Cornel West says Barack Obama did not have ‘the courage’ Joe Biden does President Joe Biden, right, with former President Barack Obama. (Photo source: Instagram [email protected]) Professor Cornel West heaped praise onto President Joe Biden for his progressive policies while simultaneously taking swipes at his former boss, Barack Obama, for allegedly lacking courage. During an interview on CNN International on Thursday afternoon, April 29, 2021, West likened Biden to former President Lyndon B. Johnson for tackling lightning-rod issues such as racial animus and police brutality. He also lauded Biden, 67, for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, demanding police reform, focusing on improvements to America’s infrastructure, and signing the American Rescue Plan.