Reconciling Barack Obama’s legacy and the rise of Donald Trump
On April 25, 2016, Professor Justin Vaughn of Boise State University presented “Reconciling Barack Obama’s Legacy & the Rise of Donald Trump.” In this talk, Professor Vaughn questioned what the legacy of Barack Obama would look like, if it helps to explain the rise of Donald Trump, and if the phenomena is inter-related.
Professor Vaughn described President Obama’s legacy as a paragraph within a larger narrative. Additionally, he went into research that he performed from Boise State that ranked President Obama as above average. He was ranked #18, right behind George H.W. Bush and behind other modern day democratic presidents under the categories of integrity, military actions, diplomacy, and legislative actions.
President Obama’s legacy was also categorized by Professor Vaughn under his successes and failures. According to Professor Vaughn, the President’s successes include: Health Care Reform, economic recovery, Fair Pay Act, Auto Bailout, ending of Iraq War, opening of Cuba, Iran Nuclear Deal, and the TPP. Under his failures, Professor Vaughn included: public option for health care, Obamacare launch, financial reform, Guantanamo Bay, civil liberties reform, underestimated ISIS, immigration, and climate change. Professor Vaughn discussed how under President Obama’s administration inequality increased throughout the country, drone warfare was rampant, and his views on civil rights evolved. Professor Vaughn concluded that President Obama will be viewed as an average president with unfulfilled potential, he continued Regan style of government, and could still have ability to impact reform.
Professor Vaughn then looked at the successful rise of Donald Trump in the republican primary contests. Trumps main support comes from non-urban, blue collar, white males in the Deep South, Midwest and Northeast. Trump’s non-traditional “strategy” with a limited policy agenda is contributing to his successful taking on of the establishment and making visible the gap between the establishment base and the party elites. Additionally, Trump’s success could stem from a few Obama legacy markers, says Professor Vaughn. These include how Obama’s mix of imagery and use of power have made Americans want someone “strong”. GOP’s opposition to Obama and white American’s fear of loss of power have all contributed to Trump’s rise.
Indeed, Professor Vaughn argues, the national context of the Obama years has been surrounded by inequality, directionless foreign policy, unending war on terror, tea party cannibalism, TPP, and historic lows in trust of government. Professor Vaughn had a call to action for people to strive to see the whole picture and to let go of assumptions and intellectual commitments while analyzing this current political climate.
Justin S. Vaughn is associate professor of political science at Boise State University. His research and teaching focuses on American political institutions, with heavy emphasis on the presidency.