By James B. Ewers Jr. Ed.D.
There were men and women in my community who, growing up, provided exceptional service to our neighborhood. The city of Winston-Salem, NC, was a better place because of them. Men like Carl Russell and women like Louise Wilson were stalwart leaders who created opportunities for others.
Both left lasting legacies and are still talked about today. I was coming of age back then, and I remember them quite well. Segregation was a way of life during that time, yet it didn’t stop them from believing and achieving.
Both were activists who created avenues for others to improve and help their families. Mr. Russell and Mrs. Wilson were visionaries before the term was popular. They saw things coming before they happened.
As we gauge our political landscape today, we can say without question that Barack Obama was for the people. Of course, he was the 44th president of the United States of America.
President Barack Obama had major legislation passed that changed Americans’ lives. Records show that “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act enacted a $787 billion economic stimulus plan in 2009 to pull the U.S. out of the Great Recession, extending unemployment benefits, creating jobs, and investing heavily in infrastructure.”
Prior to the passage of this law, the United States of America was almost down and out, with no plan to move forward. Over his eight years in office, President Barack Obama had a propensity for bringing both major political parties together for the greater good.
General Motors and Chrysler were struggling mightily and had a bleak future. His direct lobbying and intervention saved over one million American jobs.
His first major legislation was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. According to reports, this legislation made it easier for employees to have more individual rights, such as appeals, in their workplaces.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act that he signed in 2010 created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to help everyday consumers like you and me.
President Obama’s recognition of the need for healthcare reform led to the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Reports say, “The ACA expanded health insurance to millions of Americans, established a patient’s bill of rights, protected individuals with pre-existing conditions, and allowed young adults to stay on their parents’ insurance plans.”
He believed in the potential of all Americans. His spirit was caring, his actions were timely, and his character shone throughout his tenure in office. His honesty made him the envy of his political opponents. Republicans were always 3 steps behind. He withstood the personal attacks with aplomb and grace.
President Obama was well thought of by world leaders. They respected him and admired him. He built bridges of understanding and compassion. During his time, America was in good hands, and the polls showed it. As a former president, he still holds influence. People still want his leadership and counsel.
Why do challengers compare themselves to champions? Why are jealousy and meanness central to comments that many members of the opposition party make? Maybe the bar is too high for them to scale.
Let’s be clear. Not all from the GOP are tied up and twisted up in a movement to keep Americans from Americans. Destroying democracy and the rule of law are their only goals.
You can identify them easily because they constantly talk about President Obama, albeit in a negative way. For example, every commercial that this extreme group makes includes his name or his picture. Some of them disparaged President Obama so badly and still got fired from their jobs. You know who they are, and there will be more of them to go. Sometimes, being uninformed and critical of others is habit-forming. President Barack Obama continues to defeat them even now as a private citizen.
