“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
When President Obama entered office, he rode a wave of excitement about the changes that he would bring. Over time, however, it has become clear that the biggest change Obama has had on our nation’s highest office is the new dynamic he has brought to the White House.
From taking selfies with European prime ministers to slow-jamming the news with Jimmy Fallon, Obama has transformed the traditionally formal role of president into a much more relatable role with whom younger generations can easily identify.
This is why, when juniors Grace Olivardia and Jessie White were asked what they would miss most about the Obama administration, they replied that they were sad to see the first lady Michelle and the Obamas’ dogs go. Over the course of eight years, we have felt the Obama family become a part of our popular culture.
But when reviewing those eight years, the Obama’s legacy in our pop culture cannot stand alone. And that’s why we’re reviewing the pros and the cons of the Obama presidency.
Pro-Bama
Eliminated Osama bin Laden.
Formerly a powerful figurehead for Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden was the dangerous driving force behind many of the militant Sunni Islamist terrorist group’s actions—the most notable being the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The United States’ “War on Terror” finally claimed bin Laden’s life on May 2, 2011 in an operation orchestrated by President Obama,significantly crippling and dividing the terrorist group.
Strengthened the economy.
According to the New York Times, during Obama’s presidency, the private sector (companies like Wal-Mart and Volkswagen) added jobs for 73 consecutive months, resulting in approximately 14.4 million new jobs. This makes Obama’s presidency the longest period of sustained job growth on record. Furthermore, though it reached 10 percent in 2008, the United States’ unemployment rate has fallen by five percent since the president took office.
Repealed “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”
“Don’t ask, don’t tell” (DADT) was a former United States policy that prevented discrimination against closeted homosexual and bisexual service members and applicants—under the condition that openly gay, lesbian or bisexual individuals were barred from service. It ended up further dividing and marginalizing society, so the controversial policy was finally ended on Sept. 20, 2011 by President Obama as part of his long-term plan to create a more tolerant and unified nation.
Effectively combatted climate change.
Perhaps one of Obama’s most important contributions to the environment was his loan program that resulted in a slew of advanced manufacturing energy projects. Specifically, Obama required that the federal government help innovative alternative energy projects receive loans that they had been previously unable to receive under former energy policies. Furthermore, federal agencies were required to meet certain environmental goals, like a 30 percent reduction in fleet gasoline use or a 26 percent boost in water efficiency, in order to reduce their environmental impact.
Con-Bama
Did not close Guantanamo.
When Obama first ran for presidency in 2007, he emphasized the importance of closing the military prison at Guantanamo Bay. At the time, this idea gained political traction, but it was never acted upon. Though the number of detainees has been severely reduced, it holds steady at 76. Republicans, with whom the closure of Guantanamo is not popular, might not see this as a con; however because it was a campaign promise that was never upheld, it falls on this side of the chart.
Allowed us to have historically low labor force participation.
The labor force participation rate, or the percentage of Americans who either hold or are looking for jobs, is currently at a near 38-year low: The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in October 2016 it was 62.8 percent. Though Obama has been able to boast positive job growth—over 10 million jobs over the course of his presidency—he has struggled to incentivize people to search for jobs.
Did not improve race relations.
When Obama, the first African American President of the United States walked into the Oval Office, many believed America had reached a new level of equality. Rhetoric permeated claiming black and white were no longer sources of discrimination, because look! a black man was sitting in the White House. These high hopes for improved racial relations were never attained. In fact, a 2016 New York Times poll found that during the Obama Administration, reported racial discord has increased by almost 35 percent. Just think of Ferguson, of Trayvon Martin, of the police officers who have reached for their guns instintively, taken innocent lives, and walked away unharmed.
Left Washington polarized.
Obama’s campaign promised that he would help restore our nation’s sense of “common purpose.” However, he is now leaving both the government and the American people more polarized than it has been in decades. Though the blame cannot be placed solely on Obama, the problem has definitely worsened under his leadership. So much so that “65 percent of Americans believe [the government] is on the wrong track,” The Washington Post of Oct. 31 said.
