When historians look back on the presidency of Barack Obama, one would hope that they view his legacy as more then just being the first African American President who succeeded despite having to overcome some of the worst treatment a President could withstand; or as more then the President responsible for the establishment of an affordable health care act ensuring healthcare coverage for all Americans; or responsible for having saved the U.S economy from a second depression; or for killing the number one mastermind terrorist in the world.
Indeed one would hope that that historians recognize that President Obama’s legacy is that of a true warrior for social justice. A man of the people who, despite being branded a Socialist ideologue by many on the right, recognized that government has a critical role to play in protecting the most vulnerable citizens among us and assisting in developing opportunities for all Americans. A steadfast true leader, who even when faced with obstruction from hostile political extremists on the right, is still ensuring that all Americans get a fair shake at the American dream. He has already instituted numerous policies that has opened doors of access to those Americans who didn’t have it before. The President's endgame is a fair, just, and cohesive America where the collective body and the individual citizen have a mutually beneficial interest in working together for social progress.
Despite the obstruction he faced from an extremist fringe of Tea party Conservatives who rode into Congress in 2010 thinking they owned it, this President would not be deterred. Putting his career at risk at times, he instituted policies he believed would move the country forward and make it a better country for all citizens. The President made healthcare coverage available to all Americans; signed the Jobs Act to save millions of jobs after the economic collapse; did what was economically necessary to save millions of middle-class jobs in America's auto industry; created collaborative relationships with businesses to provide job training - including green energy jobs; instituted a law that helped provide legal redress for women discriminated against in workforce pay; expanded Pell Grants making sure students have access to financial aid; bolstered support for public education; launched a White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African-Americans, to overcome obstacles to equal access to highly effective teachers and principals, and safe schools; continues to make a concerted effort to close the growing income gap in this country; instituted credit card reform making it more consumer friendly; brought our young men and women home from Iraq; repealed “don’t ask, don’t tell”, increased the Department of Veterans Affairs budget; lifted the shadow of deportation from young, hardworking immigrants who were brought here as children; and is committed to comprehensive immigration reform.
We are all fortunate to be part of the Obama age - a defining turning point in American history. The President has laid the groundwork for the country to emerge out of a three decade era of widening disparities in wealth and power between the haves and have nots. America just had a historic election where the support for equality and justice was never more evident. As for the naysayers, the train has left the station. Either they march forward with the rest of us into the 21st century where there is a bright future for all Americans, or they can stay behind .
