I think he is more socially progressive than Romney, which i think is a big plus.

Some accomplishments for Equality

> signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

> eliminated Don't Ask Don't Tell

> Declared DOMA unconstitutional and stopped defending it (and advocated its repeal)

> Extend benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees

> Banned discrimination in federal workplaces based on gender identity

> new HUD rule against housing discrimination based on sexual orientation

> Ensured hospital visitation and medical decision-making rights for gay and lesbian patients

> Allowed transgender Americans to receive true gender passports without surgery

> Permitted military chaplains to officiate same-sex marriages where legal

> Restored sexual orientation to the United Nations definition of protected human rights

> Appointed the most diverse Cabinet in history

> Appointed more openly gay officials than any other president in history including several openly gay judges to the federal bench

> Nominated 2 women to the Supreme court

> Appointed the first Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy

> Signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act

> Funded the design of a new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History

> Signed the Fair Sentencing Act which reduces the sentencing disparity between powder and crack cocaine

> Signed an Executive Order establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls

> increased funding for the Violence Against Women Act

> Signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act

> Increased minority access to capital

Some accomplishments eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse:

> Cracked down on companies that deny sick pay, vacation and health insurance to workers by abusing the independent contractor classification. Such companies also avoid paying Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance taxes for those workers.

> Signed the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act which gives the federal government more tools to investigate and prosecute fraud

> Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals

> Endorsed Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act that would close offshore tax havens

> Signed an Executive Order on government contracting to fight waste and abuse

> Signed the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act to stop fraud and wasteful spending in defense procurement and contracting

> Committed to phasing out the F-22 war plane and other outdates weapons systems

> Established a Chief Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient

> Limited salaries of senior White House aides to $100,000

> Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters

Some accomplishments in immigration:

> Net Zero Illegal Immigration from Mexico ref (much of it is because of the economy, but it is also because of enforcement)

> Increased deportations with a focus on dangerous criminals ref

> finished more than 99% of the border fence

> Added more than 3,000 Border Patrol agents

> Sent 1,200 national guard to the border

> increased money, agents, investigators, prosecutors, surveillance and technology

> Implemented Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals to defer deportation of people who were brought here as children

Some accomplishments for Veterans:

> largest spending increase in 30 years for the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve medical facilities and national cemeteries, and to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities.

> Added 4.6 billion USD to the Veterans Administration budget to recruit and retain more mental health professionals

> Signed the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act authorizing advance appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs by providing two-fiscal year budget authority thus enabling better medical care for veterans. Endorsed by the American Legion, American Veterans, Blinded Veter...ans Association, Disabled American Veterans, Jewish War Veterans, Military Officers Association, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Paralyzed Veterans of America and Vietnam Veterans of America:

> Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record to improve quality of medical care for the U.S. Armed Forces members

> Allocated special funding to the Labor Department to provide green job training to veterans

> Provided the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with more than $1.4 billion to improve services to America’s Veterans

> Covered expenses for families of fallen soldiers to be on hand at Dover AFB

> Signed the post-9/11 GI Bill

Here are 25 tax cuts from the 2009 stimulus bill (about 40% of the entire bill and the largest 2-year tax cut in history):

1. "Making Work Pay" Tax Credit (Sec. 1001, Page 195). In tax years 2009 and 2010, the Making Work Pay provision will provide a refundable tax credit of 6.2 percent of earned income up to $400 for individuals and up to $800 for married taxpayers filing joint returns.

2. Increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit (Sec. 1002, Page 198). Go to the stimulus bill for all the details, but it essentially expands this benefit for the working poor.

3. Increased Eligibility for the Refundable Portion of Child Credit (Sec. 1003, Page 199). In 2009 and 2010, families who don’t earn enough to pay income tax would be eligible to claim the $1,000 child credit.

4. "American Opportunity" Education Tax Credit (Sec. 1004, Page 199). Increases the Hope Scholarship Credit to $2,500.

5. Refundable First-time Home Buyer Credit. (Sec. 1006, Page 202). This extended and increased the first-time home buyer tax credit from $7,500 to $8,000.

6. Temporary Suspension of Taxation of Unemployment Benefits (Sec. 1007, Page 203). This exempts from taxable gross income the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits.

7. Tax Credits for Energy-Efficient Improvements to Existing Homes (Sec. 1121, Page 208). This provides up to a $1,500 tax credit for qualified energy efficiency improvements.

8. Sales Tax Deduction for Vehicle Purchases (Sec. 1008, Page 203). This allows people to write off state and local sales taxes related to the purchase of a new vehicle costing up to $49,500.

9. Premium Credits for COBRA Continuation Coverage for Unemployed Workers (Sec. 6432, Page 348)

10. Economic Recovery Credits to Recipients of Social Security, SSI, Railroad Retirement and Veterans Disability Compensation Benefits (Sec. 2201, Page 336). This was a $250 payment for senior citizens, disabled veterans and disabled people living on Social Security benefits.

11. Computers as Qualified Education Expenses in 529 Education Plans (Sec. 1005, Page 202). This allows college students to write off the expense of computers and software, provided it's for educational purpose and not for games.

12. Plug-in Electric Drive Vehicle Credit (Sec. 1141, Page 212). Allows purchasers of plug-in electric vehicles to write off up to $5,000 of their purchase (depending on the power of the battery).

13. Tax Parity for Transit Benefits (sec. 1151, Page 219). This relates to an increased exclusion amount for commuter transit benefits and transit passes.

14. Health Coverage Tax Credit Expansion (Sec. 1899, Page 309).

15. Extension of Enhanced Small Business Expensing (Sec. 1202, Page 221). This is a temporary increase in limitations on expensing some depreciable business assets.

16. 5-Year Carryback of Net Operating Losses for Small Businesses (Sec. 1211, Page 221).

17. Extension of Bonus Depreciation (Sec. 1201, Page 220). This extends by a year election to accelerate the AMT and Research Credits in lieu of bonus depreciation.

18. Exclusion of 75% of Small Business Capital Gains from Taxes (Sec. 1241, Page 228).

19. Temporary Small Business Estimated Tax Payment Relief (Sec. 1212, Page 222).

20. Temporary Reduction of S Corporation Built-In Gains Holding Period from 10 Years to 7 Years (Sec. 1251, Page 228).

21. Advanced Energy Investment Credit (Sec. 1302, Page 231). This relates to properties designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as those that produce energy from the sun, wind, geothermal deposits, fuel cells, microturbines, or an energy storage system for use with electric or hybrid-electric vehicles.

22. Tax Credits for Alternative Refueling Property (Sec. 1123, Page 211). This is a temporary increase for alternative fuel vehicle refueling businesses.

23. Work Opportunity Tax Credits for Hiring Unemployed Veterans and Disconnected Youth (Sec. 1221, Page 223). This is a tax credit to provide incentive to businesses to hire unemployed veterans and "disconnected youth." That latter term is defined, in part, as young adults "not readily employable by reason of lacking a sufficient number of basic skills."

24. Delayed Recognition of Certain Cancellation of Debt Income (Sec. 1231, Page 224).

25. Election to Accelerate Recognition of Historic AMT/R&D;Credits (Sec. 1201, Page 220).

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/ statements/2010/feb/02/david-axelrod/axelrod-claims-democrats-passed-25-tax-cuts-last-y/

He repealed DADT. It's good to legitimize the gay community, even if that's all he's actually done.

Not enforcing DOMA is sort of a states' rights issue, but I suppose it's more good than bad.

I like the fact that he's a real weedsmoker and a OG. I heard he has a kill list. Kind of wierd, but that's how he runs business abroad.

He imprisons people for smoking weed thou, thats not cool. That weed was theirs he should go get his own.

Ok, so he's real dangerous G, but he has his PR-swag going all the time. A real boss who wont let anyone get in his way. Now thats what I like for president. Not sure if the Hague would be cool with him tho.

He's gonna create Jobs (;

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'd like if this debate community could put the most popular third party candidate in the middle of of these two links at the top.

This isn't a two party system in the USA, it's a place where anyone can win. Gary Johnson is running, and his views are objectively superior to both Obama and Romney.

He's created or extended 18 small business tax cuts and credits:

1. New Small Business Health Care Tax Credit

2. New Tax Credit for Hiring Unemployed Workers

3. Bonus Depreciation Tax Incentives to Support New Investment

4. 75% Exclusion of Small Business Capital Gains

5. Expansion of Limits on Small Business Expensing

6. Five-Year Carryback of Net Operating Losses

7. Reduction of the Built-In Gains Holding Period for Small Businesses from 10 to 7 Years to Allow Small Business Greater Flexibility in Their Investments

8. Temporary Small Business Estimated Tax Payment Relief to Allow Small Businesses to Keep Needed Cash on Hand

9. Zero Capital Gains Taxes on Key Investments in Small Businesses:

10. The Highest Small Business Expensing Limit Ever– Up to $500,000

11. Extension of 50% Bonus Depreciation

12. New Deduction for Health Care Expenses for the Self-Employed

13. Tax Relief and Simplification for Cell Phone Deductions

14. An Increase in The Deduction for Entrepreneurs’ Start-Up Expenses

15. Five-Year Carryback Of General Business Credits

16. Limitations on Penalties for Errors in Tax Reporting That Disproportionately Affect Small Business

17. 100% expensing of qualified properties

18. Tax credit for hiring veterans

Also:

• Created a new $30 billion Small Business Lending Fund

• Established a State Small Business Credit Initiative to strengthen state programs that support private-sector lending to small businesses

• Extended provisions raising SBA loan guarantees and eliminating fees

• Doubled the maximum size of most SBA loans

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/02/25/seventeen-small-business-tax-cuts-and-counting

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/11/21/president-obama-hire-veteran

I'm not sure. I pretty much just like everything about him. Oh, and the fact that he's half-Kenyan. That's cool and all. :P

During his term as Commander in Chief, the US has

Killed Kill Osama Bin Laden

Killed Saleh Ali Saleh (Somalian Al-Qaeda leader)

Killed Saleh al-Somali (Al-Qaeda Operational Commander)

Killed Abdallah Sa’id (Al-Qaeda Operational Commander)

Killed Baitullah Mahsud (Tehrik i-Taliban Pakistan leader)

Killed Tohir Yo‘ldosh (Co-founder of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan)

Killed Hussein al-Yemeni (Al-Qaeda operative)

Killed Abu Ayyub al-Masri (Al-Qaeda leader)

Killed Abu Omar al-Baghdadi (Al-Qaeda leader)

Killed Sheik Saeed al-Masri (Al-Qaeda’s number three commander)

Killed Hawza al Jawfi and 7 other known terrorists

Killed Abu Ali al Harithi (mid-level Qaeda operative)

Killed Harun Fazul East Africa's Al-Qaeda senior leader

Killed Atiyah Abd al-Rahman (Al-Qaeda No. 2)

Killed Anwar al-Awlaki (Senior Al Qaeda leader)

Killed Aslam Awan (Senior Al-Qaeda leader)

Kills Fahd al-Quso (Senior Al-Qaida Leader)

Killed Abu Yahya al-Libi (No.2 leader of Al Qaeda)

Killed Ilyas Kashmiri (Al-Qaeda Commander)

Killed Abu Hafs al Shahri (Al-Qaeda's operations chief for Pakistan)

Killed Badar Mansoor (Pakistan Al-Qaeda leader)

Killed Khaled Batis (top al-Qaida militant)

And many, many, many others

The Affordable Care Act is now allowing millions of Americans to finally afford health insurance. I also like how President Obama is inclusive of all.

> Ended the war in Iraq

> Set a firm timeline for ending the war in Afghanistan

> Supported multi-lateral force to overthrow Gadhafi without any American lives lost

Some accomplishments in health care:

> Rescinded the Global Gag Rule

> Eliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education

> repealed the Bush-Era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research

Signed the CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2009 which:

> Will provide coverage to about 6.5 million more children

> requires states to cover dental care under the children’s health program

> allows states to provide dental coverage as a supplement to private insurance

> mental health parity - equal coverage of mental and physical illnesses

signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which:

> Expands Medicaid to all non-Medicare eligible individuals under age 65 (children, pregnant women, parents, and adults without dependent children) with incomes up to 133% FPL

> CHIP-eligible children who are unable to enroll in the program due to enrollment caps will be eligible for tax credits in the state Exchanges.

> Provides employers with no more than 25 employees and average annual wages of less than $50,000 that purchase health insurance for employees with a tax credit.

> Guarantees issue regardless of pre-existing condition

> Provides rebates to consumers if the amount spent on clinical services, quality, and other costs if it is less than 85% of the premium for plans in the large group market and 80% for plans in the individual and small group markets

> Provides dependent coverage for children up to age 26

> Prohibits individual and group health plans from placing lifetime or annual cost limits on coverage

> Prohibits insurers from rescinding coverage except in cases of fraud

> Limits any waiting periods for coverage to 90 days

> Provides grants for up to five years to small employers that establish wellness programs

> Requires coverage of several preventative screenings without copay

> Closes the Medicare Part D donut whole

> Provides loan repayment and retention grants for nurses

signed the James L. Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act which:

>establishes a health program to provide medical treatment for responders and survivors who experienced or may experience health complications related to the 9/11 terrorist attacks

accomplishments in diplomacy:

> Lead G-20 deal that produced a $1.1 trillion to combat the global financial crisis

> Renewel of START treaty

> Toughest sanctions on Iran in history

> United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act

> United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act

> United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act

> In his first six months in office he visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any other president

Some economic accomplishments:

> 32 consecutive months of private sector job growth totaling more than 5 million jobs

> Unemployment down from a high of 10% in October 2009 and is now under 8%

> The Dow has more than doubled since its low of 6,469.95 in March 2009

> Consumer Confidence Index is up and rising

> Home values and housing starts are up

> American car companies still exist and are thriving