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Molly Johnson

Professor Ramsey
Bush and Obama Similarities and Differences

George Bush was the republican president in his two-tern presidency from 2000-2008

and Barack Obama followed consecutively as the democratic president in 2008. These two

presidents, while being members in opposite parties, still shared common beliefs and practices in

office as well as their assumed differences.

One way the two presidents showed their similarities and differences is through their

ideas regarding education. In 2009, Obama created a stimulus bill with the authorization of

Congress that costed $900 billion and “would capture the imagination of the education world”

(Hess). Many people were pleased with this policy – a pretty bipartisan idea because this was a

value many Americans felt strongly about. This enthusiasm for Obama’s program, Race to the

Top, was comparable to Bush Leave No Child Behind pledge. Both presidents had a large focus

and campaign around education and its improvement. These presidents both had policies that

centered around education for all. Obama and Bush had a plan where low-income families could

access free education. These plans were supported by non-governmental organizations like

USAID and education groups. Obama extended the ideas of his predecessor by not only

providing free education but also making free healthcare. The presidents’ ideas were different

though, because Bush focused on expanding K-12 education and Obama had a focus primarily

on early childhood education. With Obama’s presidency, it gave the education reform a new face

and new inclusive energy with a democratic lead. Unlike Bush’s plan, Obama extended the

efforts to things like teacher accountability, learning standards and disciple. While the energy

was high at the start of this policy, disagreements began as the Common Core became disputed

and didn’t yield wanted results nor was received by teachers well. Barack Obama is also blamed

for “repeating the most grievous errors of his predecessor, charge a trio of venerable education
Molly Johnson

Professor Ramsey
policy analysts, including one — Diane Ravitch — best known for her past support of

conservative positions on testing, accountability, and choice,” (epi.org).

In terms of healthcare, there were different policies and more noticeable differences.

When entering the last part of his term, Bush presented a private health insurance reform plan.

Because congress was controlled by democrats though, this plan never reached authorization.

This plan would have attempted to continue, if not broader coverage, and reduce the deficit.

Bush, for healthcare, is best known for his prescription drug plan from 2003 because people

hated it. Conservatives had issues with this plan because it only increases the deficit. On the

other side, liberal had issues with its fixation or the market and advertisement. (Roy). However,

Bush sought to fix this in his 2007 plan. Because employers can obtain health insurance for its

employees’ tax free while individuals can’t do that and would pay taxes, Bush wanted to

“equalize the tax treatment of individually-purchased health insurance,” (Roy). Obama was most

recognizable known for his Obamacare plan. Obamacare, or the Patient Protection and

Affordable Care Act was put into law in 2010. This plan would make big changes that would

include subsides and make qualification for Medicaid less restricted. Obamacare aimed to end

discrimination for individuals that had pre-existing medical conditions. This plan also provided

many free healthcare services under ACA-compliant plans (healthinsurance.org).

Lastly, environmental policies were different for the presidents in many ways while also

having some similarities like endangered species and mining waste. Bush had rif of regulations

that followed-up on government projects and how they affected endangered species. Because

Obama as well as many others thought this left the environment in a vulnerable state, Obama re-

implemented this rule. In terms of mining waste, Bush had made it possible for mining waste to

be dumped near rivers. With an already environment jeopardizing practice, this runoff is also
Molly Johnson

Professor Ramsey
hazardous to the environment. This was also reversed with the administration of Obama. Even

though it seems as if Obama was the only president who cared about the environment, both

presidents held a stance on carbon power plants and their effects. Bush had a plan to monitor and

lessen the pollution by the plants while Obama had a plan call Clean Power Plan with the same

goal. Obama had worked to protect federal lands while Bush worked to protect wetlands.

Even though George Bush and Barak Obama belonged to differing parties, similarities

between the two were still apparent during their terms. However, as accepted, there were still

many differences in these men.


Molly Johnson

Professor Ramsey
Works Cited

“FACT SHEET: Overview of the Clean Power Plan.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 9

May 2017, archive.epa.gov/epa/cleanpowerplan/fact-sheet-overview-clean-power-

plan.html.

Hess, Frederick. “Reflections on the Legacy of Bush-Obama School Reform.” Education Next, 1

May 2020, www.educationnext.org/reflections-legacy-bush-obama-school-reform-why-

did-promising-popular-federal-efforts-lose-luster/.

“Obama Education Policies: a Lot like Bush Policies.” Economic Policy Institute,

www.epi.org/publication/obamas_education_policies/.

“President Obama Working to Reverse President Bush's Environmental Legacy.” Phys.org,

Phys.org, 1 May 2009, phys.org/news/2009-05-obama-reverse-bush-environmental-

legacy.html.

Roy, Avik. “How George W. Bush Would Have Replaced Obamacare.” Forbes, Forbes

Magazine, 27 May 2013, www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2012/04/30/how-george-

w-bush-would-have-replaced-obamacare/?sh=7f1254ff3355.

Steve Anderson Editor, and Steve Anderson. “Obamacare and the Affordable Care

Act.” Healthinsurance.org, 26 Mar. 2021, www.healthinsurance.org/obamacare/.

“U.S. History, The Challenges of the Twenty-First Century, Hope and Change.” OpenEd CUNY,

opened.cuny.edu/courseware/module/476/student/?task=4.

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