Man of Action and of the People

By: Nathan Tinnie

Barack Obama entered the United States presidential race with the slogan, “Hope and change” on 2008. Obama’s Legacy: What He Accomplished As President, written by Michael I. Days, discusses whether President Obama has accomplished what he promised to achieve. In his introduction, Michael Days ensures that “it is not about what [Obama’s] ideas, plans, or promises were; it is about what he actually got done.”1 This book is filled with factual information regarding the changes in political, social, and economic policies during the Obama administration; thus, it will be analyzed thoroughly to validate the author’s argument that Obama has made significant achievements.

Obama’s administration policies were known to be more helpful for the lower class citizens who needed aids. In Obama’s first address to a joint session of Congress in 2009, he advocated for students to get at least a year or more of college education to “allow U.S. workers to compete in the global economy.”2 The statistics show that Bachelor’s degree holders earn sixty-six percent more than high school graduates and have a significantly higher chance of getting a job. Because college tuitions were still construed as luxury items, the Obama administration passed the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 in order to fund increased financial aid for college students and reform the student loan programs. Obama also announced the free-tuition plan known as America’s College Promise that “would cover tuition for up to two years at qualifying community college programs…”3 The Obama administration also aided in health care for families with lower incomes, which would eventually lead to the controversial ObamaCare. The aid for healthcare started in 2009, when the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act was signed to cover the health insurance for children who were not eligible for Medicaid. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 funded child-nutrition programs and free-lunch programs as well. Without a doubt, one of the biggest social discriminations in the United States was against the people with disabilities. The Obama Administration acted as a catalyst to tear down the barrier between disabled people and the cruel world with limited opportunities. Obama’s executive order “resulted in jobs in the federal workforce for nearly 60,000 workers with disabilities...”, and created more laws in order to ensure their rights and safety.4 For example, the Affordable Care Act “established a form a long-term-care insurance that can help those with disabilities remain in their homes by proving funds to pay for community support services.”5 The Obama Administration also took care of veterans by providing mental health services or education through what is known as the GI Bill. Due to these reasons, the Obama administration embraced people from society who were often more rejected and ignored during the previous presidencies.

The Obama administration also focused on securing the basic rights of the people. Conflicts regarding the workers’ rights have been present in the United States society since the Industrial Revolution. Congress repeatedly refused to adopt labor reforms over the years. However, Obama utilized his executive power to ensure that workers get to leave their work when they are sick. He also used his power of the veto to “thwart [Congress’] effort to halt a National Labor Relations Board…”, and allowed workers to join the labor unions easier.6 The women’s rights movement also grew to prominence as the Obama administration actively supported their actions and motives. Obama’s first legislation was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay act, “which effectively extends the statute of limitations to file a claim for discrimination in pay.”7 Obama claimed that it carried the nation’s first principle: all are created equal. He also appointed two women to the Supreme Court, including Sonia Sotomayor, who was the first Latina to serve as a justice. However, the appointment of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State resulted in numerous controversies as her email scandals were revealed. The article from New Yorker noted that “42 percent of Obama’s judgeship appointments were to women…”, thus giving Obama a reputation as a bold, balanced appointer.8 The Obama administration also passed the reauthorization of the Violence against Women Act, which gave legal assistance to prevent domestic discriminations based on sex. Women’s health care and reproductive rights were also protected. Because of the Obama administration’s work, women were major beneficiaries due to the protections for their rights and balanced opportunities without discrimination. Another big, yet controversial decision was regarding the LGBT. In short, the Obama administration led the legal status of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people out of the dark ages. The changing social trend was amplified as Obama officially ended the Pentagon’s policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which allowed homosexuals to serve in the military. It faced repeals that dragged on for two months until Obama used his executive power. Same sex marriage was also legalized during the late years of the presidency.

African Americans and immigrants also gained more support than ever before by virtue of President Obama’s ideology that “there are some particular groups that historically have been underrepresented.”9 Although Michael Days argues that president Obama did not speak out for racial discrimination as much as expected, he mostly worked in the background with the FBI. To secure the rights of African Americans in crime cases, Obama had the FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ) investigate several police departments as the shootings of innocent black men by officers were protested largely across the nation. Obama also secured education for African American students through the renewal of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Although there were numerous criticisms towards Obama that he did not do enough for African Americans, “black support for Obama has never wavered… the percentage of African American voters who voted for him in both presidential elections is unprecedented…” with the rate of 95 and 93 percent of votes.10 Obama administration also worked hard to preserve the immigrants’ rights and their children’s future. Obama used his executive power to pass the DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minorities) Act, “which granted conditional permanent residency to young, undocumented immigrants.”11 Although it had a good intent, it faced numerous rejections from the Congress. Obama administration also reduced the “prison population by reforming sentencing laws…”, and made an effective program to prepare the prisoner’s life after the release.12 As this book substantiates, President Obama’s resolute actions made numerous human rights reforms, but also led to controversies and oppositions.

The Obama administration also made numerous differences in politics and economics domestically and internationally. Domestically, Obama administration passed the the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to “avoid a depression and stimulate the economy.”13 Obama is credited for leading the United States out of the financial crisis and for stimulating the economy by making more jobs. In order to lay the foundation for a better economy in the future, President Obama passed the Every Student Succeeds Act, which funded the reauthorized school, and stopped the controversial No Child Left Behind Law. Through more education reforms, students with low income families gained Pell Grants and tuition tax credits, which helped them attend college with more ease. The Obama Administration also gave even more aids with a Student Aid Bill of Rights to make education affordable. Obama hoped that college level education would lead the future generation of the United States to be at the top of the global market. Although the United States economy improved, the national debt piled on as the aiding for the citizens and active diplomatic participations such as the wars occurred continuously. President Obama surprisingly received the Nobel Peace Prize in his first year in office, which cemented his role as a national policeman. One of the most well known achievements for the United States’ foreign affairs was the death of Osama Bin Laden, which lessened the tension and public fear of terrorism. While bolstering their national defense system, the United States also “helped to topple the regime of Muammar Qaddafi in March 2011,” which made the United States more participant in the Libyan rival faction wars. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan also erupted, which led to various protests and opposition regarding the United States’ arguably excessive participation in foreign affairs. The Obama administration also focused on active trades with other countries such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership in order to “secure more favorable trade terms for U.S.-made products.”14 Overall, the Obama Administration participated in foreign affairs that sparked numerous controversies. However, they defeated Osama Bin Laden, who the United States’ society feared, and made a good trading partnership to stimulate the economy.

Michael I. Days argues that, “especially given the Republican establishment’s aggressive push to see him fail”, Obama achieved many things that secured rights and aided the citizens in need.15 Throughout this book, Days emphasizes how Congress rejected numerous acts that Obama suggested, and how Obama had to use his executive power to kickstart the reforms. Michael Days utilizes the achievements of Obama administration to prove that he stimulated the economy in an efficient way, which led the United States out of the financial recession. He also praised the way Obama followed the prominent social trends well to embrace the necessary reforms that the former presidents were not able to do as well as he did. He also discusses the advancement of foreign policy and achievements such as the death of Osama Bin Laden. Michael Days consistently underscores that president Obama’s slogan, “hope and change” was “more than a slogan.”16

Michael I. Days is an editor for the Philadelphia Daily News who became the first African American to lead the paper. He led the paper to win countless awards including the Pulitzer Prize in 2010. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. As a member of the American Society of New Editors and the National Association for Black Journalist (NABJ), he has a strong, positive opinion towards Barack Obama. Although his religion, Roman Catholicism, is against Obama’s reforms regarding the same sex marriages, “... you will not find a poll that has support for Obama within the black community anywhere below 90 percent, regardless of the ideology”.17 Therefore, as an African American, Days has a natural admiration towards the first black president of the United States history. However, being an experienced journalist and a second stint on the national board of the Associated Press Media Editors, he delivers a completely fact based book. Obama’s Legacy: What He Accomplished As President was published in 2016, when President Obama served his last term in the office. Thus, Michael I. Days covered most of the events during the Obama’s presidency. Also by the end of his presidency, the rights of the previously underrepresented people were recognized more than ever before, thus Days emphasized the reforms and acts that led to those changes.

Michael D. Schaffer, the former book editor for the Inquirer accessed the book, Obama’s Legacy: What He Accomplished As President, written by Michael I. Days. Schaffer begins the review with a point that Obama still was a president for another three months after this book was published. Schaffer wrote, “some of Obama’s legacy is already cemented in place… he became the first black man elected president, and that alone guarantees him a prominent place in the history book.”18 Schaffer gives Obama credit for his work to lead the US out of the financial crisis and his sharp wit by agreeing with Days’ argument. However, he also points out that the book emphasized the legitimate achievements, but only gave surface level discussion for what “he has not achieved”. Schaffer describes Days’ book as almost a textbook- like work that includes simple and chronological descriptions of the Obama administration’s work. Schaffer overall praises the way the book delivers organized information, but also raises the question of whether he could have included the negative side to give more of an in depth look at Obama’s presidency. Ingrid Sturgis, the New York University Journalist and a former writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Times-Herald Record also discusses the book. She argues that the book “offers an expansive perspective…” and numerous factual informations.19 She also gives a summary about president’s achievements for the United States economy and rights movements. However, being an African- American woman and a former writer for the same newspaper as Michael Days, she mostly accentuates the positivity in a biased manner regarding President Obama and the book.

Michael Days does indeed use factual information to bolster his argument. However, he did also leave some of the factors that might have challenged his claim. The book is well organized and has surface level details for the topics, making it less boring and easy to read for the readers. It also has separate sidenotes to give the readers a bit more insight to a specific topic or an important person. For example, he would describe the legislations more in detail or present the background stories behind the important figures during the Obama Administration. He mostly focuses on the acts and movements that helped the citizens gain more rights and legislative protection. He also uses specific statistics to bolster his claim that the Obama administration pulled the United States out of a grave financial crisis. Days assures that the book contains “what [President Obama] actually got done,” but what about what he couldn’t get done?20 Days merely scratched the surface regarding the Clinton’s email scandal, raising taxes excessively, or the sudden rise in insurance bills. In general however, Days is a credible writer who was trained to write based on facts, and he presents an informative book that lets the readers have an overview of what happened during the Obama’s presidency.

The Obama administration led the United States into a numerous wars such as war in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and more. However the one that brought most fear into the American’s heart was the war against Osama Bin Laden’s army, Al Qaeda. They were related in several terrorisms such as the 9/11. Ever since the Cold War, the United States always had a threat from an enemy inside out. Michael Days even points out an excerpt from the New York Times’ article, in which Osama Bin Laden is described as “The most wanted face of terrorism…”21 These factors lead the US to be a leading country to fight the Al Qaeda. When Bin Laden was announced dead, “Obama’s approval rating shot up to 56 percent, from 47 percent…”, which shows the United State public’s support towards the government defending them from terrorism.22 The Obama administration also showed the efforts to prevent any further conflicts with Russia by signing the new START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty). By renewing the treaty, they enhanced the national security and formed a stronger alliance with Russia. The technology also proved to be the reason why Days described Obama as a “transformative” president. With the growing technology, Obama acknowledged internet as “not a luxury, but a necessity.”23 He expanded the education program with the computers while protecting the internet users with the FCC program. He also created more jobs relating to the computer and stimulated the economy. It also played a major role in launching ObamaCare, which “despite its infamous glitches, led to innovation.”24 As technology developed, the politics, economy, and social approach of the Obama administration changed in order to adapt to a new trend.

Obama administration did indeed achieve significant reforms according to the statistics and legislations that are presented in this book. Although the bold decisions by President Obama led to numerous controversies, he brought the United States out of a serious financial crisis, secured rights for underrepresented citizens, and laid foundations for the future generation. As Michael Days argues, “It cannot be denied that [President Obama] has done much to change the landscape of this country.”25

[1] Days, Michael.Obama’s Legacy: What He Accomplished as President.New York:Center Street, 2016.5.
[2] Days, Michael. 12.
[3] Days, Michael. 15.
[4] Days, Michael. 76.
[5] Days, Michael. 77.
[6] Days, Michael. 96.
[7] Days, Michael. 21.
[8] Days, Michael. 26.
[9] Days, Michael. 26.
[10] Days, Michael. 56.
[11] Days, Michael. 70.
[12] Days, Michael. 90.
[13] Days, Michael. 105.
[14] Days, Michael. 132.
[15] Days, Michael. 4.
[16] Days, Michael. 7.
[17] Days, Michael. 6. .
[18] Schaffer, Michael D. “’Obama’s Legacy’ Accentuates the Positive.” Philly.com. The Philadelphia Inquirer, 14 Oct. 2016. Web. 23 May 2017.
[19] Sturgis, Ingrid. “’Obama’s Legacy’ Portrays President as a Force for Good Government.” Diverse. N.p., 28 Dec. 2016. Web. 27 May 2017.
[20] Days, Michael. 5.
[21] Days, Michael. 117.
[22] Days, Michael. 117.
[23] Days, Michael. 197.
[24] Days, Michael. 202.
[25] Days, Michael. 206.