President Obama’s high-profile visit to Capitol Hill on Wednesday may have marked the last strategy session with Democratic lawmakers he will hold either during his presidency or long after.
Despite publicly condemning Republicans at nearly every turn during the course of his eight years in office, Obama is hoping to play a more behind-the-scenes role in Democratic circles following his departure on Jan. 20, White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters at the daily briefing.
“He still has a lot of ambition and a lot that he wants do. Most of it, he hopes to do behind the scenes in terms of staying true to his roots as a community organizer,” Earnest said. “He wants to make sure that people who aspire to public office can get trained in the fundamentals of community organizing, [and he] wants to make sure that young people around the world are exposed to the values and norms and traditions of the United States.”
There has been some speculation that, since Hillary Clinton unexpectedly lost the election, Obama might take a leading role as the voice of the loyal opposition to President-elect Trump once he assumes office.
The outgoing president recently purchased a home in Washington’s Kalorama neighborhood, giving him a front-row seat to much of the action that will occur during his successor’s first 100 days. But the greater part of his post-presidency chapter will involve guiding Democrats privately instead of wading into congressional battles or contesting the actions of his partisan foes in the public sphere.
“The president does not envision routine regular engagement on these issues publicly,” Earnest told reporters hours after Obama huddled with Democratic lawmakers to discuss the political war over his legacy healthcare law.
During the meeting, the president reportedly urged members to spread Obamacare success stories.
But Earnest also warned reporters against misinterpreting the president’s desire to take a break from the public eye during his first few years as a private citizen.
“I don’t want to leave you with the impression that there’s still not a lot of important work for former President Obama to be engaged in,” he said. “There is, and he recognizes that. And he’s got a long to-do list.”
