Obama’s New Steeliness

President Obama originally wanted to heal the political divide in the United States, but he has since given up trying to win the Republicans over to any of his proposals. Instead, he has become resolutely uncompromising in his dealings with them.

The Republicans may have taken control of both houses of Congress during Obama’s presidency, but they have failed to advance their own agenda, regardless of what it might be. In the ongoing budget battle and the debt ceiling question, they remain as unsuccessful as they were in trying to roll back Obama’s health care reforms or preventing him from concluding a nuclear agreement with Iran.

Never has an opposition party come off so pitifully — and never has a president been so successful in putting such far-reaching legislation through with the help of only the senators and representatives of his own party.

His Steeliness Increases Democrats’ Chances

If Obama wanted to overcome the political divisions in the United States during his first term, he has long since reconciled himself to no longer even trying to win Republicans over to any of his agenda. He deals uncompromisingly, whether on the issue of immigration, the minimum wage, re-establishing diplomatic ties with Cuba, or concluding nuclear agreements with Iran.

That will result in the acceleration of many of his initiatives and will please the Democratic Party — something the Democratic candidates in waiting will benefit from as a welcome side effect. It raises the chances for Democrats to remain in control of the White House after 2016. And for that, they mainly have the Republicans to thank.