Barack Obama, (click here) in full Barack Hussein Obama II, (born August 4, 1961, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.), 44th president of the United States (2009–17) and the first African American to hold the office. Before winning the presidency, Obama represented Illinois in the U.S. Senate (2005–08). He was the third African American to be elected to that body since the end of Reconstruction (1877). In 2009 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.”
Full speech can be viewed here with introduction beginning at 22:51 time mark. (click here).
September 7, 2018
By Paul Waldman and Greg Sargent
We haven’t seen much of President Barack Obama lately, (click here) but today he emerged to give a speech at the University of Illinois that was in part about the danger of authoritarianism in the White House — at the very moment that President Trump was descending into paroxysms of self-pity and giving free reign to his authoritarian impulses....
...Watching the contrast between Trump and Obama today, one couldn’t help but be reminded of how the former president presented an idealistic — even arguably naive — vision of America, one full of hopeful, hardworking, good-hearted citizens eager to come together to solve problems....
The speech today was at a university. I would think that would allow President Obama a good deal of room to be idealistic. Americans weren't hopeful? Harworking? Good-hearted citizens that come together to solve problems?
Where have I been I thought that WAS who we were. No?
I have to admit today, we may not be those people considering all the trouble that occurs on a regular basis everyday. Charlottsville. Parkland. Sutherland Springs. Santa Fe High School. Las Vegas.
Mass Shootings (click here)
Today, hate and violence are alive and well.
I take issue with the idea President Obama spoke of a better America as if naive. President Obama was not a naive president. He took on Ferguson, the non-violent prisoner, unreasonable sentences for drug addiction. He signed the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. I don't think that is naive.
He sought to end discrimination for women and pay, signed DACA, which still isn't law and it was not for the trying. He gratefully brought in two more women to the Supreme Court, one the first Hispanic on the court. Launched "My Brother's Keeper." He ended "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Under his presidency he saw the LGBT Community achieve marriage.
He inherited a failing USA economy and recovered it with people returning to work. The unemployment rate went from 10 percent to 4.7 percent.
He risked a potential failed mission to remove Osama bin Laden and the Seals were victorious. President Obama was the man who took bin Laden out of Pakistan where he had been residing since 2001. I don't find President Obama naive. He was willing and eager to solve the country's problems.
No one gives him credit for reducing the Veteran homeless rate by 50%. He increased spending for the VA. Saw to it Veterans had a chance for an education with $78 billion tuition assistance for the GI Bill.
The auto industry remained a healthy part of the USA economy. "Cash for clunkers."
Let's not forget his Nobel for efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation.
He opened up embryonic stem cell research. Is there or is there not revolutionary treatment for cancer now? Yes, there is. He asked the medical community to find out as much as they can about the brain and improve the disease that attacks it.
He increased the margin to nuclear confrontation with the New START and the Iran Nuclear.
Backed consumer protections.
He reduced the USA military foot print at war and ended torture.
There isn't enough room here to list all the adult things Barak Obama did during his eight years. So, don't. Don't try to diminish his luster, it is definitely there.
...In his speech, Obama offered a scathing indictment of Trump’s racism and ethnonationalism — “how hard can that be, saying that Nazis are bad?” — and he called for a “restoration of honesty and decency and lawfulness in our government.” He insisted, in the face of the rage and polarization coursing through our politics, that “common ground exists. I have seen it. I have lived it.”...
