No, Obama’s Biggest Controversy wasn’t a Tan Suit

By Pablo Ventura Almirall

During the unstable times of the Trump Presidency, many drew parallels between what felt like scandal after scandal and the seemingly steady governance of Barack Obama. The Nobel Peace Prize-winning President did have a way with words that projected assurance and stability. But make no doubt, what Obama lacked in controversial statements he made up with his incredibly rocky foreign and domestic policy. From bombings to interventions, foreclosures, and arbitrary detentions, Obama did as all other Presidents have done - sustain the same class dynamics and imperialist grip over the oppressed Global South.

President Barack Obama took office during a period of particular economic turmoil. Typically, the greater the recession, the greater the recovery. However, Obama’s disappointing GDP growth of only 2.1% was lower than any other President since the Second World War (Boston Globe). Not only that, but Obama’s inaction in addressing increasing economic inequality affected the working class - particularly working-class people of color. The median income of white Americans rebounded since the recession, but that of Black Americans stayed stagnant. During Obama’s second term, the racial wealth divide was the greatest in 30 years. (Inequality Org.) Even in a country with an African American President, the median income of people of color was 58% of the median income for white Americans. This gap was perpetuated by a lack of systemic reform in wealth redistribution. It’s been the same old economic system that rewards exploitation and sustains poverty; as the U.N. rapporteur on extreme poverty states, “it is shockingly at odds with [the United States’] immense wealth and its founding commitment to human rights”. The issue is not his lack of reform (which would be expected from conservative leadership) - but that he ran on a platform centered around his self-prescribed allyship with traditionally underrepresented people. And the promise he made - about changing how “elected representatives aren’t looking out for the interests of most Americans’” (Guardian, 2011), was not kept.

That’s not his only campaign promise shortcoming, however, in 2007 he pledged to close down the human rights issue that is Guantanamo Bay Prison. His failure to do so reflects a void in his policy - one meant for a steadfast commitment to human rights around the world. His failure to close down Guantanamo speaks volumes about the President’s history with morality and counterterrorism. One has to look no further than the U.S.’s involvement in the Middle East during this time to show a clear pattern of neglect to comply with internationally recognized rights. Of particular concern was Obama’s willingness to use drone strikes - particularly in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Pakistan. A report from The Intercept uncovered that during a five-month operation in Northeast Afghanistan, 90% of the people killed by drones were not the intended targets (Atlantic, 2016). The killing of non-combatants in these destitute countries was of little concern to Obama, and sadly to the American people. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism reported that of the 2,753 people that were killed in the US drone program in this period, around 384-696 of them were civilians (Vox, 2017). This incredibly reprehensible error margin represents a complete disregard for human life outside of Western nations. Moreover, the legality of drone strikes, in general, has come under question, especially in nations where the U.S. isn’t officially in armed conflicts - like in Yemen and Somalia. Obama wasn’t held accountable for the war crimes committed, but the hundreds of deaths of innocent civilians will not be forgotten - it will forever be an imperialist legacy on the President’s foreign policy.

Even domestically, Barack Obama failed to uphold the civil liberties and human rights of all citizens - specifically about matters of privacy post-9/11. He sustained and in some cases expanded “antiterrorism” NSA Surveillance programs on citizens initiated by George W. Bush. These programs violated human rights ensuring that no citizen shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with their privacy - not to mention that it was illegal under current U.S. criminal law. It was only once Edward Snowden blew the whistle on these extensive programs, that Obama began to enact some reforms. That is not to say, however, that Obama amended the issue - many of the privacy concerns continued unaddressed. Moreover, it was made clear by Obama that mass surveillance on foreign citizens remained completely legitimate. The implications of which, suggest that foreign states can continue surveillance operations on American citizens - which is without a doubt deemed unacceptable. Obama did not establish a concrete precedent on the legality of surveillance regarding privacy and civil liberties - for which his handling of this issue is uncontestedly a failure.

Let the charm and charisma of Obama not fool you into thinking that he did well for the US and the world. We need to remind ourselves that politicians are paid smooth-talkers and that it is their actions and policies that define their failures and successes, not the speeches they deliver. In criticizing Obama, one shifts away from traditional partisan critique, an incredibly important part in sustaining a democracy that truly serves the people. Close analysis of the Obama Presidency reveals that not much has changed and that we need significant social justice reforms to protect the rights and liberties of all people influenced by U.S. decision-making.