When President Obama joined Jimmy Kimmel for a reading of mean tweets for one final time, every American watched as he took the best dig at Donald Trump...ever.
In response to Trump's tweet reading, "President Obama will go down as perhaps the worst president in the history of the United States," the president looked straight into the camera and said, "Well @realdonaldtrump, at least I will go down as president." And for a minute, all of America laughed and cheered.
This episode of mean tweets with Obama really made me think about his impact, and brought back memories of the era of "Thanks Obama" and his countless haters of the years. Over the years since 2008, it became the popular phrase of the right to say, "Thanks, Obama," when something personal to them wasn't going all too well. Eager to blame the president for their problems, this became nearly a rallying cry -- until comedians caught wind of it and it became quite the opposite.
Obama himself even made light of the snide comments. But I think it's actually time to be serious, and thank President Obama for all he has done before he leaves the White House because regardless of your political affiliation, he has been a leader to take pride in as an American for his dedication and fighting spirit, from the 2008 economic crisis to the problems we face today in 2016.
As he closes out his final term in office, President Obama deserves a thank you for his policies, his mic drops, his dad jokes and for genuinely being the president we needed and wish we could keep around.
From students and families to the environment and national security, he seems to have done it all. His actions and work often go unnoticed in a nation as politically turbulent as ours.
President Obama took several actions on causes that protect LGBTQ Americans and their families and relationships. He was the leader of the charge to end "Don't Ask Don't Tell" in the American military. He took steps to ensure that LGBTQ couples could make emergency medical decisions on behalf of their partners. In his time in office, he has brought more openly gay leaders and advisors into his administration than any other president. So thanks, Obama, for standing for equality.
When it comes to women's issues, he worked to establish the White House Council on Women and Girls, put the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into action, and took several actions to prevent sexual assault and protect women nationwide. From women everywhere, thank you, Obama.
On the international front, he did immense work to end enhanced interrogation policies. He worked, even though he was blocked in his efforts, to close Guantanamo Bay. He helped pilot the mission to capture and kill Osama bin Laden. He took steps to end the war in Iraq. And closer to home, he expanded and reestablished policies with Cuba to make it easier for separated families to see each other and to improve relations.
When it comes to our conflicts at home and abroad, Obama has always fought for veterans. He expanded funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs. He pushed the Veterans Health Care Budget and Transparency Act. He helped support veterans who got jobs in green fields after they served. And he did amazing work to increase the mental healthcare coverage veterans needed. For always standing by our troops and maintaining our international integrity, thanks, Obama.
President Obama has always stood for education for all, implementing and supporting several measures to ensure people of all ages and abilities get the education they deserve. From expansions of Pell Grants to the GI Bill 2.0, as it is often called, Obama has made it his priority to make education a human right. He fought for "Head Start," a program to get kids learning early, and also was the leader in passing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, supporting those with different needs in getting their education.
And on the healthcare front, his work in implementing the Affordable Care Act has helped many. Not only has it recently brought the cost of insurance down, but it has helped many families and kids get the healthcare they need and deserve. It has helped employers with small businesses to be able to provide healthcare insurance for their employees, and it allows for kids to be on the same health insurance policy as their parents until they turn 26. The Affordable Care Act has helped one of my close family members immensely, and I am very thankful for it.
These accomplishments only scratch the surface. President Obama has done immense work to protect our troops, protect the environment, and put families first. He brought our nation and its housing market back from an economic downturn that hurt so many families, all while moving an agenda forward that helped Americans live better lives. So while many might harbor resentment toward the president in his final days in office, I hope many will thank him instead.
Thanks, Obama, from the bottom of our hearts -- really, we'll miss you.
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