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Audacity
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Audacity

How Barack Obama Defied His Critics and Created a Legacy That Will Prevail

Custom House, 2017 more...


Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Innovative
  • Eye Opening
  • Overview

Recommendation

New York magazine and Los Angeles Times political analyst Jonathan Chait, a leading liberal voice, cites liberal disappointment with Barack Obama’s two terms as president and tells them to cheer up. He asserts that Obama’s presidency was “a historic success.” In discussions of Obama’s economic policy, health care reforms, approaches to climate change and foreign policy, Chait builds a sturdy articulate case that America’s 44th president accomplished his policy goals despite adamant Republican opposition. Obama’s detractors may feel Chait downplays important failures, such as immigration reform, and could find Chait’s conclusions as to the durability of Obama’s successes debatable. But Obama’s supporters will find ample cause to reconsider or reaffirm their assessment of his tenure, along with reassurance that many of his reforms will endure. While always politically neutral, getAbstract believes this partisan overview of Obama’s presidency will intrigue historians, students, professors and anyone interested in US politics.

Take-Aways

  • Many people underestimate Barack Obama’s accomplishments.
  • Obama largely achieved the ambitious goals he set out for his presidency.
  • Although it heightened racial tensions, Obama’s presidency helped to heal racial prejudice in America.

About the Author

Jonathan Chait is an editor and political analyst for New York magazine and a Los Angeles Times columnist. He has held editorial positions at The New Republic and The American Prospect.


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    C. W. 7 years ago
    So you thought Obama was a problem. Let's judge Trump by the same standards and compare the results once he is no longer in the White House.
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    M. F. 7 years ago
    Delusional would be a more appropriatetitle
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      7 years ago
      Don't you mean fake news?
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    D. M. 7 years ago
    Typical misguided / liberal media viewpoint of glossing over reality to present their own version of the truth.