Politics and Partisanship

One of Obama's main challenges in his transition from a young idealist to a holder of public office is the realization that he must often give ground on his beliefs in order to build consensus with opposing party members and to pass legislation. The demands of partisan politics sometimes cause Obama even to go against what he believes is right. In his early experiences in public office, he thought it would suffice simply to speak the truth and to lay out plans that were objectively the most logical path forward.

In his campaign, Obama appears to realize the universality of his message, as he attracts “support from independents and even some moderate Republicans by promising bipartisanship and an end to slash-and-burn politics” (210). However, as Obama moves towards enacting change, he finds that he cannot escape the entrenched Washington culture of partisan politics. In a situation such...