Opinion | Obama’s legacy hangs over the 2020 Democratic primaries

Former president Barack Obama speaks during a campaign rally in 2018. By Paul Waldman Paul Waldman Opinion writer covering politics Email Bio Follow Opinion writer May 23 at 2:10 PM Whenever a party has an open presidential primary, its voters ask themselves some very fundamental questions about their identity, their history and their future.

To begin, let’s consider the criticisms many liberals make of Obama and his presidency. The first and perhaps most important is that Obama wasted valuable time and energy trying to win the support of Republicans for policies such as the Affordable Care Act.

I’d argue that the reason many Democrats are so ambivalent about Obama is the emotional journey he took them on, the one O’Rourke alludes to. It started with the 2008 campaign, an extraordinary enterprise that gave Democrats not just hope that Obama could win but also hope that the entirety of American politics could be transformed into something that, frankly, it has never been.

On reflection, part of the problem with the vision Obama began with was that it treated Republicans as almost nonexistent, yet their unceasing opposition and procedural radicalism ended up defining his presidency, culminating in their refusal to allow him to fill a vacant Supreme Court seat. Which is why every Democrat now seeking the presidency has to tell voters how his or her theory of political change accounts for the GOP.

Nice names for the Kids until you invert them

What legacy?

As I recall when he took office, the economy was in freefall, General Motors was collapsing, workers were being laid off in droves and the stock marjet had fallen to 4,000. He steadied the course, restored order and the economy was revived. Thats just part of his legacy.

Yeah the legacy of DOOM

The heat is on. Many will fall, what did President Obama know and when did he know it.

Actually his legacy is losing the house senator and presidency after backing them all.

Even though jealous WHITE ppl try SO hard to erase Obama, it will never happen. He is solid world wide. The whole world thinks WHITE Americans are a bunch of racist clowns, electing Trump, cuz they couldn't cope with a BLK man being prez.😂

I used to defend him incessantly against Right wing racism and stupidity, until I finally realized that policy wise, he was a black Ronald Reagan. And worse, given his level of intelligence, education, age, and experience, there’s no good excuse for him not having known better.😔

President Obama’s Legacy?! What would that be The one that the insanely jealous maniac, Donald Trump broke apart piece by piece and pissed all over That Legacy We KNOW how good, decent and honorable Obama was, regardless of the Hell we live in now.🇺🇸

His legacy is why Trump is President now....his legacy will be why Trump gets reelected.

LOL

President Obama’s legacy will be that an honest and good person, who put USA First was President for 8 yrs before Trump.

Biden is gluing on as much as he can, though paste glue is not what it once was.

Legacy of corruption! MAGA

Obama will be only a footnote in American history in 20 years. He was a failure as US President.

What’s his legacy? The debts?

Tell that to the millions dead in the Middle East and North Africa. When the dust settles and being the first black President is no longer considered enough to absolve his misdeeds, the dead of Syria, Iraq, Libya et al will be his legacy.

Obama's Claim to fame in history will always be the 1st minority POTUS... His achievements and policies will be remembered as not even being in the 10 TEN...

I doubt anyone has 'complicated feelings'. Even for those who didn't like the guy, look at where we are now.

Obama the drone president

Obama steered us through the worst financial crisis since the Depression. His calming demeanor was part of that. Trump the Spaz conveys everything except stable.

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