President Barack Obama responded to critics on Thursday who claim he has not accomplished much during his nine months in office, stating that he is just getting started. He has faced criticism from both liberals and conservatives recently, with some pushing for more action on issues like gay rights and others questioning his handling of the decision on sending more troops to Afghanistan. A skit on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" highlighted these criticisms, with an actor portraying Obama joking about his perceived lack of progress. Criticism has been mounting over the past year with some commentators even questioning the timing of Obama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Despite this, Obama remains optimistic about his efforts in improving the US economy and healthcare system. He acknowledges that his work is not easy and dismisses unrealistic expectations from some reporters. He asked why everyone hadn't done it yet, despite it being nine months since he mentioned it. He acknowledged that he never claimed it would be easy and reminded the crowd of what he had said during the campaign. I mentioned that change can be difficult, especially when it is a significant change. Obama seemed to be addressing Republicans who were against Democratic healthcare plans, accusing them of hindering progress. He assured that he was just at the beginning of his plans, despite facing criticism. The town-hall meeting highlighted the political divide in America, with some in the crowd booing when Democratic Obama introduced Republican Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. Obama then praised Jindal as a dedicated politician. At the end of the event, a young boy named Terence Scott asked Obama why people hate him, to which Obama responded by pointing out that he did receive a lot of votes when he was elected president. Obama commented that if you have been watching television recently, it appears that everyone is constantly angry. He attributed this to political climate and Americans' worries about job loss and healthcare. He acknowledged that when times are difficult, some blame is inevitable, but he stated that he can handle it.