Obama will rank in top echelon of presidents

President Barack Obama left the White House last week. He should hold his head high. History will rank him in the top 15 of America’s 45 presidents to date. Here’s why:

Domestic accomplishments

Obamacare—Yes, that’s right! At least 22 million were insured as a direct result of its terms. Pre-existing illnesses didn’t bar Americans from coverage, a practice that was rampant before the Affordable Care Act. Students and young adults could stay on their parents insurance. A lot of folks, including, no doubt, the readers who will post criticism of the president and this column don’t have any more clue than the Republicans as to how to improve the health care system. Sure, costs have mounted but the major reasons are that pharmaceutical companies are in bed with Congress and are allowed to raise prescription costs hundreds of times higher than a reasonable profit and professionals in the system, afraid of trial lawyers, order unnecessary tests and procedures. Instead of taking them on, Congress accepts campaign contributions instead from them and decides to pummel the little guy.

Civil rights—His embrace of civil rights for gays was a monumental step against discrimination.

Education—People may jawbone about his efforts to have nationalized exams so there would be a measure of success, but it was the right thing to do.

Immigration—A substantial number of illegal persons were deported—far beyond the record of any other president.

Economy—The President was handed a failing economy and two wars. He leaves a robust one in the hands of his successor.

Foreign policy

The Obama doctrine clearly was to not place American soldiers at great risk in order to prevent humanitarian disasters unless those disasters pose a direct security threat to the United States. This position will be debated for years regarding his refusal to follow George W. Bush into a liberal intervention policy. His careful language about ISIL and terrorists mitigated recruitment. While some fault him for not intervening in Syria, the threat of force alone was sufficient to have Assad agree to remove chemical weapons. The United States Congress itself decided not to authorize a military strike there after evaluation of the evidence of the “cons”.

The agreement with Iran was a seminal moment. His critics will see their disapproval melt as history proves him right in his approach.

Israel—The Iranian agreement will be seen in the future as the ultimate protection of our ally, Israel, despite Benjamin Netanyahu’s verbiage. Critics of the two state solutions have offered no viable alternative to peace in the region. The president was correct in not blocking the United States resolution condemning the Israeli construction in the area previously settled by agreement for the Palestinians.

ISIS—History will evaluate his careful tactics as effective. He has taken out top operatives though Islamic State head Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, still remained in his crosshairs.

This President emerged unscathed from any major scandal during his 8 year tenure. He has been a gentleman, he has been even-tempered, and he has instilled confidence in his judgment. The incoming president would do well to emulate Mr. Obama.

Well done, President 44!

Arlene Violet is an attorney and former Rhode Island Attorney General.