Local Democrats generally give president high marks

A year ago, many of them traveled to Washington to watch history in the making as the president they supported was sworn in.

On Wednesday night, this group of 40 Lowcountry voters gathered inside the Crescent Connection Bistro in North Charleston to watch that same president deliver his State of the Union speech.

They all applauded. They still had hope. And they still wanted change.

Margaret Ling, a College of Charleston student, was among the volunteers who had helped Barack Obama's campaign

register voters in the parking lot before the bistro opened here last spring.

Ling said she gives him A's on some things he's done in his first year, lower grades on others.

"I think the past year went fairly well. I think he is doing the best he can with what he was given," she said, adding that her father, brother and fiancé all serve in the Army. "Do I think it's perfect? No, but I'm very happy."

Sharifah Johnson, the bistro's manager, said it's going to take more than a year to enact the change Obama has been talking about.

"I just want to see the economy get better," she said. "I live off the gratuity, and it's not very gracious out there."

Derosher Price of Goose Creek said he hoped Obama would talk about jobs.

"That's my main concern, to get the economy back on track," he said, looking on quietly as Obama said, "I want a jobs bill on my desk without delay."

Byron Wellman, state field director for Organizing for America, threw the party, one of dozens across the state designed to generate grassroots pressure to support Obama's agenda.

Wellman said he expected that Obama would underscore how health care reform ties into the economy.

"When we talk about economic problems, it's not just about jobs," he said. "It's the skyrocketing cost of health care."

Charleston County Democratic Party Chairman George Tempel agreed. "We've got to not lose sight that the reform of health insurance is a priority of getting the economy back on track."

Still, Tempel acknowledged that the bipartisan, unifying politics that Obama had campaigned upon still has not come to pass.

"If we work together like we're supposed to do, which is not happening, we get a law," he said. "I've never seen such political polarization in my whole life."

The crowd lightly applauded at the speech's beginning, when Obama declared, "I have never been more hopeful about America's future than I am tonight."

They laughed when he said the bank bailout "was about as popular as a root canal."

And they warmed up as Obama talked frankly, such as when he said he didn't choose to tackle health care to get a legislative victory or because it was good politics.

"Joe Wilson where are you?" one viewer shouted toward the two televisions showing the speech, a reference to the South Carolina congressman who blurted "You lie!' during Obama's last televised address before Congress.

Charlie Cyr said Obama has done a wonderful job, "and I think right now the press in general and those in the 24-hour news cycle are inventing things to talk about."

"He actually takes seriously committing American troops, and my son is one of those American troops," Cyr said. "Right now everybody wants to hang the Massachusetts loss on Obama, but if you really want to pick somebody, you can pick a handful of senators and they're the ones who have turned people against the Democratic agenda. And in truth, just as many people are against the Republican agenda."

Covering the politics of the Lowcountry, South Carolina and the nation.

Jamarr Brown of Charleston is a recent college graduate still looking for work. He also is the third vice chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party.

Brown said he thinks Obama has done very well, "considering the enormous challenges the country was facing at the time. People need to keep in mind he inherited the problems that currently exist. Whether you agree with his ideology or not, you've got to be patient."

Speaking of ideology, one of Obama's biggest applause lines was when he directed remarks to Republican senators. "Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it's not leadership," Obama said, drawing hoots.

"He busted a few heads on that one," a viewer said.

Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or rbehre@postandcourier.com.