What is Obama's Legacy?

David:
Hillary Clinton, now that polls show her as vulnerable to an upset, has come out with all guns blasting. Her most recent attacks against socialist Bernie Sanders argue that only she will uphold President Obama's legacy. But what, exactly, is Obama's legacy?

Doug:
It does seem that Clinton and Sanders are squaring off to have an argument for staying where we are, versus heading into more progressive territory, respectively. I understand both arguments (and either would be better than any of the Republican platforms). Clinton says that she doesn't want to re-litigate health care, but work with Republicans on constructive areas. Sanders is willing to go back to health care, and fight for even more progressive options (e.g., a single payer option).

David:
Which is why the Democratic National Committee has favored Hillary from the start. But maintaining the status quo is not the message the populace wants to hear this year. Bernie Sanders continues to draw large, enthusiastic crowds to his events, while the Clinton machine attacks. Every time she does, Sanders gets a boost.

Doug:
I think Clinton is delusional that a Republican congress would work with her. I just don't think it would happen. They would block her at every turn, just like they did Obama. Of course, they wouldn't work with Sanders either. But I'd rather have Sanders preach from the bully pulpit each week on the values of progressive positions. Then, maybe in future elections, there might actually be more progressives in congress.

David:
Republicans worked with Bill Clinton, because they found common ground on important issues, like welfare reform. There are many areas where the Republican Congress would work with either of those candidates if they would find common ground. President Obama never attempted to work with Republicans, and Hillary has promised to toe that same line. I can't believe you'd be hoping for more extreme personalities in congress. According to polls, most Americans would rather see fewer extreme members of congress, and more cooperation to solve problems.

Doug:
As we look back on the last eight years, I think that Obama will be seen as one of the better Presidents. Significant gains were made in equal rights for all with the repeal of Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), legalization of gay marriage across the country, and the passing of the Affordable Care Act. All of those will have a significant positive impact on people's lives.

David:
President Obama certainly thinks he's one of the best. He said, during an interview, that he believed he ranked "number four" out of all presidents. I think that makes him number one on the "arrogant" list.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/21/white-house-hedges-on-4th-best/

But history will likely not place him quite that high.  Gay marriage was not his issue, but was an issue brought about through the Supreme Court, based on differing laws throughout the states. It was a decision that occurred while he was in office, but that isn't the same as saying he had anything to do with the SCOTUS decision.

Obamacare is likely to be more of an albatross, instead of a feather in his cap. History will certainly point to his tenure as the point where healthcare was altered.  Higher healthcare costs, higher insurance premiums, fewer options for patients as insurance is pushed to form narrower networks are all significantly affecting average American's lives. The ACA remains as unpopular as ever, and changing or eliminating it remains an election issue for both Republicans and Democrats.

Doug:
Time will tell. But his biggest legacy may be that he has shown that a black person can be President, and the country didn't collapse. Over the past 8 years, he has been a hero to US children (and adults) of all colors. He has been a great example of an intelligent, compassionate politician. It is sad that we see so few of those in today's politics.

David:
Once again, you astound me with what sounds like an outlandish racist comment. "The country didn't completely crash and burn with an African-American as president, so I guess we're safe to elect another one." I'm certain you didn't mean it to sound like it does.

Doug:

I'm certain that you have no idea what I certainly mean. The lesson that a "black President" is just a "President" is an important one for many people in our country. Acknowledging racism doesn't make one racist.

David:
Speaking of race relations, I feel the president missed out on one opportunity, which was to elevate the African-American community. Throughout his presidency, he was uniquely situated to challenge young, black Americans to stay in school, avoid pre-marital pregnancies, and follow his example for success. He and Michelle both studied hard, received advanced degrees, married, and have raised two fine girls. That's a path that far too few black Americans have followed. Instead, his words have further divided the country, and racial tensions are worse than they've been since the sixties. This failure, too, will be a major part of his legacy.

Doug:
Leave it to you to tell a black man how to be a better black man. That's The Audacity of Nope in my book. And you blame the first black president for further racial tension? I think you are saying: "If he had been the kind of black man I want him to be, things would be a lot more calm."

David:
I'm an American telling my president that he could do better.

I'm saying he is potentially a great role-model, and he's in a position to have improved the situation in a way that could help African-Americans and the country. He might have changed the trajectory of 12% of the population in a positive direction, with long-lasting benefits. But he hasn't.  His words and actions have made things worse. To argue that the racial climate is better is to deny reality. Encouraging the black youth of America to stay in school, and form cohesive families, is a statistically proven way to fight poverty and raise living standards. He could make that argument better than anyone else. I can't. (You're already insinuating my words are racist, because I'm not black.) But, he's chosen to demonize Republicans and police officers instead. That has made things worse in the country.

His extension of Executive Branch power will also likely be a part of his legacy. It remains to be seen whether the Supreme Court will reign in his campaign of overreach or not. But, since he has procured most of his legacy through executive order, the next president may undo most of his legacy on day one of their presidency, through the same use of executive order. That's what happens when you bypass the Legislative Branch. You live by the sword, you die by the same sword.

Doug:

I don't know how you latched on to the idea that Obama overused executive orders. First, they are exactly part of any President's abilities. Second, Obama has been lax in his use of them, compared to Reagan and almost all of the last 20 presidents:

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/data/orders.php

David:
That's because he has chosen to name his executive orders "presidential memorandums" or "discretionary executive actions", which are synonyms and hold the same weight and function as executive actions. That way, he (and you) don't count them. When you add up all of his executive actions, regardless of name, he has far exceeded any other president.  Remember, he's a lawyer, surrounded by a bunch of lawyers.  His words are carefully chosen...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/01/25/obama-immigration-and-10-words-in-the-constitution-that-mean-mr-president-dont-be-a-king/

We'll probably have to talk about his legacy of doubling of the debt, and the disastrous repercussions  that will haunt our progeny for generations, in a separate blog.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jan/25/warning-feds-now-foresee-30-trillion-debt/

Doug:
Luckily, legacy lives on well beyond bitter Republican's active imaginations, swords and all.