Obama Continues to Hunt For a Legacy [OPINION]
For most of his time in office, former President Barack Obama blamed everything that went wrong on his predecessor, George W. Bush. Now, two years into the administration of Donald Trump, Obama is attempting to rewrite history in order to claim credit for all that Trump has accomplished.
Obama's time in office produced little more than some nice photo ops. Americans were told to get used to a new normal that included stagnant economic growth, a government takeover of the health care system, taxpayer bailouts of corporations, an expansion of globalism and perhaps the most secretive administration since Nixon.
Obama's administration spied on the press, disrespected police, and weakened our relationship with Israel, while cooperating with sponsors of terror such as Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood. Most disturbing was Obama's use of racism to divide this nation.
During his administration, Obama was arrogant and self-absorbed. That hasn't changed much as Obama struggles to find a legacy. In doing so, the former community organizer is attempting to rewrite history in order to take credit for all that Trump has accomplished. Here is just some of what Obama was peddling in Houston just this week:
"American energy production, you wouldn't always know it but, you know, it went up every year when I was president. And you know that whole, suddenly America is like the biggest oil producer and the biggest -- that was me, people. I just want you to… Sometimes you go to Wall Street and folks would be grumbling about anti-business. I said have you checked where your stocks were when I came into office and where they are now. What are you talking -- what are you complaining about? Just say thank you please.”
Historians will write about the Obama years as perhaps the biggest waste of eight years in modern times. They will also remember Obama for globalism and for failing to recognize America's exceptionalism. Perhaps mostly Obama will be remembered for ushering in the era of Donald Trump.
So, maybe in some small way, Obama can be credited with making America great again.
Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.