As a progressive Democrat, I’m proud of what President Obama has done in his first 2 ½ years. He steered the country through the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes. He risked his Presidency to get the Affordable Care Act passed. He signed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, eliminating an egregious form of discrimination against women. He pushed for and signed repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” He signed the New START Treaty, eliminating thousands of nuclear weapons. He has vastly improved the image of the United States around the world.

All of this was done in the face of monolithic opposition by the Republican Party. Republicans have shamefully misrepresented what the President is doing, characterizing him as a “socialist,” “the most liberal President in history,” and worse.