What we’ll miss most about the Obama White House

he thing is, he was so much more than the first black president. He was, in no particular order: A world-class leader. A world leader. A family man. A hard bargainer. A respected visionary. A father. A man who wasn’t afraid to sing and crack jokes, unashamedly, in front of his detractors. A history maker. An embodiment of the hard-fought battle for civil rights. An elected official, chosen by the people, considerate of all Americans. Barack Obama, for a time, was ours. We’ll thank him, and now, we’ll miss him.

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“On Day One, he got to work and rescued our auto industry to save over 1 million jobs. We worked hand in hand to help our economy recover from the Great Recession, provide healthcare for millions of Americans and revitalize neighborhoods in Detroit. As someone who also hails from the Great Lakes region, President Obama has stood with us to protect our water and our natural resources. I always knew Michigan had a friend in him.”
– Sen. Debbie Stabenow

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“President Obama has done so much more than just hold the title as our nation’s first black president – he has worked tirelessly every day on behalf of our country. Any attempt to discredit his achievements is an attempt to set us back and all that we have fought for to get to this point. When the auto industry was on the brink of collapse, President Obama stepped in and saved the industry that was once called ‘an engine for the African-American middle class.’ Had he not done so, the outcome would have been catastrophic. There is more work to be done, but I’m appreciative of what he has done to help curb potentially disastrous impacts on our local economy.”
– Rep. John Conyers

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“I remember sitting in a room election night when Barack Obama was named president-elect in 2008. It was such an emotional moment, hearing the announcement and watching the emotional, almost tearful reactions of some senior constituents who thought they would never see in their lifetime an African-American president of the U.S.A. President Barack Obama’s defining moment in history is very personal to me. As America’s first African-American president, President Obama’s accomplishment served as a strong validation that I, too, have a seat at the table. Unfortunately, somewhat contrary to our current state in history, Obama’s elections heightened my belief in the American people, that we had evolved to define people not by their race, but rather by their leadership, skills, ability and character.”
– Rep. Brenda Lawrence

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“I think that President Obama was about reaching to have an inclusive government that he achieved by reaching out to groups all across the country. Ultimately, he was able to solve a lot of problems – and that was by bringing folks together. He represents a very clear contrast with the president-elect that will follow him.”
– Sen. Gary Peters

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“President Obama is leaving behind a lasting legacy of greatness. Not only has he inspired generations of Americans to reach for the stars and go after their dreams; President Obama has broken many barriers throughout his administration, continued to push limits and advance our nation. Obama took office at a time when our country was teetering on the edge of economic collapse. Under his leadership, our nation has been pulled out of the greatest recession since the Great Depression – more than 18 million previously uninsured Americans now have health insurance, Dodd-Frank has minimized the threats to financial stability, and he has commuted more sentences of prisoners who were victims of unjust sentencing than any other president.”
– Rep. John Conyers

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“Watching the journey of President Obama and his family has not only transformed the country, but it has transformed the national view of the African-American family. Michelle Obama – through her example as first lady, wife and mother – has been the epitome of grace, strength and resilience. The Obama family has certainly made a lasting impression on our history and will forever be in our hearts and minds.”
– Rep. Brenda Lawrence

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“You have to respect all voices and understand that this country is very diverse and increasing in its diversity. The only way we have a strong country is to have a stronger collective voice that represents that.”
– Sen. Gary Peters