Obama Speech at Hamilton College: 'Values are Worth Fighting For'

And I saw this even before the last election. I think people tend to think, Ah, democracy, rule of law, independent judiciary, freedom of the press—that's all abstract stuff, because it's not affecting the price of eggs.

Well, you know what? It's about to affect the price of eggs.

One of the things that has distinguished us in the past has been this basic idea that we are a rules-based society. What that means is that I can support one candidate instead of another, and I don't have to worry that the police are going to come harass me or my customers.

That's what happens in other places. That's what happens in Russia.

We take for granted the idea that we don't have to pay bribes or hire somebody's cousin in order to get a business permit. That's how we built the economy. We did that. That's why this place worked.

And it has very concrete impacts on all of our lives.

…But you're not going to fix it all at once. So that kind of resilience, I think, is more than anything what’s needed: understanding that if you work hard, you're still going to fail sometimes. If you do the right thing, it's not always going to be rewarded. You're going to be disappointed. People are imperfect.

But it's worth trying. And if you try, not only do you usually end up getting better outcomes, but you're going to live a better life, and you're going to feel better about yourself. And you're going to find fellow travelers who share those values—and that's as important as any of it.

So, yeah, don’t get discouraged. I know it’s a little crazy right now. But we’re going to be okay.

So, yeah, don’t get discouraged. I know it’s a little crazy right now. But we’re going to be okay.

I not only agree with that but I have been saying it for years now.  The USA will not implode based on who is president for 4 years but we have so many people talking about permanent damage, end of democracy, end of pretty much everything we now hold dearly that the only thing I can think of is there are alot of Debbie Downers around. 

Have you noticed that Trump has destabilized the stock and bond market?   How his ill-conceived tariffs have negatively impacted the planet; in particular by damaging the trust and good will of the USA in the eyes of our trade partners?   That consumer confidence is at an all time low, people are not spending, companies are not investing?   The result of this will be bad earnings which will trigger more negative pressure on the market and more bad consequences such as layoffs.   This is a very common vicious cycle.

And of course higher prices due to tariffs will help this along nicely.

And it is all because of Trump whose abilities are a direct result of people who support / make excuses for him.

Recognizing basic economics is not 'Debby Downer', it is being rational.   In contrast, trusting in Trump as if he knows what he is doing, is irrational.

Thank you for your opinion and questions

Are you suggesting what Obama said (and I agreed with) is incorrect?

I thought he was a good president. He made mistakes but he still maintained a dignity and character that defined the White House.

Every President, every person, makes mistakes. 

I felt we were on a much more sustainable footing both economically and culturally while he was President. We seem to be heading in the wrong direction at warp speed now.

We should be progressing forward not regressing backwards

We were progressing forward. 

All that is occurring now was predictable, if only people had cared to look.

Wasn't there a question or a test at one time that asked who would you rather be stuck in an elevator with?

Or who you would rather have a beer with?

I think Obama always came in first to Biden while Hillary and Trump were in the basement

Who can take him seriously? This is the same guy who spied on reporters, used the IRS against opponents and said   "I am not king. I can't do these things just by myself. with respect to the notion that I can just suspend deportations through executive order, that's just not the case."  Then of course did that.  A man who did something he believed unconstitutional  for political purposes is not someone who should be lecturing anybody. 

A man who did something he believed unconstitutional  for political purposes is not someone who should be lecturing anybody.

welcome to the resistance ...

There is no "resistance".

Just a bunch of purple haired white ladies scratching and burning Teslas. 

Or a bunch of geriatric old people who want to scream "Hands off", but probably never had hands on. 

Nothing to be "hair on fire " about.

Did you find your homework?

id you find your homework?

What does this mean? 

I referenced Homework in my preamble to the article. Somewhere in the hour and twelve minutes there is a spot or spots where he asks the audience to do certain things. 

That tells me that you did not read the preamble and chances are that you did not listen to the presentation. As such, it will be difficult for you to have, much less give, an informed opinion on what he says.

Who can take him seriously?

I can. Warts and all, he believes in government by, for, and of the people. He is, in my estimation and the estimation of a great many others, a caring and compassionate human being who acted out of respect for the country and the office. 

I asked ChatGPT about the rest of your assertions

Great set of questions—let’s tackle each point one by one, with clear distinctions between claims, facts, and context:

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1) Did Obama spy on reporters?

Yes—with important context.

In 2013, it was revealed that the Department of Justice (DOJ), under President Obama, secretly obtained phone records of Associated Press journalists and investigated Fox News reporter James Rosen, labeling him a possible "co-conspirator" in a leak investigation.

• Rosen Case: The DOJ tracked his emails and movements as part of a leak probe involving classified North Korean information.

• AP Records: DOJ seized two months’ worth of phone logs from multiple AP offices.

Criticism: This raised serious press freedom concerns, and organizations like the ACLU and Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press condemned the practice.

Obama’s Response: He later supported new guidelines that increased protections for journalists during leak investigations, acknowledging the concerns.

➡️ Conclusion: Yes, his administration surveilled journalists in leak probes, leading to bipartisan backlash and changes in policy.

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2) Did Obama use the IRS against opponents?

This is contested, but the facts are more nuanced than many headlines suggest.

• In 2013, the IRS was found to have given extra scrutiny to conservative groups (e.g., Tea Party) applying for tax-exempt status.

• However, later investigations—including a 2017 DOJ report under Trump—found that liberal/progressive groups were also scrutinized, though conservative groups made up the majority.

• There was no evidence that Obama personally ordered or was involved in this targeting.

Key Findings:

• The TIGTA report (Treasury Inspector General) criticized the IRS’s process but did not find political motivation or White House involvement.

• IRS official Lois Lerner was at the center of the scandal, and she resigned.

➡️ Conclusion: The IRS did wrongfully target groups based on ideology, but there's no evidence Obama ordered or orchestrated it. It was deemed a bureaucratic failure, not a presidential abuse of power.

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3) Did Obama say he couldn’t suspend deportations—then do just that?

Yes, with legal and political nuance.

What He Said:

Obama repeatedly stated (in 2011, 2013) that he did not have the authority to unilaterally halt deportations for undocumented immigrants, emphasizing that Congress must act.

Quote (2011):

“I am not a king. I can't do these things just by myself.”

Quote (2013):

“With respect to the notion that I can just suspend deportations through executive order, that’s just not the case.”

What He Did:

In 2012, Obama created DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) via executive action, deferring deportation for certain undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.

In 2014, he announced DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans), but that was blocked by federal courts and never implemented.

Defense of Actions: Obama argued that he was using prosecutorial discretion—a power the executive branch routinely exercises. He maintained that because Congress hadn’t acted, he was prioritizing who would be deported, not suspending the law.

➡️ Conclusion: Obama did say he lacked the power, then later took executive action. Critics called this hypocritical or a reversal; supporters saw it as a pragmatic response to Congressional inaction, within the bounds of executive discretion.

In my opinion he is and was far and away a better human being than Trump could ever think of being.

Eggsellant rebuttal.  We love nuance; Congressional inaction, not so much.

EO's must only be good when it is your party that is printing them faster than the Treasury prints money.

Who can take him seriously?

LMAO!!!!!