Obama's Prophetic Voice Has Never Been More Needed

[justaprogressive]

As various leaders call for resistance against Trump’s march to dictatorship, one prophetic voice has been missing in action. Barack Obama, before he was president, was a professor of constitutional law. He understands the stakes better than anyone. He also knows how to give a powerful and inspiring speech.

Obama’s successful campaign for the presidency began with real hope that America could finally move beyond racial division with a unifying leader of vision, dignity, and courage. But early on, even before he took office in January 2009, Obama made the catastrophic decision to bring in the Robert Rubin/Bill Clinton team of advisers to address the financial collapse that their policies had caused.

Thus Obama squandered the opportunity to turn away from the neoliberalism that was destroying living standards and energizing the right. The hope of a second New Deal was stillborn. In contrast to the audacity of his presidential campaign and his rhetoric, Obama turned out to be characterologically cautious, transactional, and incremental.

Obama’s post-presidency has been even more of a disappointment. As Trump has gone deeper into his effort to destroy both constitutional democracy as well as government that helps people, Obama has declined to get involved.

https://prospect.org/blogs-and-newsletters/tap/2025-06-20-obamas-prophetic-voice-has-never-been-more-needed/

[marble falls]

1. Our next Supreme Court Chief Justice.

[Fla Dem]

4. Lordy , we have to wait at least 3 more years, and that's if we get a Democrat President.

In the meantime, there's been silence by Clinton, Biden and Obama. I know it's been a tradition for former presidents not to speak out against the current presidents, but Trump seems not to have any problem totally ripping them apart.

[marble falls]

8. Roberts isn't in a hurry to split, so three years is about right.

[Fla Dem]

2. I have been surprised at how quiet Obama has been.

Especially as programs he and Biden instituted have been eliminated.

[LuvLoogie]

5. Barack Obama is a grown man and has his priorities. One being his family.

I suggest the author look elsewhere for someone to fix this nation's white supremacist M.O.

[johnnyfins]

9. I know, right?

Biden bashing not working anymore? Let's do Obama now.

[stillcool]

6. noise.

[tritsofme]

7. People never get tired of whining about President Obama, rather impressive actually.