When he cannot conquer the rooted prejudices of the people by reason and persuasion …(h)e will accommodate, as well as he can, his public arrangements to the confirmed habits and prejudices of the people; and will remedy as well as he can, theâ€inconveniencies†which may flow from the want of those regulations which the people are averse to submit to. When he cannot establish the right, he will not disdain to ameliorate the wrong; but like Solon, when he cannot establish the best system of laws, he will endeavour to establish the best that the people can bear.
(The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Part VI, Section II, Chapter II, paragraph 41.*)
this is a very interesting quote. it creates a really good illustration of how obama has governed.