Though far different from those surrounding the current administration, Barack Obama’s two terms as president were not without major controversies. (Marc Nozell)
Filmmaker Matthew A. Cherry reminisced recently about the Barack Obama presidency as free of major scandals, but Twitter users swiftly reminded him that it wasn’t always pleasant.
Cherry tweeted Monday, May 9, that he missed Obama’s less-shameful actions amid news that President Donald Trump fired FBI director James Comey.
I miss the days when the biggest presidential scandal was that time Obama wore a tan suit pic.twitter.com/dcvOd3Qwol
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) May 10, 2017
Immediately, people chimed in to point out the issues with the Obama administration.
Unfortunately Obama's $115B in arms for Saudi Arabia or $38B for Israeli apartheid didn't become big scandals eitherhttps://t.co/TbSTbwzpeD
— Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) May 10, 2017
@gehem007 @BenjaminNorton Deferred real prosecution of people who wrecked the economy and destroyed half of black wealth, continued disastrous wars, started new ones
— soulkhan (@soulkhan) May 10, 2017
@RejinathR @gehem007 @BenjaminNorton Facts: 1. crisis destroyed half of black wealth
2. obama admin shielded those criminally responsible for it from real prosecution.
No lie— soulkhan (@soulkhan) May 10, 2017
. @MatthewACherry @AlexTackie I guess Obama droning civilians doesn’t count as scandalous. Wake tf up Black people. SMH.
— ghetto intellectual™ (@kzshabazz) May 11, 2017
One noted Obama’s reforms, like healthcare and marriage equality.
@BenjaminNorton Oh and don’t forget giving healthcare to millions, expanding Pell grants, unprecedented progress for LGBT, rescuing auto industrie #scandals
— Me Myself & I (@gehem007) May 10, 2017
The division led to a back-and-forth among users who positively looked back on Obama’s time in office and those who pointed out the flaws in some of his decisions.
Some debated the results of the Affordable Care Act.
Or when he lied about keeping your doctor…over and over.
— Hawk In IC (@IAChief32) May 10, 2017
Yes,but not because OCare. BTW, 30 Millionish still don't have it and more are losing it because of rising premiumshttps://t.co/voZfwPUYPn
— Hawk In IC (@IAChief32) May 10, 2017
They also argued over the 2011 drone strike Obama ordered that killed the 16-year-old son of Anwar Awlaki, who CNN reported acted as a spokesperson for al Qaeda.
He killed an American citizen with his bare hands?
— BY22 (@nomynameisjus) May 10, 2017
I'm no Obama fan. But, has your new boss Trump not killed civilians in Yemen? Crushed Press Freedom?
— Pirate Party Weekly🏴☠️ (@PiratePartyINT) May 10, 2017
— Pirate Party Weekly🏴☠️ (@PiratePartyINT) May 11, 2017
Others bickered over the $400 million the U.S. sent to Iran on the same day that hostages were freed in 2016, but The Wall Street Journal reported American officials denied it was a ransom payment.
https://twitter.com/random_tangent/status/862121081280135168
He does mean that, Drew, he's just too goddamn proud to admit his ignorance/being duped by bullshit mountain.
— Dave is Fighting #Cancer (@WhenIs2001) May 10, 2017
@dwsNY @random_tangent @MatthewACherry You can say it was their money all you want. Iran wouldn’t give us prisoners for free?
— Deplorable Saiga?? (@Tyler__C4) May 10, 2017
Several chose to focus on Obama’s light-colored suit.
https://twitter.com/pyotr_kropotkin/status/862161914394292224
https://twitter.com/pyotr_kropotkin/status/862438747966586880
@MatthewACherry @ashcech The scandal is how damn good Obama looked in that suit!
(Gotta have a little fun, even as democracy collapses around us…)
— Resolve.Action.Love (@Snowman55403) May 10, 2017
That's what I thought! LOL But a lot of people hated it. He would look good in just about anything!
— Kristin Fortuna (@42nagirl) May 10, 2017
