What question would you like to hear President Obama answer?

Question

On Thursday, we will present an exclusive interview with the President, conducted by Diane Sawyer of ABC News and presented on both Yahoo! News http://news.yahoo.com/ and ABCNews.com http://www.abcnews.com/ during the day, evening and Friday morning.

Submit your questions here. Yahoo! and ABC News may pick several and put them to the president. Also, feel free to check back here for the link to the interview.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

President Obama, when you took office, you must have had a vision for where you hoped the country would be in four years. Where do you see our nation now in regards to your goals, and if elected again, what are some steps that you see as necessary to achieve those goals within the next four years?

Answer 2

This is not a question fro President Obama, but a question for Yahoo News, ABC News, and all other media outlets. Why is it so hard to respect the position of the President and refer to him as President Obama, not Obama. I have never seen such blatant disrespect for the office until now. President Clinton and President Bush were not called by just their last name no way near as many times that the media does now for President Obama. So when you pose the question in huge font, at the top of my browser page and refer to him as just Obama it hurts me that you can afford to offer him the same dignity and respect that all who proceeded him received. Regardless of his agenda, political affiliation, policies, and ethnic background you should respect the office and title he holds, even if you don't respect the man himself.

America, has so many guises under which to hide racism, but it is not hidden in this form- it is brazen disrespect. The media shapes the way many thinks and it will have the children thinking it is OK not to respect a person that holds an office, if they disagree with his/her principles and or ethnic background.

Source(s):

www.yahoo.com
http://abc.go.com/search?search=abc%27s+world+news+with+diane+sawyer "Once Popular Obama..."

Answer 3

President Obama, it is a given that you are attempting to redistribute the wealth in America via your health-care reform measures (already passed, though under fire), but 1) why is it that the American public cannot see that many Republicans are attempting to resdistrbute the wealth, too -- by overthrowing the social security system -- stealing decades of workers' guaranteed savings to pay down the national debt for a future generation? 2) Given that both plans are redistribution of wealth plans -- but by different paths -- explain and justify why your plan is better than theirs.

From: Barbara in North Carolina

Source(s):

It is common knowledge that both plans redistribute wealth. But few in the public have been able to see that both plans are redistribution of wealth plans...the questions is designed to focus American attention on the fact that both are such and allow the President to defend his plan as the better one -- if he can

Answer 4

President (and I use that term loosely) Obama, is it true that you have passed a law on your own (and without Congress), for the year 2012, that states that the illegals already living in the USA will be given more of an opportunity to vote by extending help to them, using an eight hundred number, explaining to them how to lie about "losing" their identification for the voting process? During the record high for unemployment, nationwide, we as a country are still feeding off of other countries for oil and the now the gas and food prices are higher than ever, as a combination. Do you, for once, take full responsibility for this issue? What are your plans for oil drilling? Will you try again and not pass the buck if there are any mistakes, as you did the last time?

Answer 5

In December, 2010, you and Congress extended the Bush era tax cuts on investment income and high earners. You also passed a Social Security tax cut of 2%.

Why is it that you agreed to a two-year extension of the Bush tax cuts but the Social Security tax cut for Americans who work for a living was only extended for one-year?

And why in passing a temporary two-month extension to the Social Security tax cut in December, 2011 did you include a stealth "recapture tax" increase of 2% of income over $110,000, to be paid after the election in 2013 when you promised not to increase income taxes on incomes under $250,000?

Source(s):

Yahoo News

Answer 6

Well, since you asked, here's my questions for Mr. Obama...

1. When will you watch the movie, "Inside Job"?

2. When will you watch "Bill Moyers & Company: David Stockman & Crony Capitalism"?

3. When will you fire two of the architects of the 2008-2009 financial disaster: Larry Summers & Tim Geithner who hold high positions in your Administration?

4. When will you begin to dismantle the large banking institutions that are "too big to fail" and whose rampant speculation led to the 2008-2009 disaster?

5. When will (your) Justice Department bring indictments against Angelo R. Mozilo et al for the CountryWide mess?

6. When will action be taken against the (bond) rating agencies such as S&P, Moodys, etc for fraud and misrepresentation in selling out investors in favor of the lucrative commissions earned on (junk) mortgage backed CDOs?

The list of your failures as President goes on and on...

Source(s):

See the list of questions...

Answer 7

I noticed in your State of the Union address you talked about building up our educational streams in this country through community colleges and vocational training. That is great, but no one (including the President of the United States) ever discusses those adults in this country without a high school diploma. Adult education in this country is very successful AND moves the adults served into career pathways - whether community colleges or vocational training or employment. Adult education serves more adults with less money each year. One million six hundred thousand adults are currently unemployed and without a high school diploma. All I ever hear about is community colleges. You have to get an adult up to community college level before they can GO to community college. Think about adult education and stop ignoring the excellent work this body of educators is doing.

Source(s):

The Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Answer 8

In the State of the Union Address when the housing crisis was addressed, President Obama stated last night, "That's why I'm sending this Congress a plan that gives every responsible homeowner the chance to save about $3,000 a year on their mortgage, by refinancing at historically low interest rates. No more red tape. No more runaround from the banks. A small fee on the largest financial institutions will ensure that it won't add to the deficit, and will give banks that were rescued by taxpayers a chance to repay a deficit of trust."

The current program that was annouced in October '11 which would allow those who have mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac to refinance without getting a new appraisal or a full credit check. The program would also eliminate some risk-based fees for borrowers.

Why can't every American who has an underwater mortgage and/or ARM term adn has maintained excellent payment history with their lender be given the opportunity to refinance their loan regardless of backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac?

Source(s):

"State of the Union: Fact Checking the President" - ABC Yahoo Article dated 1/25/12

Answer 9

President Obama:

My question has two parts.

The term "middle class" is widely used by an array of people across income levels, party lines and geography. While we have what is known as a Poverty Line, there is no real definition of middle class.

1.) In studies, someone who makes 35k and another who makes 100k annually both consider themselves middle class. Obviously there is a disconnect and a need to know what is truly considered middle class so that politicians cannot throw the term around as loosely. How would you define middle class as a number?

2.) In that scenario, if a family has a combined income of 45k per year, they make too much to get help, but not enough to get by (which is the real plight of the middle class), how would you help them?

Source(s):

The school of life, having a family, being a student, making ends meet...being American living in the stew with the rest of the "middle class"

Answer 10

Mr. President, am aware that you have a tight schedule and issues to deal with on a global scale, of which i really empathize with sincere congratulations. As for me, the need for Climate change adaptation policies may not be very clear to politicians in Kenya and other developing countries in Africa...Could there be a way you can facilitate a study by enthusiastic scientists like me who represent a generation of marginalized communities who started formal schooling at 10yrs of age and are now charged with providing leadership in these and other livelihood enhancement protocols in Africa for vulnerable communities. What is your position on poverty and vulnerabilty to effects of climate change in Africa....Thank You Mr. President

Source(s):

Yahoo.and Wikipedia

Answer 11

Mr. President,

One of your goals is to get many American's back to work, but in some instances it's not the lack of jobs, it's the lack of skill sets, and there are many jobs in the technology field that fall into this category. Is it possible that with the goverment's help, a creation of learning instution(s) dedicated to certifications, such as MCSE (Microsoft Certified System Engineer) that didn't require a 4 year degree and could quickly place a person in one of those high jobs? Today most of these certifications must be taken through other mechanisms, and are very expensive. This could be a cost saving to the government and to that person who may not want to seek or have the resources to continue on at a traditional college. Also this could reduce the number of jobs being outsourced.

Answer 12

Greetings Mr. President Obama!

Hi,

My name is Gwendolyn Loper and I want to know,that after you have face so many lashes and so many put downs from people, and I know deep down inside that it hurts, because if it didn't you really wouldn't be human and, I know that you are but, I also know that you have to build that leather skin to face the public and do your job at your best ability and that you also have Bosses,anyhow, I want to know that after your day has ended with all this negativity towards you, how do you relieve yourself from the stress and find peace and serenity to get back out there and do it again, and also for Malia and Sasha and I pray I got their names right :) , how do they deal with their stress. By the way! You have a very beautiful family and I love you all and God Bless you and your family. I have a poem that I wrote back in 2003 to President Bush but I never got to present it and it's on these wars and people have to understand that you are coming in and trying to clean up what was already made a mess. I wish to God they stop looking at your skin and give you at least half the chance as all the other Presidents. We are all one and will face the same God. I Love You and Keep on Keeping on. God Bless.

Source(s):

Yahoo News

Answer 13

You campaigned on a promise of not allowing off-shore oil exploration yet you have done nothing but give in to oil interests. Last night in your state of the union address you have once more reversed yourself to allow this. We need more alternatives to oil and better protection of areas where it is already allowed including mandatory federal minimum standards for oil fracking. Why have you backtracked on this? The Republicans are not going to work any better with you because of this and the rest of us who trusted you on this pledge feel we just have "Geroge Bush Lite" in office.

Source(s):

Barack Obama reverses campaign promise and approves offshore ...
Mar 31, 2010 · Barack Obama reverses campaign promise and approves offshore drilling. President allows oil and gas exploration off several coastal areas to horsetrade ...

www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/31/b…

..State of the Union: Fact Checking the President
By ABC News | ABC News – 6 hrs ago..

Answer 14

When are you going to live up to your pledge to bring countries to the table and End Wars??

So far you have continued the Bush Wars and commitment to destroying foreign governments and their right to co-exist in this world, even if the British and other Western Governments do not approve of their politics. Your verbal commitment to become President was you would bring people to the table and End Wars.

John Burns
UMOJA Research

Source(s):

Obama made the pledge, prior to his election, he would bring countries to the table and end wars. That was his Pledge and he has not lived up to it.

Answer 15

Why not give everyone a list of all your accomplishments, and they are many indeed, so that the Republicans cannot continue lying about so many things - like Romney said: that you, President Obama, have just made everything worse, the economy, jobs, health care (Obama care?) and a host of other things as well.

I know this is not true but many others need to be reminded of what you have accomplished. The Bush administration supposedly attempted to "take out Osama" and failed completely. And there are many other successes to be told. I am tired of hearing only negative things about your administration and I also know better...

Source(s):

CNN News, President Obama's speeches, also MSMBC News, Rachel Maddow Show, etc.

Answer 16

I am a stem cell research scientist with 30 yrs experience, I would like to know what President Obama feeling is about this world breaking news yesterday that can help so many and what resources he is going to provide before this technology is made available to the the international community such as the Chinese? Jobs and Leadership, we have developed this technology are we going to keep it?

Source(s):

Lancet article 1-23-2011, The first clinical trial of human embryonic stem cells to report any effects shows they are safe and can improve vision, according to a report in the Lancet medical journal.

A team at Advanced Cell Technology in Massachusetts, the University of California, Los Angeles and elsewhere reported the controversial cells worked safely in two patients with macular degeneration, a common cause of blindness.

Human embryonic stem cells are the body's master cells. From a cluster of a few of these cells soon after fertilization, the entire human body develops. Scientists have hoped for years to use them to regenerate cells, tissues and even whole organs.

Answer 17

Why do you still allow drilling in the shale to reach the oil? There has been earthquakes in Ohio where they have been drilling.There has never been any earthquakes there before. I think you should encourage people to get back to basics such as knowing how to survive by making everything by hand as everyone used to do. The younger generation are becoming automatons, mostly interested in what can be done on the computer.

You are doing a great job but start talking to a few elderly folks not involved in business and you might be surprised at what they have to say. May God bless you and your family.

Source(s):

The news on the television and newspapers plus my own knowledge I have gained over the years. Also God is a great contributor.

Answer 18

I have you video recorded 7 or 8 times when you were still campainging for President that if elected, you would be the most Transparent President in the history of the USA yet it took some 3 Yrs. of Pressure before you produced a Certificate of Birth & after more Pressure, you submitted your so called Birth Certificate.
Question#1: If you were born in the USA as you say/claimed & had the Birth Certificate to prove it,
WHY did you go to the trouble & time to produced a Certificate of Birth instead of the
real thing. Your Birth Certificate.
& you put it in the Internet where it can be SEEN but NOT Examined for authenticity.
I understand that now a days, if Experts examine it, they can determine when the Paper
& Ink on it was Printed & Where it was Made or Printed.....as well as Any False/Fake
information on it etc.
Question#2: Why don't you Submit it to the proper people & have them Examine it for authenticity &
prove that it is the Real Thing. What good is it to Post it in the Internet where it can just
be Seen but Not Examine?
We all know that especially now a days, people with less Money & Power than you can
easily have a FAKE/FALSE Document made. You, the most Powerful Man in the World,
& holding the Highest Office in the land can Easily have it made etc.
Question#3: I have not & will not call your Kenya, Africa Family Members LIARS when they Say that
they were present when you were born in Kenya, Africa.
Are you? (calling them Liars)

Source(s):

No sites. Just USA Articles (Magazines & Internet & TV News etc.)
& President Lincoln Famous Words: "You can fool all the people some of the time and some
of the people all the time, but you can't fool all the
people all the time”

Answer 19

If it isn't bad enough that millions of people are losing their homes to falling real estate values and bank loans, then the State of Illinois decides to raise real estate taxes thirty percent so Senior Citizens on fixed incomes can't afford to stay in their homes. An eighty seven year old woman on a fixed income was being evicted by McLean County for failing to pay her real estate taxes. Fortunately a neighbor came to the rescue and paid up everything she owed. In most other States, real estate taxes are next to nothing and in North Carolina, Real estate taxes are cut in half when the owner of real property turns sixty five. How many Senior Citizens sitting at the curb do you think will vote for you. Is this your idea of America.

Source(s):

No particular sites, just any Illinois Newspaper or local news report night after night declaring how many families are being thrown out of their homes.

Answer 20

Will you again promise during the campaign, only to break the promise during a new term, on a comprehensive immigration bill?
We immigrants do remember your promise:

"I cannot guarantee that it is going to be in the first 100 days. But what I can guarantee is that we will have in the first year an immigration bill that I strongly support and that I'm promoting. And I want to move that forward as quickly as possible."

Source(s):

Jorge Ramos interview with then-candidate Barack Obama, May 28, 2008, played on ABC's This Week on July 4, 2010.
Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D0IdO7H0…

Answer 21

Mr. President:

In 2008, you campaigned eloquently against mandates to purchase health insurance. You said that if mandates were the answer, we could end homelessness by mandating that everyone buy a house. Then you came to office and signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which mandates that everyone buy health insurance. You've taken a lot of flak for that law, and you will no doubt take a lot more in this campaign year. I don't think you ever made the case to the American people why mandates are necessary. In your view, why are they necessary?

Source(s):

Here is a video on youtube of Obama speaking against mandates in 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FknJLMc84bo

Answer 22

President Obama, as an Independent who voted for you in 2008 I would like to ask why you seem to be pulling away from Republicans and not will to work a give and take. The elections in 2010 went to the Republicans as most of the population did not like the direction we were heading. But instead of following the path of two term Bill Clinton you chose to move further away from the center and not to negotiate. Why? I believe the centrist and independents gave you the overwhelming victory in 2008 and you will need them in 2012. But lucky for you the Republicans have no real alternative candidate.

Source(s):

This question comes from watching daily news, I try to keep informed by watching CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and Real Time; to get views from all angles.

Answer 23

President Obama,

Our nation is faced with a serious drug problem. The recent news report showing Honduras and Guatemala inability to control the flow of drugs destined to USA is epic. Mexico is fighting back but has faced serious losses. DEA has three agents and DOD has 600 Military members working in Honduras seems small and ineffective. Especially when we have sent hundred of thousands to the Middle East with little in return. I am not privy to the whole foreign strategic policy but with the exception of seldom Iranian tantrums, it seems that our drug problem has risen to the top. Our nation is enduring a serious economic slowdown and people tend to turn to drugs for answers, so it is critical to curb the flow of drugs. We should develop some type of program to assist with police enforcement. Provide specific resources such as training, information and equipment to these countries. They are indirect causalities while our citizens are direct casualties. In my opinion, the returns will be vast and substantial. Is there any new agenda or plan to correct this problem?

Source(s):

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/19/world/americas/narco-wars-guatemala-honduras/

Answer 24

2 Part Question:

1) During your election campaign you claimed that you would end raids on individuals for following state laws but not federal, namely medical marijuana, yet during your term you have had more raids than GW Bush did. Can you explain this? How has raiding of American's homes and business stopped the War on Drugs abroad? Do you think it is right for the government not to allow a medicine that has proven to be more beneficial than harmful because the law makers morals don't agree with its legalization? Also, do you think it would make sense for the Federal government to stop raiding people's homes and businesses when they are operating 100% legally within the State's laws?

2) This country was founded on State's Rights to govern themselves. The Federal government was set-up to handle disputes between states and to represent the whole in foreign affairs. Yet since President Lincoln, the Federal government continues to enforce itself on the States. Do you feel that States should be allowed to nullify any Federal Law that negatively and unfairly effects their citizens? We are a nation of diverse communities, do you really think that the same regulations and laws should extend over them all and State's should not have the right to decide what is best for their citizens?

Answer 25

Mr. President,

Why do such a large percentage of our duly elected representatives in Congress always seem
to stray away from their constituency's point of view on many issues, in favor of their own view
which is usually determined IN WHOLE by their "PARTY LINE" doctrine ? We have several issues before USA which are not being rendered as per LAWFUL REPRESENTATION.

Source(s):

SEVERAL NATIONAL POLLS show that divergence from the will of the voters is growing. It may well be time to revert to a direct voting system of representation ON EACH ALL ISSUES.

Answer 26

President Obama: You say that the middle class is at risk and that you are out for the middle class. Yet during your administration gas prices have increased as has electricity. The average college tuition has increased 25%. More people are in poverty and are in need of public assistance like food stamps. Unemployment is higher and debt has skyrocketed. Essentials like bread and milk have also seen significant increases in price. Even your signature legislation, the Affordable Care Act, raises the limitation on the health care expense deduction from about 7% to 10% of adjusted gross income. As you know this is a deduction that the middle class is more apt to qualify for than the rich. In some of these cases your policies are not the only cause but have significantly contributed to the increases. How do you reconcile that with your claim of being a champion of the middle class.

Source(s):

Various US Government websites such as the DOL., The Affordable Care Act Law

Answer 27

Mr. President- Hello, I am currently a senior in college and I voted for you previously in 2008. I would like to ask about your plans for helping students cope with increasing college debt and cost. Over the past several years, tuition and fee costs have skyrocketed at higher educational institutions. In my experience, there seems to be an overabundance of students whose parents foot the bill for education (and can afford it). I am not fortunate to be within this majority. I hope you can continue looking out for those who want to obtain a decent job and "live the American dream". In addition, I applaud your efforts to help make health insurance available to all Americans. I was without health insurance for a period of time in the past few years and I feel that your actions (although unpopular) are truly looking out for Americans. Thanks for you hard work thus far and I hope you continue hard work in the future.

Answer 28

According to an article in Rolling Stone (May, 2011) a Senate committee has laid out evidence of the systematic corruption that led to the financial crises. There has been so much FACT based evidence presented to the Justice department. Why has the Justice Department not brought criminal charges against the executives that brought down the world's financial system? And what are you doing about the revolving door between the SEC and the Justice Department?
Please know that if you accomplish prosecuting Wall Street in criminal court - you can ensure your re-election by the people that believed in you in 2008...

Source(s):

The People vs. Goldman Sachs (Rolling Stone, May 2011)

Answer 29

Well, since the interview will be conducted by ABC News w/Diane Sawyer and she is familiar with Steubenville, Ohio and the big natural gas boom that is supposedly going on all around us, my question is in re guardto this issue. We in this region have been waiting for some positive affect local, but instead, I just heard big business, such as, Halliburton, Chesapeake, and others are scaling back their drilling operations because they have extracted so much natural gas out of our area, that prices are falling and they don't want their stocks falling. Mr. President, now is the time to use your all powerful executive power to stop this madness of oil/gas moguls raping our lands, stealing our resources at their whim and lying to us that their operations are going to help us, the little people? Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Source(s):

I live in Belmont County, Ohio. I am in the midst of the natural gas drilling operations. Thank you

Answer 30

My question comes from a economic and finance background in both college and present Business. My question to the President Obama is how does the government, by picking winners and losers plus developing more and more regulations, help to create freedom and democracy? How does replacing free enterprise with the dictatorship of the state help us?
An example of this is the majority of people did not want Obama care and yet you as the state circumvented the rules to get it passed. How do you justify that?
Another example, a majority of your own party as well as the public want the keystone pipe line and yet you have dictate no - How do you justify your dictatorship of the state by preventing the building of this pipe line, which by its construction would not only create jobs but lessen the burden of cost of energy to millions of poor families?
There are many recordings of you President Obama chastising President Bush on deficit spending and yet you have dictated its ok to create even higher deficits. How do you justify your dictatorship of the state by not allowing the Senate under Mr. Reeds leadership from passing a budget and creating the highest deficits?

Source(s):

Road to serfdom, Ecomnmist Lafer, my own college studies and present 40 years in business, ABC, NBC, CNN, Fox News

Answer 31

I would like top know Mr. Obama from the time you have been elected, why have you and your family been spending our tax player's money for your selfish needs? I also is very disappointed that the first time we had a black president you let down your country, your people. The reason why we the people voted for you to be president, we wanted to see change. Not a song and dance that you have been promising. To be the first black president you did nothing, and I ask why? You could have stop poverty, or created a program that could gave americans jobs, or you could have made the rich pay more taxes and started giving back to the community. Did you become corrupted with power and greed that you forgot what your duties was as a president?