First-Time Voters React to Obama’s First 100 Days Out of Office

Last week, a report detailing first-time voter’s perspectives on President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office was published, revealing relative dissatisfaction with the 2016 election cycle but cautious optimism for the administration’s future.

During that same period of time, former-President Barack Obama has been approaching his own political agenda. While he has taken a step back from the limelight of the presidency, his actions have been notable, and his influence has continued to be felt across the political spectrum.

While first-time voters have been able to examine the results of the election in which they actively participated, they have also been exposed to the realities of a former president, and the influence that can be made by such an individual from beyond the walls of the White House.

“My opinion has remained relatively stable on Barack Obama,” said Syracuse University sophomore and Plainview native Sam Gozinsky. “I’m very glad to see that he is still using his influence and I hope that he continues to.”

In Obama’s short tenure as a former president, his lobby has succeeded in preserving the Affordable Care Act against Republican backlash, but failed to prevent progress on certain measures he’d deemed “detrimental to the environment.” Among those are construction on the Keystone Pipeline and a green-light to commence work on the Alaskan copper mine.

“I’m glad Obama is sticking to his guns and using his influence for what he believes is good,” Gozinsky said. “He’s going to be an important and relevant person for a very long time, so I’m happy to see that he still wants to be involved in the political process.”

Some view Obama’s thwarted efforts to maintain environmental preservation policies as a result of circumstances, rather than a reflection on the former president’s influence.

“His “failure” to prevent progress on the shameful Keystone Pipeline and copper mine have much more to do with a primarily Republican government than any lack of effort on his part,” said Northeastern University sophomore and Long Island native Julie Nagler.

Obama spoke on his first major forum since leaving office last week, alongside his wife, Michelle Obama, and former-Vice President Joe Biden, while accepting the annual Profile in Courage Award at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston.

He made headlines by expressing his desire for the American people to “stand up to hate,” calling it “necessary” given the current political atmosphere, without name-dropping President Trump.

“The war against hate is something that needs to persist throughout the entire Trump administration,” Nagler said. “Obama has been preaching this message throughout the duration of presidency but he, in my opinion, was correct in thinking that it needed to be reemphasized.”

Gozinsky was impressed by the former president’s continued professionalism and desire to enact positive change.

“He avoids stooping to the level of so many other politicians that constantly talk bad about each other and dedicate their careers to slandering their opponents,” he said.

While Trump’s actions will continue to be magnified by reporters across the political spectrum, those of a former president can often go under the radar. It is yet to be seen whether Obama will comment on impending issues such as the firing of former-F.B.I. Director James Comey.