At the end of June, former President Barack Obama attended a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in California that provided some much-needed relief for donors from the constant drumbeat of the Republican War on America. But nearly lost in the many soundbites that any appearance by Obama reliably provides was a single gem from the event that day that really underscores exactly what the difference is between our last president and the guy we have now.
It’s pride.
Now, you could say that’s a fundamental difference between the left and the right, or between older men and younger men, or between growing up rich or growing up poor, but really, it’s a difference in how you view America and your role in it as President.
Donald Trump needs adoration, he needs to be believed, and he needs to control the narratives surrounding his presidency.
But according to a CNN report from inside the fundraiser, Obama’s attitude was much different — not the regular “different” that we all already know about, but different as in, Obama would truly give up his legacy and all of his pride to his successor if only Americans could have the benefits of his hard work.
In fact, Obama told Trump he could take credit for his legacy and even call it his own, and he said it as he was passing the baton at the beginning of the Trump administration.
I said to the incoming president, ‘Just change the name and claim that you made these wonderful changes’ and I would be like, ‘You go.’ Because I didn’t have pride of authorship, I just wanted people to have health care.”
You know how that turned out — the Republicans used their tax cut legislation to essentially repeal Obamacare, eliminating the individual mandate, the employer mandate, and the tax increases on the obscenely wealthy that both provided bot the impetus and the funding to keep the Affordable Care Act working. They said Obamacare was “failing,” but in truth, they were undermining it so that it would fail.
If only Trump had taken Obama up on the offer, not only would we have healthcare, but Trump might have gotten a taste of everyone liking him for a minute.
Featured image via Instagram
