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Many people chose not to attend President Donald Trump’s second inauguration on January 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. I’ve heard all the given reasons and explanations regarding the messaging. I even received a text message that read: “Make history. Boycott Inauguration Day and turn your TV off at 12 o’clock.” People, my people, my people!Seriously, here’s the deal. One of my dearest friends, someone I’ve known for all my adult life, said to me, “The election of Donald Trump is what America wanted, along with everything that comes with him and surrounds him. Nonetheless, he is the president.”President Biden, despite having strong words to say about Trump, did his job and met with him to ensure a smooth transition because it was about the country, not personal feelings.
My heart feels heavy as we collectively choose to “go low.” What happened to the inspirational advice, “When they go low, we go high”? What happened to that ideology, especially for those who are active participants in the American government? This includes the spouses of elected officials. This is serious business! We cannot afford to join those who play in the mud and wallow in it. We just can’t. Protocol and decorum are essential requirements for being a member of the government, from the top down. And then there’s the matter of manners. Did your mother not train you? We know these things—or do we ignore them, leave what we know at the door, and behave badly? Not being in the room is more harmful than showing up.
What I do know is this: for all the hatred spewed toward candidate Obama, every Republican senator and representative in Congress attended President Barack Obama’s first inauguration. If for no other reason than to represent their constituents, elected officials need to show up. Sadly, I’ve heard people celebrating and boasting when they said, with pride, that Michelle Obama didn’t attend Trump’s inauguration. Many went as far as to say, “She shouldn’t have to go if she doesn’t want to. After all, the Republicans were horrible to Obama during his presidency.” There’s some truth in that, but still—you must straighten your backbone and handle it.I’m old school, and I believe that as an elected official, you do what is expected of you. That’s that! We can’t afford to half-step on this. Not only are our children watching and listening, but so are our competitors and enemies. They’re taking notes.
Our innermost thoughts about certain things should never be worn on our sleeves, especially regarding our opponents. Listening, observing, and learning what the opposition’s intentions are is crucial to better prepare your strategy for working with them on behalf of your constituents.There is evidence that on the evening of Obama’s first inauguration, January 20, 2009, a group of Republican congressional leaders and strategists gathered to discuss their strategy for opposing his administration. This meeting took place at the Caucus Room, a high-end restaurant in Washington, D.C.The reported goal of this meeting was as audacious as it was calculated: to oppose President Obama’s legislative agenda at every turn. The group reportedly agreed to obstruct Obama’s policies—even those they might ordinarily support—to politically weaken his administration and pave the way for Republican victories in the 2010 midterm elections.The results of this strategy became glaringly clear during Obama’s first term. Republicans in Congress voted as a unified bloc against key legislation, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the stimulus package, even as the country grappled with the Great Recession.
Their resistance extended beyond legislation, with Mitch McConnell famously stating in 2010 that "The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president." This sentiment encapsulated the party’s approach: prioritize political gains over bipartisan collaboration.One of the most consequential outcomes of this strategy was the blocking of Obama’s 2016 Supreme Court nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to replace Justice Antonin Scalia. McConnell led the effort, refusing to even hold hearings on the nomination. McConnell justified this unprecedented move by claiming it was a "long-standing tradition" not to confirm Supreme Court nominees in a presidential election year. This obstruction not only denied Obama the opportunity to shape the Court but also set the stage for Republicans to secure a conservative majority when President Trump filled the vacancy.Thus, that post-inauguration meeting is often cited as a pivotal moment in the intensification of partisan polarization in Washington, D.C. The decision to prioritize obstruction over bipartisan cooperation contributed to legislative gridlock and profoundly shaped the political dynamics of Obama’s presidency.While not all Republican congressional members were present at this meeting, it underscores the coordinated effort among GOP leaders to resist Obama’s agenda.
My hope, with an open mind, is that we remain active and engaged in the processes of government—speaking our minds intelligently, staying informed, being in the room, and working with our elected officials to represent our desired outcomes while finding ways to reach across the aisle.Moving America forward toward a more perfect union should always be our shared goal.
Visionary Kai EL´ Zabar has worked as CEO of arts organizations and as editor, writer and multimedia consultant accumulating a significant number of years in experience as an executive, journalist,publisher, public relations, media training, marketing, internal and external communications. Kai currently continues her life’s work as Editor-in-Chief Of Chicago News Weekly where she has resumed her column, “E NOTES.” She is ecstatic to be in the position to grace Chicago and the world with a publication that articulates the Black voice.