Andrew Yang shares why former President Barack Obama broke his heart

[redqueen]

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[polichick]

1. After volunteering fulltime to elect Prez. Obama (plus Dem. Hs and Senate)...

and registering hundreds of new voters, I ended up feeling the same as Yang - brokenhearted over lost opportunities that don’t come around often.

It’s crucial for Dems to understand how those lost opportunities enabled the mess we’re in today. The next Dem prez needs to be incredibly bold about changing the status quo in every realm - starting with election integrity (which activists have been pushing since 2000).

[redqueen]

2. Agreed!

We cannot afford to work in half measures - every time republicans get in control they go full bore. The result is obvious.

[democrank]

3. Your second paragraph is so insightful.

Those “missed opportunities” are are the underlying cause for the divisions in our party, the increase in the number of voters identifying as Independents, the number of voters calling for change (or a revolution), and so much more.

Most of my old and dear friends are/were RABID, active Democrats. I can’t think of one that feels the same about this party as they once did. Not one.

I’m somewhat encouraged by some of the Progressive voices and their big ideas and determination.

[IndyOp]

4. Okay - I respect Yang's opinion, he gave a really thoughtful answer.

Personally, I don't know what President Obama could have done that much differently. It is a whole, whole lot easier to be on the outside and critique what's happening than it is to actually make HUGE change happen.

Further - if anyone missed the chance for Obama's presidency to transform our nation - it was me, or rather a lot of us, who were inspired and joyous and breathed a great sigh of relief at having someone we could trust in that office. So... I smiled for weeks and hopped back on my own personal running wheel. We can't just elect good people - we have to demand that other elected officials work with them to see true transformation.

[democrattotheend]

5. I mostly agree with you

Do I wish President Obama had been more progressive at times? Of course. But I also think he accomplished a hell of a lot. Take the ACA. It's far from perfect, but he succeeded where five previous Democratic presidents failed by getting a major overhaul passed that has tangible benefits for millions of people.

My mom said she wishes Obama had played more like Trump, instead of trying to be above the fray and presidential. But personally, I really miss having a president who is dignified and presidential.

[mfcorey1]

6. Yes, what you said !!

[StarfishSaver]

7. Yes!

Progressives spent far too much time patting ourselves on the back for electing Obama and then sat back and expected him to do our bidding. If he let us down, it's because we let him down as many of us lifted not a finger to help him and then turned on him in the mid-terms, making it even more difficult to accomplish his goals.

And people need to spare me the "he should have governed more to the left" and "he reached out too much to the middle and right" criticisms. In essence, some people are pissed that he didn't govern exactly like Trump - cater only to the farthest reaches of his base and ignore everyone else. It's no better to govern that way when the base is on the left than when it's the MAGA crowd.

Obama didn't disappoint me nearly as much as my fellow Democrats did.