The countdown to President Obama's departure from the White House is too much to handle. As America prepares for the incoming administration on January 20, it's only right that we take a look back on how President Obama's legacy has shaped millions of lives in the last eight years. CNN aired a special report Wednesday night titled, The Legacy of Barack Obama .
What is President Obama’s legacy? @FareedZakaria explores in a 2-hour CNN Special Report, tonight at 9pm ET #ObamaLegacy pic.twitter.com/Nf3FL9Hgea
— CNN (@CNN) December 7, 2016
For supporters, the message held true to the President's original promise of "hope" and "change" signaling his administration's success through strengthening the global economy, legalizing gay marriage, commuting non-violent drug offenses and more. And critics? They should be somewhat silenced (highly unlikely) at this point now that two terms worth of receipts were pulled in a two-hour television event.
During the special, CNN's Fareed Zakaria sat down with the President to candidly discuss his experiences as the 44th President of the United States. Not so surprisingly, President Obama discussed the racism that he has had to endure as POTUS.
"I think there's a reason why attitudes about my presidency among whites in Northern states are very different from whites in Southern states," Obama told Zakaria. "Are there folks whose primary concern about me has been that I seem foreign, the other? Are those who champion the 'birther' movement feeding off of bias? Absolutely."
As noted in the special, being the first black President and handling events dealing with race proved to be monumental.
.@VanJones68 gets emotional on #ObamaLegacy: When he sang "Amazing Grace" … that was a profoundly important moment https://t.co/VwDzzHy6Cn
— CNN (@CNN) December 8, 2016
Axelrod: "He never ran to be the first black president, he ran to be president of the United States." #ObamaLegacy https://t.co/NQxeEcxFjg
— CNN (@CNN) December 8, 2016
Despite race being one of many challenges during President Obama's two terms, he leaves behind a legacy that can never be forgotten. The special touched on the heart strings of viewers.
#ObamaLegacy proved to be more than a hashtag.
Man. @cnn got me in tears right now with this special on @POTUS legacy. Wow. #obamalegacy
— jacque reid (@jacquereid) December 8, 2016
I watched nearly half of the #ObamaLegacy on CNN last night. I've never cried so much watching a program on television.
— azulita (@oomiesays) December 8, 2016
This is the #ObamaLegacy pic.twitter.com/xLeDMFP6WG
— ♻️ Christopher Zullo (@ChrisJZullo) December 8, 2016
#ObamaLegacy pic.twitter.com/80KLm5sr50
— shalonda Jones (@shalondajones30) December 8, 2016
After Bush tried and failed for 7 years to get Bin Laden, Obama got the job done. #ThankYouObama#ObamaLegacy pic.twitter.com/YOuToND7fG
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) December 8, 2016
Pres Obama changed everything. He achieved what was considered impossible. Thank you for being the "coolest" press ever. ???? #ObamaLegacy pic.twitter.com/0897sXYX81
— Troy Sandidge (@findTroy) December 8, 2016
Pres. Obama, you made this Republican love you. Your character, dignity, class, intelligence, and compassion will be missed. #ObamaLegacy
— Lindsey Lulla (@lindsey_lulla) December 8, 2016
I will miss the Obamas ???? #ObamaLegacy pic.twitter.com/4BaT4yEsHB
— DeMarko Gage 🙂 (@DeMarko_Gage) December 8, 2016