The Emancipation Proclamation freed very few slaves on the day it was issued. It only freed those in areas still rebelling against the Union. Of course, Lincoln had no actual power to free those slaves in areas under Confederate control. At least not when it was issued.
It also allowed states to maintain legal slavery if they rejoined the union. It permitted people to keep their slaves in border states under Union control, like Kentucky.
These facts are often pointed out to make the Proclamation seem like an insignificant act on Lincoln's part. There were people in his time who felt the same way. It angered abolitionists who wanted more decisive action to end slavery immediately. It angered the other side, who believed the war was about saving the Union, not slavery. And it didn't entice any states to rejoin the Union, as Lincoln hoped it might. In the short term, it was an unpopular, failed attempt at compromise.
But that's not the whole story. The Emancipation Proclamation did free slaves as Union armies advanced into Confederate territory. That became official policy for the remainder of the war as Sherman marched into the Deep South. After it was issued, many of those Northern regiments would be made up of African-American soldiers. It established beyond doubt that they were waging a war to end slavery.
Additionally, it set the stage for the introduction of a constitutional amendment ending slavery, which Lincoln wrote. Although it didn't seem like much right away, the Proclamation did lead to the end of slavery.
Why bring this up? Obama idolizes Lincoln and has long studied him.
What does Obama mean when he talks about taking a long-term view? What does he mean when he talks about things that may seem insignificant but will create structural change for the future? What does he mean by saying that he'll do things which aren't popular now but need to be done for long-term benefit?
This is what means. There are people who don't believe that much of significance has happened for the past two years, just as there were people in Lincoln's time who thought the Emancipation Proclamation was a useless attempt at compromising with the South. Despite the compromises he's forced to make, Obama will keep working methodically to move the ball forward.
Over time, the results will become plainer to see, even if Obama gets little credit for laying the groundwork. Sometimes it will happen in undramatic ways, such as EPA regulation of greenhouse gasses or the Federal Reserve's role in completing details of the new financial reform law.
Progress in America has always come step-by-step, through struggle and disappointment. This period of progress will be no different.
Cross-posting note: I try to keep my blog focused on environmental politics at the state and local level. This post was written for a new blog and discussion forum with a national focus called Democrats for Progress that I'll be contributing to on occasion.