President Obama boldly declared Thursday that his legacy largely has been secured, and political analysts say the president could find new political momentum following the Supreme Court’s validation of his signature health care reform law.
The win cements Mr. Obama’s biggest domestic achievement to date and ends, at least for now, the constant debate over the legality of the Affordable Care Act, allowing the administration to focus its attention on other domestic and foreign policy aims.
Thursday also brought another major win for the president, one that could enable him to secure historic trade agreements during the supposed “lame duck” era of his tenure.
On the same day the high court upheld Obamacare, Congress gave final passage to a package of bills allowing the president to unilaterally negotiate trade deals, ending a lengthy process that at times forced the White House into an embarrassing battle with fellow Democrats.
With the future of Obamacare seemingly secure — barring repeal by a future Republican president and Congress — and with the groundwork laid for major trade deals, Thursday likely went a long way in shaping how history will remember this president, analysts say.
“No doubt that political fortunes can change quickly. The Senate’s passage of a newly revived trade bill and the Supreme Court’s decision upholding nationwide subsidies provide President Obama with a boost of political capital that likely will not only help him with governing, but with cementing his policy legacy,” said Lara Brown, a political science professor at George Washington University.
Political analysts say it remains to be seen whether Mr. Obama can seize the momentum he gained Thursday and use it to make progress on other key priorities, many of which appear to have little chance of clearing Congress. The president still is seeking a comprehensive immigration reform bill, gun control legislation, a budget that rolls back sequestration cuts and other goals. He’s also seeking support from Congress on nuclear negotiations with Iran and on new authorization to conduct the war on the Islamic State.
Despite those and many other questions still swirling around the White House agenda, Thursday was a landmark day for Mr. Obama.
On health care, the president wasn’t shy in articulating how he believes his namesake law now is part of the fabric of America. In a Rose Garden speech shortly after the Supreme Court handed down its 6-3 decision in favor of Obamacare, the president proudly placed the law — and himself — in the history books.
“Three generations ago, we chose to end an era when seniors were left to languish in poverty. We passed Social Security, and slowly it was woven into the fabric of America and made a difference in the lives of millions of people,” he said. “Two generations ago, we chose to end an age when Americans in their golden years didn’t have the guarantee of health care. Medicare was passed, and it helped millions of people. This generation of Americans chose to finish the job — to turn the page on a past when our citizens could be denied coverage just for being sick.”
On trade, the president was able to narrowly avoid what looked to be a crushing defeat for the White House and a clear rejection of his agenda. Earlier this month, House Democrats blocked a key piece of Mr. Obama’s trade package — a measure that provides financial assistance to workers displaced by trade deals.
But the president, with plenty of help from Republican leaders on Capitol Hill who support Mr. Obama’s desired trade deals, kept the issue alive. The White House consistently said Mr. Obama expected Congress to deliver his entire trade package, and administration officials put both public and private pressure on Democrats who ultimately caved and approved the measure Thursday.
SEE ALSO: Boehner: Undecided on whether to repeal Obamacare with budget tool
“The president has been successful at staving off an otherwise slow or sluggish end to his term. That’s been to his credit. He’s done this in a way which has been uncharacteristic of the Obama White House,” said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston who has written about presidential leadership. “In this case, the White House was willing to put itself into some of these negotiations … He put his credibility on the line in a way he hadn’t since Obamacare had passed.”
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.