HOW BARACK OBAMA CHANGED AMERICA
OBAMA ' S FOREIGN POLICY, FOCUSED ON DIPLOMATIC SOLUTIONS AND WARY OF MILITARY
INTERVENTIONS AND NATION-BUILDING
an intensely charismatic politician. But he was not able to build a political base underneath him. In fact, during his eight years, the Democratic Party has suffered a historic set of defeats at the state and national levels, putting them in the worst position they have been in since the 1920s. Was that Obama ' s failure? A lack of political skill? Perhaps, though it is equally likely the currents were stronger than any one person could shift. In recent years,
America has gone through enormous economic, technological, political and cultural change, and in some parts of the country, there has been a growing backlash to that change-- and to an African-American president. In that interview about Reagan, Obama noted that Reagan " put us on a fundamentally different path because the country was ready for it."
It remains unclear whether the country was ready for Obama ' s vision. The most dramatic bet he made was health care. He spent the first few years of his presidency and all his political capital on passing it. And I would argue that even if Donald Trump finds a way to repeal and replace it, it remains a historic achievement.
Barack Obama did what seven presidents failed to do-- he made health care a fundamental right. Whatever you call it, however you reshape it, that right will likely endure, and because of Barack Obama ' s ambition. It ' s the signature achievement of a consequential President. But presidential legacies also exist above and beyond laws and policies.
We remember John F. Kennedy for the energy, vitality, elegance and intelligence he brought to the White House. And in that sense, Obama has left an indelible mark. He and his family occupied the White House with dignity, grace and good humor. He ran an administration that was largely scandal-free. He celebrated and promoted American excellence in every sphere, from science to art to sports. And he did it all while under a microscope, because he looked different. In a sense, America made a big bet in electing Barack Obama as its first African-American president. And with respect to his personal character and intellect, most of the country believes that it was a bet that paid off. – CNN
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