He ran as a unifier-a man that would transcend "politics as usual" and bring hope and change to the United States of America.
Eloquent speeches and inspiring promises led over 66 percent of young people to cast their ballots for the young senator from Illinois.
But nearly four years later, the Barack Obama that ran for president in 2008 is MIA.
The man that lectured us on "raising the level of rhetoric" has shown himself to be as nasty and deceitful as the Chicago style politics that birthed his political career.
"[I]f you don't have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare the voters. If you don't have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from."
Those words by then Presidential candidate Barack Obama received a thunderous applause during his acceptance speech at the 2008 Democrat National Convention.
But don't expect these same words to be spoken by now President Barack Obama at this year's convention.
The unemployment rate is at 8.3 percent, our GDP is limping along at a growth rate of just 1.5 percent, and our national debt has increased by over 5 trillion dollars.
It is clear that President Obama doesn't have a record to run on. So what is the president doing?
Obama has resorted to engaging in the same "stale tactics" he criticized just four years ago.
The Obama campaign will go to any length to avoid talking about his record.
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Instead, they have only one tactic-paint Governor Mitt Romney as "someone people should run from." According to Forbes magazine, 85 percent of the president's ads have been negative.
Some of these ads have been absolutely outrageous; one even suggested that Romney is responsible for a woman's death from cancer.
That type of campaigning makes Chicago politics look like a McDonalds play land.
Other outrageous accusations include Obama surrogates suggesting that Romney committed a felony by lying to the SEC and that Romney hasn't paid taxes in ten years.
These accusations are laughable, but in the words of President Obama, "If you don't have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from." Barack Obama's presidency has been defined by broken promises. He promised to reduce our deficits. Broken.
He promised that Obamacare wouldn't increase taxes. Broken.
He promised to keep unemployment below 8 percent. Broken. Obama's rhetoric is suggesting we should be running from Mitt Romney-but Obama's record is suggesting quite the opposite.
Candidate Obama from 2008 would have been disgusted by President Obama's reelection campaign. Candidate Obama would have urged young people to see President Obama for who he is-a failed president armed with nothing more than stale tactics and hurtful lies. Around a month into his presidency, newly elected President Obama confidently made this statement.
"...I will be held accountable...If I don't have this done in three years, then this is going to be a one term proposition."
Well Mr. President, this is one promise we're not going to let you break. On November 6, it's time to collect.
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