Hope vs Hate
President Obama’s farewell speech drew the lines clearly. His hope versus Trump’s hate. Reason and oratory versus tweets and insults. Building people up versus tearing them down. Bringing us together versus driving us apart. Graceful equanimity in the face of bitter partisan attacks versus a narcissistic imperative to attack any critic, doubter or questioner.
Ultimately, Obama represents the light against Trump’s darkness. Which is funny, since Obama is black and Trump, orange. Or golden, if you know what I mean. If you don’t, read the salacious details here.
(It was the height of irony that the Trump-Russia story broke right as we tuned into Obama’s speech. As one President leaves, we’re left to wonder how deeply Vladimir Putin, the Evil Emperor, has his hooks in the next President.)
Obama has been a great President. He saved the economy, and he stopped war. He confronted climate change, and he fought for equal rights. He killed bin Laden, and he kept America safe.
He gave millions of Americans health care. Now the Republicans will replace Obamacare with Wedon’tcare. (One Trump supporter said he’s not worried about Obamacare’s repeal because he’s covered by the Affordable Care Act.)
Obama and his family brought dignity and class to the White House. Trump brings greed and crassness.
Yet, for all his greatness as a President, Obama fell short as a party and political leader. The Democratic Party was decimated across the country in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016. It’s weaker today than it’s been since the 1980s.
Now that he puts down the burdens of the Presidency, perhaps Citizen Obama will apply his oratory, his organizational ability and his inspirational genius to summoning the better angels of our nature against the worst instincts of our anger.
He’s still a young man, and he still has many years to give his country.
Sadly, Hillary Clinton could not give us that lift. After she and Bill left the White House, they devoted themselves to getting back in. Obama instead could devote himself to getting into the White House – and Congress, and the courts, and Governor’s offices, and statehouses and local governments – the young people he inspired eight years ago and spoke to last night.
He has given much to America. We need more from him now. We need to draw from him the resolve to, as he said, “Show up, dive in, stay at it.”
Hope vs Hate
President Obama’s farewell speech drew the lines clearly. His hope versus Trump’s hate. Reason and oratory versus tweets and insults. Building people up versus tearing them down. Bringing us together versus driving us apart. Graceful equanimity in the face of bitter partisan attacks versus a narcissistic imperative to attack any critic, doubter or questioner.
Ultimately, Obama represents the light against Trump’s darkness. Which is funny, since Obama is black and Trump, orange. Or golden, if you know what I mean. If you don’t, read the salacious details here.
(It was the height of irony that the Trump-Russia story broke right as we tuned into Obama’s speech. As one President leaves, we’re left to wonder how deeply Vladimir Putin, the Evil Emperor, has his hooks in the next President.)
Obama has been a great President. He saved the economy, and he stopped war. He confronted climate change, and he fought for equal rights. He killed bin Laden, and he kept America safe.
He gave millions of Americans health care. Now the Republicans will replace Obamacare with Wedon’tcare. (One Trump supporter said he’s not worried about Obamacare’s repeal because he’s covered by the Affordable Care Act.)
Obama and his family brought dignity and class to the White House. Trump brings greed and crassness.
Yet, for all his greatness as a President, Obama fell short as a party and political leader. The Democratic Party was decimated across the country in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016. It’s weaker today than it’s been since the 1980s.
Now that he puts down the burdens of the Presidency, perhaps Citizen Obama will apply his oratory, his organizational ability and his inspirational genius to summoning the better angels of our nature against the worst instincts of our anger.
He’s still a young man, and he still has many years to give his country.
Sadly, Hillary Clinton could not give us that lift. After she and Bill left the White House, they devoted themselves to getting back in. Obama instead could devote himself to getting into the White House – and Congress, and the courts, and Governor’s offices, and statehouses and local governments – the young people he inspired eight years ago and spoke to last night.
He has given much to America. We need more from him now. We need to draw from him the resolve to, as he said, “Show up, dive in, stay at it.”