Carol,
       Rule number one for any politician "get elected and say anything you have to to achieve that goal". It is the American way
whether we like it or not.

However, even after you get elected, all politics is based on give and take as well as compromise in order to realize your agenda.

Case in point" JFK, as popular as he was could not get his programs through congress. It took his assasination plus the ascendancy of LBJ to the presidency that enabled the Great Society legislation to finally pass congress.

Obama has some great ideas. But are the folks who have the seniority in congress ready to go along with him? It will be no easy task.
                                                       SOL