President Barack Obama responded to critics on Thursday who claim he has not achieved much during his nine months in office, stating that he is just beginning. He has faced criticism from both liberals and conservatives in recent weeks, with some wanting more action on issues like gay rights and others questioning his decision-making on sending more troops to Afghanistan. A comedy skit on "Saturday Night Live" highlighted these criticisms, with an actor portraying Obama joking about his perceived lack of accomplishments. Critics have pointed out that almost a year has passed with little to show for Obama's efforts. This criticism was heightened after he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, with even some sympathetic commentators calling it premature. During his first trip to see Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts, Obama acknowledged that progress had been made in the US economy and that healthcare reform was within reach. He reminded the audience that he never expected his work to be easy and joked about unrealistic expectations from 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 referenced his statements during the campaign. I mentioned that change can be difficult, especially when it is a significant change. Obama seemed to be referencing Republicans who are against Democratic healthcare plans, accusing them of hindering progress. He stated that he is determined to continue making changes and then addressed the question of why some people dislike him. The town-hall meeting highlighted the political divide in America, as evidenced by the reaction to Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal being introduced by Democratic Obama. Some in the crowd booed until Obama calmed them down and praised Jindal as a dedicated politician. Towards the end of the event, a young student named Terence Scott asked Obama why people hate him, to which Obama responded by pointing out that not everyone hates him since he was elected president and received many votes. Obama commented that recently, it appears that everyone is constantly becoming angry, attributing this trend to political climate and Americans' worries about job security and healthcare. He acknowledged that during challenging times, blame is inevitable, but stated that he can handle it.