In a scathing indictment, Maureen Dowd points out that as president, Barack Obama didn’t try hard enough on things we needed: stimulus for the everyman and reduced inequality. Post-presidency, he is trying too hard on things we don’t need: Netflix deals, celebrity worship and ostentatious displays of wealth.

Obama was a cool cat as a candidate in 2008, but after he won, he grew increasingly lofty. Now he’s so far above the ground, he doesn’t know what’s cool. The best example: Many of those who helped Obama become the first African American president and then becoming uber rich, were disinvited from his party.

The big bash crystallized the caricature of the Democratic Party that Joe Biden had to fight against in order to get elected: an orgy of the 1% — private jets, Martha’s Vineyard, limousine liberals and Hollywood whoring.

It is dispiriting to see the former president embrace celebrity culture when the nation faces so many challenges to equality and justice. Will ostentatious luxury during a time of widespread suffering be the enduring image of his post-presidential life?

The halo has clearly disappeared.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/14/opinion/barack-obama-birthday.html