Barack Obama is a leader. During the eight years he was president of the United States he had obvious power, authority, and influence. Since then he has chosen largely to retire from public life – which does not, however, mean that he has none of what he had. While he no longer has power – he is, for example, not now commander in chief – he still does have the authority associated with having been a two-term president and he still does have influence. When he speaks people listen.
Michelle Obama is different – though she is no less relevant to the point I make. As the wife of the president, she did not of course have any formal power. She did though, as First Lady of the United States, have some authority. And she did, due mainly to her immense personal popularity, have influence. Moreover, her influence continues. She has some 57 million followers on Instagram; when she writes a book it’s a guaranteed best seller; when she wears a red dress red dresses become instantly stylish; and when she speaks, her legions of ardent admirers hang on to her every word. Four years after she left the White House, she was still voted the most admired woman in America and even now there’ s data to suggest that if she ran for president, she would in a heartbeat catapult to the front of the Democratic line. So, when she spoke publicly yesterday about the upcoming presidential election – on an interview show she said she was “terrified” at the thought of what might happen – it was, or it should have been, a big story.
Both Barack and Michelle Obama seem strongly to prefer no longer being in the public eye or, at least, no longer being directly involved in politics. Though they are still relatively young, by and large they appear content to write books and make films, to earn large sums of money and enjoy the later fruits of their earlier labors.
All well and good if it were not widely feared – both at home and abroad – that the state of our democracy is in peril. That Donald Trump’s base will hold fast no matter what. That the previously centrist Republican Party has metamorphosed into a cult of MAGA loyalists. And that Trump will therefore win a second term.
Michelle Obama is right to be scared silly about what would happen if Trump won a second term. It is widely believed – and supported by the evidence in my soon to be published book, Leadership from Bad to Worse – he would without doubt be more erratic and extreme in the White House during his second term than he was during his first.
While in the last week Joe Biden seems finally to be going on offense, his approval ratings remain weak and his personal appearances less than inspiring. Moreover, the same applies to his running mate, Kamala Harris, who is performing no better than is he. What this means is that while it’s still early in the year, the outlook for never-Trumpers is, at least, worrisome. This upcoming presidential election is by no means in the bag for either of the top two candidates.
For Democrats and others concerned about the possibility of another Trump presidency this means they must step up. Leaders especially – and I don’t just mean political leaders – have a responsibility to make their voices heard, to reach out actively and even aggressively to the American people, to make sure that earlier this year they get the message and that later this year they get out and vote.
Barack and Michelle Obama are quintessential examples of leaders who have an obligation to lead. Not to stay on the sidelines but to enter the fray. The Obamas are, if you will, victims of their own success. Precisely because they are still stars – maybe she even more than he – they owe it to themselves, to their two daughters, and to the American people to shine their light on our political plight.