First 100 days: How Obama rates

President Barack Obama marks his 100th day in office Wednesday. Ever since Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first term —- when in 3 1/2 months he pushed through Congress the massive legislation at the core of the New Deal —- the first 100 days has been used as a yardstick for initial presidential performance.

We asked four Georgia pundits and political scientists of various perspectives to grade the new president in key areas on his 100-day performance.

What does it show? Perhaps that it’s not enough time to truly evaluate how a president will perform. President Bill Clinton’s approval rating after 100 days in office was dismal. Yet, despite his 1998 impeachment, he left office in 2001 with a 65 percent end-of-term approval rating in a Gallup poll —- one of the highest on record. President George W. Bush, on the other hand, received strong early ratings from the public —- just as Obama has, with a 66 percent Gallup approval rating. But Bush left office this year with a 34 percent rating —- a low not seen since President Jimmy Carter’s White House departure.

The true test of Obama’s performance will come on Nov. 6, 2012 —- Election Day.

HERMAN CAIN WSB radio talk show host, former Republican candidate for U.S. Senate and former president of Godfather’s Pizza

Cabinet building: B. Obama did proceed expeditiously to fill most of the Cabinet positions, although he hit some bumps in the road. It is too early to tell how effective those selections will be.

Foreign policy: F. His foreign policy speeches have been disturbing and have tended to project the USA as a weaker nation.

Defense: C. Although he has not been challenged with a major defense decision yet, his greatest decision was retaining Bob Gates as secretary of defense. However, his 10-year plan to significantly reduce defense spending is troubling.

Economy: F. There has been too much spending and not nearly enough direct stimulus to workers and businesses. For example, suspension of the payroll tax would have been a more direct and immediate stimulus.

Social policy: C. Continuing to fan the flames of class warfare is divisive. For example, proclaiming that 95 percent of workers receive a tax cut amounting to $13 for a working couple is not exactly big news.

Governing style: D. Obama’s rhetoric about listening to other ideas, bipartisanship and changing politics as usual in D.C. does not match his actions, or the actions of his Democrat-controlled Congress.

Greatest accomplishment: President Obama’s greatest accomplishment was convincing Robert Gates to remain on as secretary of defense. Regardless of ideological differences, stability was critical in the Defense Department while we are fighting wars.

Greatest disappointment: The biggest disappointment was allowing the $787 billion spending “stimulus” bill to be a wish list for the Democrats in Congress. Saying that the bill excluded Republican suggestions because “we won” is not an example of inspiring leadership.

AUDREY HAYNES associate professor, School of Public and International Affairs, University of Georgia

Cabinet building: B+. Vetting process seemed less than perfect, creating a number of embarrassments for the president; but generally Obama has been able to put highly qualified individuals into the Cabinet; retention of the secretary of defense was a strong point.

Foreign policy: B+. Here I think most would give Obama high marks. He has done well in his interactions with other nations. Time, however, will determine if his positive, conciliatory and team-oriented messages will bear fruit. But most Americans believe in the role of diplomacy and understand that a sit-down doesn’t mean that you necessarily put your guard down.

Defense: B-. Releasing the memos on torture will be a distraction to other areas; likely this information would have come out anyhow given the various lawsuits being pursued in this area, but the timing could have been delayed, perhaps a bipartisan commission utilized. Afghanistan is a tough one for Obama. The situation there had been escalating for some time and most military analysts believe the threat is there, but the country is suffering from war-lag. It will be a hard sell.

Economy: B. Part of this was an inherited problem, one that had been in the making for some time, but the administration’s handling of the situation has been a bit sloppy. Obama deserves credit for his focus on the need to transition our economy from what most have seen as one in decline, a credit economy where most are employed in the service sector, buying most of our goods from abroad, to one that re-emerges as a producer of things that are globally consumed and ridding ourselves of our dependence on fossil fuels, most of which are produced by those who are not our greatest fans.

Social policy: A-. Obama is doing what Bush actually tried to do as well at the beginning of his administration: fix two things that are critically necessary to fix —- education and health care. Both have critical implications for our economic well-being. So far, Obama is moving quickly and the public’s general response has been a very positive one.

Governing style: A-. Obama is doing what all presidents do —- learning on the job. He has a winning personality, a thoughtful nature and the ability to appear to be above the fray. President Dwight Eisenhower had this ability as well. I think that President Obama will get better as he continues to gain that experience that one can only gain from being in the position of the presidency.

Biggest accomplishment: Being a leader. President Obama has done a very good job articulating a positive path for the country generally and being a representative of the country to the world. He has very strong leadership skills.

Biggest failure: Management of the details. Generally he has done very well creating frameworks to solve problems, but the actual management of the process has been weak. Needs to work on his administration’s management skills.

ERICK ERICKSON editor in chief of redstate.com, co-founder of peachpundit.com and founder of blogmacon.com

Cabinet building: F. The most poorly vetted Cabinet since George Washington picked his. George, of course, did not really have to worry about vetting.

Foreign policy/defense: C. Obama has not done much damage so far, but his “Apologize for America” world tour looks more like he is auditioning as the first male Dixie Chick than as leader of the free world.

Economy: D. The stimulus package, his budget plan and now his budget director’s plan to take IMF payments off the books looks like the budget politics he said he wouldn’t engage in, and none of it will help long term.

Social policy: C. His rollback of abortion [restrictions] is not surprising. I don’t like it, but he has not done anything other than what he said he would do.

Governing style: B. His vanity is going to cause him problems. His release of the so-called torture memos was botched because he wanted to stick it to Dick Cheney. But so far he’s been less a menace to himself than Bill Clinton was in his first 100 days.

Biggest accomplishment: Publicly rejecting the Bush policies on terrorism while not rejecting them in reality. Keeps his base happy until the base pays more attention.

Biggest disappointment: Releasing the so-called torture memos selectively to try to smear the prior administration while refusing to release the memos outlining why the methods were used and what information was gathered.

ALAN ABRAMOWITZ professor of political science, Emory University, author, “Voice of the People: Elections and Voting in the United States”

Cabinet building: A-. Time will tell how well Obama’s Cabinet appointees pan out, of course, but an impressive group despite some false starts due to problems with the vetting process.

Foreign/defense policy: B+. The biggest changes so far have been stylistic, but Obama has begun the necessary tasks of disengaging from Iraq, addressing the threat of al-Qaida in Afghanistan and Pakistan, repairing relations with allies and opening dialogues with potential adversaries.

Economy: B+. It will take many more months to evaluate the impact of Obama’s economic policies, but the stimulus package was an essential step toward filling the huge gap in demand left by the collapse of the housing market, rising unemployment and falling incomes. The administration has also taken some important initial steps toward addressing the challenge of climate change. The condition of the credit markets and effectiveness of the financial rescue plan remain big concerns.

Social policy: B+. Health care is the big challenge here, with thousands of families losing health insurance due to the recession, and costs continuing to rise. Obama has laid the groundwork for major reform, but big tests lie ahead.

Governing style: A. Obama will never win over conservatives who oppose all of his major policy goals, but he has shown a willingness to reach out to moderate Republicans and he has the support of a solid majority of the public.

Biggest accomplishments: Passing the stimulus package and beginning to address the challenge of climate change.

Biggest disappointment: No big disappointments so far.

THE FIRST 100 DAYS: A COMPARISON

Bill Clinton

Approval rating at 100 days: 55 percent (CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll)

Achievement:

> Won quick approval of a $1.5 trillion budget, including a deficit reduction plan.

Disappointment:

> “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” compromise policy on gays in the military failed to pacify anyone involved in the issue.

George W. Bush

Approval rating at 100 days: 62 percent (CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll)

Achievement:

> Launched tax-cut plan that Congress approved in May 2001.

Disappointment:

> The circumstances of Bush’s disputed election made it difficult for him to keep his promise to bridge the partisan divides of the Clinton years.

External content editor Tom Sabulis and Sunday A-section editor Bill Steiden compiled this article.