Learning about his life before he became a Senator in Illinois informs my opinion of him.
He was a total failure at the Woods foundation. The housing projects he "managed" were never worse off than during the period he was managing them.
You name something he did successfully before he started receiving national attention. Anything. Just name an Obama success story.
His success or failure before he became a full time politician means absolutely nothing, he was very successful at one thing getting elected to public office, so successful he got elected POTUS twice
You animosity towards him keeps you from seeing the obvious