By Scotty Reid

I. Introduction

Barack Obama’s rise to prominence was built on a narrative of grassroots activism, hope, and systemic change. He entered the national stage as the embodiment of progressive ideals—a former community organizer who spoke eloquently about universal healthcare, social justice, and ending the corrosive influence of money and special interests in politics. For many, he represented a break from the old order, a leader who would finally steer the nation toward equity and fairness.

But as history has shown, the reality of Obama’s presidency fell far short of that promise. Instead of dismantling entrenched systems of injustice, Obama became a custodian of neoliberal economics at home and a champion of imperial power abroad. His administration expanded mass surveillance, institutionalized extrajudicial killings, escalated wars, and facilitated coups, all while entrenching corporate power in the domestic economy. This is not merely a question of broken promises—it is a matter of deliberate political choices that contradicted his activist roots.

II. Early Activism & Political Roots

Obama’s early years as a community organizer with the Gamaliel Foundation painted a very different picture. He engaged with working-class communities on issues like affordable housing, job training, and neighborhood empowerment. He worked alongside progressive circles, including those affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America. During these formative years, he aligned himself with policies like universal healthcare—a goal he later diluted as president.

Those early affiliations and his emphasis on social justice created an image of a man committed to systemic change. Yet, by the time Obama reached the Oval Office, those ideals had given way to pragmatism—or more accurately, political opportunism—that left core structural issues untouched or exacerbated them.

III. Domestic Policy Failures & Reversals

A. Healthcare
One of the most glaring examples of this shift was healthcare. Obama campaigned on the notion of universal coverage and flirted with progressive language, which gave hope to advocates of single-payer or Medicare for All. Instead, we got the Affordable Care Act—a reform that left private insurance companies firmly in control of the system. While the ACA expanded coverage, it entrenched a for-profit model that continues to bankrupt working families and deny care to millions.

B. The Drug War & Mass Incarceration
Obama’s rhetoric as a candidate suggested sympathy toward ending the failed War on Drugs. Yet he failed to deschedule cannabis federally, leaving countless people—disproportionately Black and Brown—trapped in the criminal justice system. Even worse, his administration threatened to cut off aid to Latin American nations that considered legalizing cannabis, effectively exporting America’s failed drug policies abroad.

As for mass incarceration, Obama took years to address private prisons. Only in the twilight of his presidency did he announce the end of federal contracts with private prison corporations—a move easily reversed by Donald Trump. If Obama had acted early in his second term, the industry could have collapsed under financial pressure, reducing one of the biggest drivers of mass incarceration—modern-day slavery under the 13th Amendment.

C. Police Violence
High-profile police killings during his presidency—Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and countless others—sparked national outrage. Yet Obama’s response was largely symbolic. His policing task force offered recommendations but produced little meaningful change. The structural issues of militarized policing and systemic racism persisted unabated.

IV. Foreign Policy & The Imperial Pivot

A. Israel & Palestine