A recent publication by political journalists Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes titled "Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House" has sparked conversations about former President Barack Obama's influence on the Democratic Party. The book, released by William Morrow and Company, alleges that Obama's post-presidential actions significantly weakened the party he once led.
According to Allen and Parnes, Obama shifted focus from the Democratic Party's collective strength to a network of "Black professionals" who supported his personal ambitions, a move away from predecessors like Bill and Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, who cultivated their political base within the traditional party framework. Central to the book's claims is the establishment of Organizing for Action (OFA) in 2012, a nonprofit that was intended to advance Obama's legislative goals but ended up competing with the Democratic Party for resources and influence.
The authors suggest that while OFA did not fully realize Obama's vision, it nevertheless siphoned power and funding from the Democratic establishment. This is sharply encapsulated by an unnamed party operative's comment: “Obama destroyed that s*it.”
Following Obama's departure from the White House in 2016, key Democratic figures, including the Clintons, Joe Biden, and former DNC Chair Donna Brazile, worked to rebuild the party's infrastructure. Their efforts were geared towards preventing far-left progressives from dominating and ensuring that loyal party operatives retained influence in national and state committees. A Biden ally reportedly credited the Clintons for this strategic maneuver, which kept establishment Democrats in control while marginalizing more extreme voices.
The book also touches on Obama's hesitance to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 election, after President Joe Biden decided not to run. Obama's delay in backing Harris, despite her qualifications, led to tension within her campaign, requiring a personal reconciliation between the former president and Harris.
Despite the challenges, Michelle Obama supported Harris with a high-profile appearance at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, where she lauded Harris's qualifications and the strength of women in their families and communities.
However, the narrative woven by Allen and Parnes points to a diminishing influence of Obama within the Democratic Party. This perception is bolstered by the party's struggles and Trump's 2024 victory. Political commentator Ben Burgess criticized Obama in an op-ed for MSNBC, stating that Obama's polished rhetoric at the Obama Democracy Forum failed to address the reasons behind Trump's enduring appeal.
Burgess's critique stresses that despite Obama's oratory prowess, he has yet to comprehend the full impact of his presidency on the rise of Trump, revealing a potential disconnect with the current political climate.
