'Frustrated' Obama reveals 'barbs that stung' him during his first year in office

Washington, Jan 18(ANI): US President Barack Obama has mounted an impassioned defense of his crisis-haunted first year as president, and asked American citizens not to lose faith in his ambitious drive for reform.

Addressing a function in Washington, Obama said: "As we meet here today, one year later, we know the promise of that moment has not yet been fully fulfilled."

"Sometimes, I get a little frustrated when folks just don't want to see that even if we don't get everything, we're getting something," The Telegraph quoted Obama, as saying.

Obama further rebuked his critics, arguing that he was in a daily battle for step-by-step progress for the country.

"You know, folks ask me sometimes why I look so calm. I have a confession to make. There are times when I'm not so calm ... there are times when progress seems too slow. There are times when the words that are spoken about me hurt. There are times when the barbs sting," Obama said.

"There are times when it feels like all these efforts are for naught. Change is so painfully slow in coming. And I have to confront my own doubts," he added.

The President also urged his supporters to have faith in his leadership, and support him in his decisions.

"Together, we shall overcome the challenges of the new age. Together, we shall seize the promise of this moment. Together, we shall make a way through the winter. And we're going to welcome the spring," Obama said.

Earlier, a poll had revealed that 50 percent of Americans approved of his job performance, while 42 percent disapprove it.

The poll also said that Obama's job rating remained steady in December 2009, as 50 percent approved and 44 percent disapproved it.

However, a poll conducted immediately after Obama took office last year showed that 65 percent of Americans approved and 16 percent disapproved his job performance.

Overall, Obama's average job rating over his first year is 55 percent approve and 35 percent disapprove, the report said.

The poll also found that less than half think he's meeting expectations, and nearly 2 out of 3 Americans are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the U.S. today.

Forty-two percent of Americans think Obama is meeting (36 percent) or exceeding (6 percent) expectations. Fifty percent think he is falling below expectations, while about a third of Americans (35 percent) are satisfied with the way things are going in the country today. (ANI)