9 .
Repealed “ Don ’ t Ask , Don ’ t Tell ”:
Ended 1990s-era restriction and formalized new policy allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military for the first time .
President Barack Obama talks with National Security Advisor Susan E . Rice in the Oval Office prior to a phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia , Feb . 10 , 2015 .
10 .
Toppled Moammar Gaddafi :
In March 2011 , joined a coalition of European and Arab governments in military action , including air power and naval blockade , against Gaddafi regime to defend Libyan civilians and support rebel troops . Gaddafi ’ s forty-two-year rule ended when the dictator was overthrown and killed by rebels on October 20 , 2011 . No American lives were lost .
11 .
Told Mubarak to Go :
On February 1 , 2011 , publicly called on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to accept reform or step down , thus weakening the dictator ’ s position and putting America on the right side of the Arab Spring . Mubarak ended thirtyyear rule when overthrown on February 11 .
12 .
Reversed Bush Torture Policies :
Two days after taking office , nullified Bush-era rulings that had allowed detainees in U . S . custody to undergo certain “ enhanced ” interrogation techniques considered inhumane under the Geneva Conventions . Also released the secret Bush legal rulings supporting the use of these techniques .
13 .
Improved America ’ s Image Abroad :
With new policies , diplomacy , and rhetoric , reversed a sharp decline in world opinion toward the U . S . ( and the corresponding loss of “ soft power ”) during the Bush years . From 2008 to 2011 , favorable opinion toward the United States rose in ten of fifteen countries surveyed by the Pew Global Attitudes Project , with an average increase of 26 percent .
Barack Obama A Great American President Daytona Beach , Florida May 2015
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama interact with Hilton banquet server Kitty Casey during the National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton in Washington , D . C ., Feb . 5 ,
2015 .
14 .
Kicked Banks Out of Federal Student Loan Program , Expanded Pell Grant Spending :
As part of the 2010 health care reform bill , signed measure ending the wasteful decades-old practice of subsidizing banks to provide college loans . Starting July 2010 all students began getting their federal student loans directly from the federal government . Treasury will save $ 67 billion over ten years , $ 36 billion of which will go to expanding Pell Grants to lower-income students .
15 .
Created Race to the Top :
With funds from stimulus , started $ 4.35 billion program of competitive grants to encourage and reward states for education reform .
16 .
Boosted Fuel Efficiency Standards :
Released new fuel efficiency standards in 2011 that will nearly double the fuel economy for cars and trucks by 2025 .
President Barack Obama shows the Resolute Desk to a group of DREAMers , following their Oval Office meeting in which they talked about how they have benefited from the Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals ( DACA ) program , Feb . 4 , 2015
17 .
International Response to Financial Crisis :
To keep world economy out of recession in 2009 and 2010 , helped secure from G-20 nations more than $ 500 billion for the IMF to provide lines of credit and other support to emerging market countries , which kept them liquid and avoided crises with their currencies .
18 .
Passed Mini Stimuli :
To help families hurt by the recession and spur the economy as stimulus spending declined , signed series of measures ( July 22 , 2010 ; December 17 , 2010 ; December 23 , 2011 ) to extend unemployment insurance .
PROGRAM SUCCESS MAGAZINE PAGE : 17 | MAY 2015