IU Students for Liberty stage rally

Shortly after most of their classmates watched President Barack Obama take the oath of office, members of IU Students for Liberty stood outside to protest and question the actions Obama has taken – and intends to take – as the new president.

The group’s main complaint is that President Obama’s record, rhetoric and cabinet appointees thus far do not represent the change he promised during the election.

“The truth behind the rhetoric is that this really isn’t change, and for me, it’s the bailouts that brought me out here,” Aaron Jones, member of the IU Students for Liberty and IU alumnus, said. “Otherwise I would have said ‘OK, let’s give Obama a pass.’”

The group met on the corner of 10th Street and Fee Lane in an attempt to reach out to students. 

Group members passed out pocket constitutions and fliers to passers-by.

One handout criticized many of Obama’s cabinet appointees, including Secretary of State nominee Hillary Clinton and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, and Obama’s choice of Vice President Joe Biden.

The flier pointed out discrepancies in their voting records, such as voting for the Patriot Act and the Iraq War, that are inconsistent with Obama’s message of change.

Jones said Obama has been appointing establishment figures, such as Robert Gates, who both Regan and Bush appointed as well.

“Almost everybody in Obama’s cabinet voted for the Iraq war and the Patriot Act – that’s one of the main things we are trying to hit home,” Jones said.

One passer-by was receptive to the group’s message.

“I was so happy when Obama got elected because I come from a country which is plagued by terrorism – not only Islamic terrorism but regional terrorism – and the thing about Obama was that he presented a new face and a new name,” said Gagan Singh, an IU student and Indian citizen.

But Singh said he does not believe Obama is fulfilling his promises and agreed that many of his cabinet appointments are holdovers from previous administrations.

“I am really worried about if he is going to do the things he promised,” he said.

Singh said he believes there is a way the people can put pressure on politicians so they stick to their word, and he said he believes that the pressure must start with students.

“Obama came into power because of the youth, and the youth is not a slot machine that you can only use during the election to get votes and then forget about,” Singh said. “I think we need to continue fighting for all the issues: that would be real
democracy.”

IU Students for Liberty protested for two hours after the inauguration ceremony and was not shocked at some of the behavior directed toward the protesters.

On one occasion, a girl even ripped up one of their signs, tossed it onto the ground and screamed, “He’s already president!”

Sophomore Meredith Milton, a member of the IU Students for Liberty, was pleased with the event and said she believes their message was not altogether misinterpreted.

“We’re just trying to keep the pressure on Obama,” she said, “so he will stick to his word.”