Carrying On Obama’s Legacy
By April Jones
As the Obama administration comes to an end, we look ahead at who will carry on President Obama’s legacy in Washington.
President Barack Obama gave us hope and promised change. “Yes we can” became “Yes we did.” Although Obama will no longer be President of the United States, he hasn’t given any indication that he’s going to exit the political arena entirely. In fact, the Obamas will remain in D.C. at least until Sasha finishes school. Both Barack and Michelle Obama have so much energy and passion, it seems likely that they’ll keep working for change and progress, especially at a time when our nation is on the verge of being pushed back into the 1950s. They know we still need them. Like the parent who stands on the sidewalk and watches their child go through the doors on her first day of kindergarten, President Obama is letting us know that he won’t be too far away.
Even if President Obama does move on — maybe back to Chicago — he’s still leaving behind his reinforcements. In spite of the mountains of GOP obstructionism he faced during his two terms in office, Obama did accomplish quite a bit, and he didn’t do it alone. Many of his supporters are still in office, and they will continue to fight for equality and for liberty for the American people. There’s still hope left, and this is where we’ll find it.
We’ll find it in the Senate with people like Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, Tammy Duckworth and Kirsten Gillibrand. We’ll find it in the House of Representatives through John Lewis and James Clyburn, Jan Schakowsky and Bonnie Watson Coleman. We’ll find it in various nonprofit organizations and activist groups, from Planned Parenthood to the American Civil Liberties Union.
First, let’s start with a few of the remaining Senate members who are still committed to representing the best interests of the people instead of the best interests of their billionaire buddies. As soon as Bernie Sanders ended his campaign for the presidency, he went right back to work. He is still on a mission and he built up a lot of momentum on the campaign trail. But what we have in the Senate now is a better Bernie, a man with the same beliefs and causes but with more fire and resolve. Elizabeth Warren, on the other hand, has always been this feisty and outspoken. And the more her haters come at her, the harder she fights back. Sanders and Warren have both been at this for many years and they’re certainly not going to let Trump and the GOP stop them now.
Then there are the newcomers like Tammy Duckworth and Kirsten Gillibrand. Gillibrand stepped into Hillary Clinton’s shoes as Senator of New York which is fitting since she is walking a path very similar to Clinton’s. She also has the same fierce determination that Clinton has. During the recent confirmation hearings for Trump’s cabinet picks, Gillibrand was a voice of dissent on the waiver that would allow retired Marine general James Mattis to serve as Secretary of Defense. She was relentless in her questioning of Trump’s choice for head of the EPA, Scott Pruitt, demanding that he “care about human health.” Assuming she doesn’t decide to run for President in 2020, Gillibrand will likely hold a Senate seat for quite some time which gives her plenty of time to get things done.
Tammy Duckworth is brand new to the Senate but that certainly shouldn’t be seen as a weakness or disadvantage. To the contrary, Duckworth is coming in with a clean slate and a fresh perspective. As a woman, an Asian-American, and a disabled veteran, she brings some much-needed representation to the Senate. And she has made it clear that that’s what she intends to do, that she will be a voice for veterans, for women, for disabled Americans, and for immigrants. Sen. Tammy Duckworth is definitely one to watch.
In the House of Representatives, we have men like John Lewis and Jim Clyburn, both of whom have been strong advocates for civil rights and for the health and well-being of all Americans. John Lewis, as most of us should know by now, has been fighting for civil rights for most of his life. He was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s right hand man and a member of “the Big Six.” He’s been representing Atlanta’s 5th district in Congress since the 1980s. Last summer, Rep. Lewis organized a sit-in on the House floor, demanding action on gun control legislation. This weekend, he will speak at the Atlanta March, a protest against the inauguration of Donald Trump. Whatever the cause, wherever he’s needed, Rep. John Lewis isn’t afraid to take a stand. And standing — actually, sitting in this case — next to him on the House floor last summer was Jim Clyburn, also refusing to allow the House to end their session without making a decision on gun control. We can probably expect to see more collaboration between these two men.
Joining Lewis and Clyburn at the sit-in were their fellow House members Jan Schakowsky and Bonnie Watson Coleman. Rep. Schakowsky of Illinois is one of several Congress members who will be boycotting the inauguration, choosing to attend the Women’s March on Saturday instead. She’s one of the most progressive members of Congress, and she has represented Illinois’ 9th district since 1999. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, on the other hand, just took her seat in the House of Representatives in 2015, becoming the first black woman to represent New Jersey in Congress. Once she got there, she didn’t waste any time. By the first half of 2016, she had formed the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls along with Rep. Yvette Clarke and Rep. Robin Kelly and co-sponsored a bill to help put an end to child exploitation and sex crimes. She is also among those boycotting the inauguration.
While the next four years will be challenging for various civil rights organizations, activist groups, and nonprofits representing issues related to women, people of color, immigrants, and even education and the environment, many of them are already preparing for battle. Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Foundation of America, has proven that she is a formidable opponent for anyone who threatens to take away women’s rights to healthcare and reproductive choices. The Southern Poverty Law Center has made extensive efforts to track and combat the recent rise of hate crimes. These organizations will continue to support us, especially if we continue to support them. (Keep sending them money! Remember all those donations sent to Planned Parenthood in Mike Pence’s name? That was fun.)
Next: Obama Leaves One Final Note For America
The bottom line here is that just because President Obama has left the building, it does not mean we have to give up hope. Sure, he was an extraordinary President and he will continue to be an inspiration, but he was also part of a team and some of the players are still on the field. They’re in our corner, they’re going to bat for us. (Sorry, no more sports metaphors. Promise.) Hang in there, we’ll get through this.