Obama’s Gaffes and Nov. 6 Elections
Published in The Sankei Shimbun (Japan) on 6 November 2014 by Editorial [link to original]
Translated from Japanese by Maisha Kuniyuki. Edited by Kyrstie Lane.
Posted on November 11, 2014.
The U.S. was filled with happiness in April 2009, three months after Obama became president. The captain of a cargo ship in waters off the coast of Somalia in eastern Africa had been safely rescued after being attacked and held hostage by pirates.
Navy Seal snipers reportedly shot and killed three pirates who had been holding the captain at gunpoint. The details of this incident would later also be adapted into a movie starring Tom Hanks. The president's ability to manage this crisis was widely praised.
Even Japan saw a boom in President Obama's popularity during this time, with phrases like "change" and "yes we can" becoming popular. The president, however, who is supposedly a "master of speech," made an incomprehensible remark at a press conference and said, "We remain resolved to halt the rise of privacy in this region." The correct term was not "privacy," but the similarly spelled "piracy."
According to Marie Nishimori, a resident journalist in the United States, President Obama was only reading what his speechwriter had written. Thus, he has repeatedly done things such as making astonishing gaffes in response to unprepared questions and misreading speeches at press conferences.
The Republican Party took the majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives in the U.S. midterm elections. The main reason for defeat lies in the president's lack of popularity. His habit of misspeaking does not seem to be the only reason. From domestic immigration policy issues to his response to the Islamic State group that continues gaining power, he has used up voters' good will with indecisive politics.
For the next two years, President Obama remains in power as a "lame duck" with a loss of influence. Looking at the confusion of politics in Korea, we can see there are serious issues with a presidential system.
http://watchingamerica.com/WA/2014/11/11/obamas-gaffes-and-nov-6-elections/
