Stories and Lifestyle: Obama’s list of priorities

Obama’s list of priorities: economy and immigration reform

It was a victory both historic and overwhelming: on November 4, 2008, Obama won the presidential election in a landslide victory against his Republican rival John McCain and will be the first African-American president in the White House. Especially impressive was the fact that the Democratic candidate won at least seven states that had last time voted for Republican George W. Bush. Among them were even two Republican strongholds: Virginia, where no Democratic candidate had won since 1964, and Colorado. Also Florida, Ohio, Iowa, New Mexico and Nevada went to Obama.

On January 20, 2009 charismatic 47-year old Obama will move into the White House as 44^th President of the United States and replace George W. Bush after eight years in office. Obama’s campaign slogan “change” won over the vast majority of Americans, who, after continuously growing difficulties in the realms of foreign policy, economy and society, were longing for a change under the leadership of a young and fresh politician. The slogan “Yes, we can” mobilized especially young and non-white American voters within the last year, and accompanied the almost unforeseeable success story of the young Senator from the state of Illinois.

According to surveys, especially the economic issues were a decisive factor for US voters. In his first press conference after his victory, 47-year old Obama announced that he would confront the crisis head-on. “The American people need help. This economy is in bad shape,” Obama said. “We have taken some major actions to date, and we will need further actions during this transition and subsequent months.” Some of those choices would be “difficult.” “I know that we will succeed if we put aside partisanship and work together as one nation,” he said.

On top of the list: immigration reform

Obama also wants to work towards a reform of immigration law during his first year in office. If Congress doesn’t act, he wants the immigration reform back on the agenda during the first year of his presidency.

Barack Obama wants to secure the US borders by adding personnel at land and sea borders, and he plans to assign additional funds for new technology. In addition, the Democratic President-elect wants to reform the immigration system to keep families together. More legal immigrants are to be available as workers to support US economy. At the same time Obama wants to start cracking down on companies that hire illegal immigrants and he wants to promote economic development in Mexico remove any incentive for illegal immigration. He wants to bring illegal immigrants out of the shadows: he does not threaten them with deportation. They will have to pay a fine, but also have the opportunity to learn English and apply for citizenship. During his campaign, Obama liked to tell about his time as a social worker in Chicago, where he helped improving the situation of the poor, the unemployed and people with a migration background.