And from then on, the Obama presidency struggled under a radicalized Republican Party. And so for its remaining six years, the Obama presidency had to confront a Republican Party that was hell-bent on opposing everything he did. But was such opposition set in stone? That left Republicans to be wooed by a new and charismatic Democratic president—far fewer than what was needed to break gridlock. But a president who would not court members of his own party was not likely to try or to be successful at courting members of the other party, either.
In the summer of , for example, Obama tried to pass a comprehensive cap-and-trade bill to combat climate change. It was replaced by an aggressive strategy of executive actions, from the Clean Power Plan to the Paris climate accords. Obama, for instance, presided over a Justice Department that made meaningful gestures toward reducing incarceration and demanding accountability for police violence. But these moves can be undone by the current attorney general, Jeff Sessions, leaving Peniel E.
As Sarah R. Of course there were successes in the Obama administration that appear to be sustainable. The fact that the Affordable Care Act escaped congressional repeal by the skin of its teeth is one bright spot in an otherwise dreary picture, even though the Trump administration continues to undermine it at every step. Meaningful, sustained progress on policy requires some continuity in the political base.
Rather than remake the Democratic Party from top to bottom, Obama opted to focus his political hopes on the continued success of his campaign, Obama for America. The Presidency of Barack Obama is a good example of how hard it is to write history quickly. In the end there are only two ways a president can forge a legacy in U. This article is written out of disappointment, not denunciation.
Obama — despite the divisiveness and vitriol that the right projected on him — sought to be a uniter and a healer. In another era, perhaps in which compromise rather than confrontation was the order of the day, he could have been a great president, rather than merely a competent but conventional president. During his tenure the economy recovered from the brink, no troops were committed to new disastrous wars, he did attempt to address the problem of the large number of people who lacked health insurance and he conducted himself with the dignity that the office deserves.
However, the large electoral vote majorities that propelled him into office had different expectations of what he would do in office and the nation required something more.
In the next election, progressives will demand nothing less. Please read our comments policy before commenting. David W. Wise David W. Wise is a frequent commentator on foreign, national security and public policy. He was elected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, at age 19, and was elected again in Click here to cancel reply.
Facebook Facebook. Previous post Next post. Leave A Comment. In so doing, he strengthened and broadened the social safety net and redefined the American engagement with the world. We will see in the coming years what the American people want to preserve of those changes. The other thing I might add is that President Obama is among those presidents most aware of history. I look forward to reading what he has to say about his legacy. Barbara A. President Obama righted the ship through a stimulus package including infrastructure improvements , expanded relief of failing banks and investment firms, and the bailout of the American auto industry.
The dignity and grace that he and his family brought to the White House will constitute his most enduring legacy. Read more about the criteria Perry uses to judge presidential legacies. Katherine A. I find him reflecting in some ways both John F. Kennedy and Dwight D. In addition, both had First Ladies who were significant assets to their administrations. In contrast to both of those predecessors, however, he had to deal with a starkly oppositional Congress bent on undermining his agenda, and that situation has certainly affected his initiatives.
Barack Obama became President after years of attritional warfare, and in the midst of a financial crisis that posed systemic risks to the U. In the face of these obstacles, he avoided scandal, faced down right-wing brinksmanship, refused to debase common political discourse and achieved a measure of success in areas of foreign and domestic policy, including economic recovery, the Iran nuclear deal and the expansion of health insurance provision.
But, with respect to other pressing issues—reducing widening economic inequality, moving beyond overly militarized approaches to foreign policy and confronting the ecological damage of climate change—Obama made only marginal, even negligible gains, and did not achieve the progressive, political breakthrough he promised. His soaring oratory and dignified bearing will be fondly remembered for its vision of a more perfect union—one that President Obama was decidedly unable to deliver.
Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University:. In terms of legislation, Obama achieved some big things: health care, the economic stimulus, financial regulation and more. Those are big changes in what government does and the kinds of activities it undertakes. He expanded the social contract. After , he used executive power to move forward on immigration policy, climate change and a historic nuclear deal with Iran.
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