Obama “Retools” His Organization in Attempt to Salvage His Legacy, Rebuild Democratic Party

Barack Obama lost on election night to Donald Trump, just not in the same way nor in as devastating of a way as did Hillary Clinton. What he lost was a politically friendly environment to try to build, or rebuild, his legacy beyond his reputation for spending $100 million taking vacations and playing golf, as well as his presiding over the creation of the monstrosity called Obamacare. In other words, he has a lot of work to do, much of it no doubt requiring a good deal of fiction.

One of his primary goals is to be a force in Democratic politics, rebuilding the party from its recent defeat in his own image. In that light, he is refocusing his “Organizing for Action” organization to press his agenda and build his legacy. In once sense, he’s returning to his earlier function as a community organizer.

Here’s a view of what he has in mind:

Barack Obama doesn’t want his post-presidency to be all about Donald Trump, but he knows some of it’s going to have to be.

Trump’s win upended his plans for life after leaving office, and people who’ve been talking to him say he’s been quietly sorting out how to honor the tradition of withholding criticism of his successor as he also considers how best to salvage his legacy and rebuild his party.

“The way he views his role is not that he himself, Barack Obama, is going to be out there giving fiery speeches and leading marches, but he wants to play a role in empowering and lifting up the next generation of leaders,” said Jen Psaki, his White House communications director and an alum of his presidential campaigns.

The question must be asked as to whether current Democratic Party leadership wants Obama to be a force in rebuilding the party, or whether they have their own ideas. And it’s doubtful that too many Democrats spend worried nights concerned over his legacy.

So what do we know about this team of his and his plans for its future?

The parts of Obama’s post-presidency that will touch on politics fall into four main categories, according to people familiar with the plans: the retooled OFA; a nonpartisan training center for grass-roots organizing that will be part of his Chicago-based foundation; the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, run by former Attorney General Eric Holder; and, in his personal capacity as a former president, endorsing, campaigning and fundraising for candidates.

Where to begin? Eric Holder is going to run a “redistricting committee.” And we are to believe that this “training center” is going to be “nonpartisan.” Perhaps it will be listed as such for the IRS forms they have to fill out, but don’t believe it for a second.

Mr. Obama is a man seeking relevance, desperate to create some sort of positive legacy that will define his presidency. He doesn’t have much in the way of concrete accomplishments to work with. So it would seem that we will see the odd spectacle of a former president attempting to craft his legacy based on accomplishments achieved after he left office. Good luck with that one.

Source: Politico