On My Mind 🤓

     Something has been bugging me. After President Obama left office, someone made the comment that if he were being graded on his time in office he would get an “F”. I absolutely didn’t agree but kept my mouth shut. Arguments like that don’t solve anything and usually end with hurts that cannot be mended. But the comment has been bothering me off and on all this time. While President Obama certainly doesn’t need me to defend him or his record, I will feel better if I have my say so maybe I’ll stop having to think about why I didn’t speak up.

     The day after Mr. Obama was sworn in, Mitch McConnell and some others met and vowed that “We will make sure Obama is a one term president.” If I hadn’t seen video with those words coming from McConnell’s mouth, I’m not sure I would have (nor would I want to have) believed it. But I saw the video. Republicans in the senate made the conscious decision to obstruct ANY changes Mr. Obama wanted to make. Interpret that any way you like. At first, I hoped it wasn’t race based but as the last four years have unfolded, I’m not as sure. Every time the current president refused to denounce white supremacists and nationalists after their deplorable acts and the Republican leadership refused to excoriate  him for his action-or lack of action-I became even more unsure. I suppose trump can be excused (?) because he was raised by a father who was arrested at a KKK rally. He really doesn’t hide his prejudices, not if you are paying attention. So, McConnell’s obstructions made each change a steep, uphill struggle but President Obama didn’t stop trying.

     In light of what has been happening lately with George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and too many others, we need to stop and think how much courage it took to decide to run for president as the first black candidate. I actually thought about it at the time; that there were (and are) people in this country who will delude themselves that assassination is a higher calling. When the Obamas accepted the party’s nomination at the convention here in Colorado, they walked out on stage as fireworks went off. Michelle Obama visibly ducked and pulled her daughter close. She was only startled momentarily and regrouped quickly but in that moment I understood what possibly becoming public figures was going to mean to this particular family. Always worrying about someone with crazy ideas.

     I recently saw Mr. Obama interviewed. He’s written a book about his time as president. The interviewer asked what was most frustrating about being president and while I’m paraphrasing his answer, he said it was going into the office wanting to accomplish definite things and having to realize that change, any change, takes time. Certainly longer than he anticipated and much of what he wanted to do-what any president wants to do-doesn’t get done because others have their own agendas, their own projects. As a result, many of the things President Obama wanted to do didn’t get done and too many black people felt let down. But none more than he did.

     In another recent interview, the interviewer asked Mr. Obama about Michelle who wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about the run for the presidency. She wasn’t sold on such a public life for herself or her children. But she stepped up and became a wonderful First Lady. She was involved, took up childhood nutrition, treated all around her with respect, especially children. The Obamas showed amazing compassion to families of shootings victims, service men and women and so many others. A highlight of my Christmas is seeing HGTV’s program showing the holiday decorating of the White House each year. Michelle Obama was very involved in planning the theme each year. (She would never have said “F#*% Christmas”, even if she thought it which I’m sure she never would have.) The former president was asked what it was like after being President and First Lady. He said for Michelle she felt she could finally relax and be herself. She felt she was always being scrutinized. That her every action was being watched and judged. I can’t begin to imagine how either one of them felt during those eight years. Every move, every decision, every word and action being watched, criticized, judged or second guessed. And not privately but as a sound bite on the news. Fodder for the other party to condemn. Add to that the constant potential for assassination. The job is already stressful but those added worries make it seem untenable, at best. But they did it with grace, dignity, compassion, intelligence and courage.

     Since trump took office he has or has tried to repeal anything President Obama did during his time in office just because it was Obama. Gay rights, health insurance during a pandemic, opening protected federal land (including National Park lands) to fossil fuel exploration and too much more to list. If you love your National Parks, imagine them filled with pump jacks pumping away. Emission repeals that fill the air with crap that makes it hard to breathe and smog to compete with China’s, adding significantly to Global Warming. Trump’s motivation for most of what he did and is still doing is to line his and his cronies pockets. The first presidency for profit.

     I wouldn’t take a job where my co-workers were always working against me. Where my life or the lives of my family could be in jeopardy. Where my every action is scrutinized and judged. But Barrack Obama took that job knowing it wouldn’t be easy but the pull of public service was stronger than personal considerations. That being the first person of color would change this country in positive ways not before even imagined. His selfless act made it possible for women, LGBTQ persons, anyone of color to not only try but succeed at becoming the president.

     So would I give his presidency a grade of “F”? No. I think he accomplished more than he imagined, less than he wanted to but certainly a lot to take pride in. Besides, it’s not my place to grade or judge anyone.