President Obama spoke graciously today about Donald Trump’s stunning victory. Obama’s words matter (as he likes to say) because they are in keeping with the American political tradition.
But Obama’s real thoughts were revealed in the days leading up to the election when he campaigned for Hillary Clinton as no president in my memory has ever campaigned for a would-be successor.
Here is what Obama said the day before the election in Ann Arbor, Michigan:
Tomorrow, you will choose whether we continue this journey of progress or whether it all goes out the window.
(Emphasis added)
To the Congressional Black Caucus, Obama declared:
I will consider it a personal insult, an insult to my legacy, if this community lets down its guard and fails to activate itself in this election. You want to give me a good send-off? Go vote.
(Emphasis added)
By all accounts, the African-American vote fell well short of Hillary Clinton’s expectations and needs.
Obama’s legacy was indeed on the ballot. It lost.
For a Trump skeptic like me, and I imagine for many non-skeptics as well, that’s high on the list of the best things to come out of yesterday’s election.
JOHN adds: It has been apparent for quite a while, through polling and otherwise, that Obama’s persona as our First Black President is far more popular than his actual policies. Yesterday’s election was the final proof. Obama’s leftism has been repudiated.
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