequences of a failure to pass healthcare legislation, Kuttner remarks: "This is a make or break moment for President Obama. It will make it easier for the Republicans to take control of Congress in 2010. It will make Obama even more gun-shy about promoting reform. It will create even more political paralysis. It will embolden the republicans to block what this President is trying to do at every turn."
In his upcoming book, A Presidency in Peril: The Inside Story of Obama's Promise, Wall Street's Power, and the Struggle to Control our Economic Future, Kuttner shares his unique, insider view of how the Obama administration not only missed its moment to turn our economy around, but deepened Wall Street's risky grip on America's future. Providing a detailed one-year history of the problem, players and outcome, Kuttner gives readers an unparalleled account of the President’s first year.
Despite strong criticism of the President, Kuttner remains hopeful that with swift, decisive action, President Obama could redeem his promise and still enact meaningful reform.
