This week’s Weekly White House Report Card finds our graders agreeing that the shocking presidential election and Republican Donald Trump’s victory clouding President Obama’s legacy.
John Zogby
First of all, I called this election again so I get a pass from anyone inclined to disagree with me. Time for some nuance. The Obama Coalition is alive — 30 percent of the total vote was non-white and 19 percent were 18-29. And 54 percent of the total who voted on Tuesday gave Mr. Obama a positive job approval and more said they were doing better financially than said they were doing worse.
The problem was that the torch-bearer for the Obama legacy was a tad imperfect. It was like Charlie Brown asking Pig Pen to be his successor. So Obama legacy is hurt and at least some of his successes will be overturned. Funny, Mr. Obama can win a majority when he is on the ballot but he cannot carry those who run on his banner.
The Affordable Care Act, many of his executive orders, and his signature Trans Pacific Partnership and Global Warming Treaty are on the line.
Grade C-
Jed Babbin
President Obama began the week by encouraging illegal aliens to vote which is, of course, a serious crime. He was asked by an interviewer asked if illegals should fear to vote because they’d be deported, he demurred. Obama answered that no one investigates voters because the vote is confidential. That ploy, however successful it was, wasn’t enough to defeat Donald Trump.
Obama welcomed President-elect Trump to the White House on Thursday with all the enthusiasm he could muster, which wasn’t much. He reportedly pressed Trump to let his executive orders remain in effect. (Many of course are not just contrary to American interests, but are literally unconstitutional such as his unilateral “amendments” to Obamacare and other laws). Trump, uncharacteristically, didn’t tip his hand on that. Both praised each other for a positive meeting, but it remains to be seen if Mr. Trump will destroy or preserve much of Obama’s executive actions.
Meanwhile, the transition of power began. Obama said he had ordered his staff to provide every assistance for a smooth transition.
Grade D
John Zogby is the senior analyst for Zogby Analytics and author of “We Are Many, We Are One.” Follow him at @TheJohnZogby
Jed Babbin is an Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in administration of former President George H.W. Bush. Follow him @jedbabbin
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
