NEW ORLEANS, Oct 16,(bdnews24.com/Reuters) - President Barack Obama responded to critics who have questioned his achievements during his first nine months in office, stating that he is just beginning. Recently, Obama has faced criticism from both liberals and conservatives for not doing enough to promote certain causes and for taking too long to make decisions, such as sending more troops to Afghanistan. A comedy skit on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" highlighted these criticisms, with an actor portraying Obama joking about his perceived lack of accomplishments. Criticism has been mounting over the past year with many questioning what progress has been made during Obama's presidency. This criticism was further intensified when Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize, with even some of his supporters suggesting it was premature. During his visit to see the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Obama acknowledged that his efforts had brought some improvements to the US economy and were moving towards an overhaul of the healthcare system. Despite the challenges, Obama emphasized that he never expected the tasks at hand to be easy. He also addressed the unrealistic expectations some reporters have, such as solving world hunger. He asked why everyone had not done it yet after nine months, despite his warning that it would not be easy, as the crowd laughed. He also questioned what he had said during the campaign. I mentioned that change is difficult, especially when it is a significant change. Obama criticized Republicans who were against Democratic healthcare plans, accusing them of obstructing progress. He declared that he was just beginning and 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 praised Jindal as a dedicated politician. Towards the end of the event, a young schoolboy named Terence Scott asked Obama why people hated him. Obama responded by pointing out that he did win the presidency and received many votes, indicating that not everyone hated him. Obama pointed out that lately, it appears that people are constantly angry, especially when watching television. He attributed this trend to political tensions and worries among Americans about job security and healthcare. Despite acknowledging that blame often comes with the job, Obama declared that he can handle it.