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Obama was asked in his final news conference as President about race relations in the US, saying that "inequality" was what concerns him most.

"I worry about inequality because I think if we are not investing in making sure everybody plays a role in this economy, the economy will not grow as fast, and I think it will also lead to further and further separation between us as Americans," Obama said. "Not just along racial lines -- here are a whole lot of folks who voted for (President-elect Donald) Trump because they feel left behind. ... You don't want to have an America in which a very small sliver of people is doing very well and everybody else is fighting for scraps, because that's oftentimes when racial divisions get magnified."

He mentioned in particular access to voting as a key concern of his -- nothing that the oft-cited explanation for restrictive voting laws of widespread fraud is inaccurate.

"This is something that has constantly been disproved," Obama said. "This is fake news."

Obama also said the premise that millions of Americans were trying to vote but ineligible was the opposite of reality.

"We have a whole country of people who are eligible to vote who don't vote," Obama said. "And so the whole idea that we put in place a bunch of barriers to people voting doesn't make sense."

He added that limits to voting rights "traces directly back to Jim Crow and the legacy of slavery."

The outgoing President is expected to take an active interest in issues of voting as he leaves office. His former attorney general, Eric Holder, is chairing a new Democratic organization aimed to engage in the next redistricting cycle to combat another issue Obama mentioned Wednesday -- gerrymandering.

Obama said earlier in the news conference that he views a difference between normal political back-and-forth and issues where "our core values may be at stake," saying the latter may prompt him to speak out.

"I'd put in that category: if I saw systematic discrimination being ratified in some fashion," Obama said. "I'd put in that category explicit or functional obstacles to people being able to vote, to exercise their franchise. I'd put in that category institutional efforts to silence dissent or the press. And for me, at least, I would put in that category efforts to round up kids who have grown up here and for all practical purposes are American kids and send them someplace else."

The term "fake news" began as a way to identify inaccurate propaganda that rose during the election that purported to be legitimate media. It has also since been used by both sides of the political spectrum to malign the other or to express disagreement.

The expert analysis on voting has found that actual instances of voter fraud are extremely low, a small handful among millions of votes cast in an election. Supporters of measures designed to combat voting fraud have cited studies that found the potential for fraud is much greater.

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Obama calls voter fraud fears 'fake news' - CNN

Then-Senator Barack Obama speaks as rain falls during a rally at Widener University in Chester, Penn. in October 2008. Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

Then-Senator Barack Obama speaks as rain falls during a rally at Widener University in Chester, Penn. in October 2008.

My whole life, I've dreamed of having a home theater. But those are expensive, so instead I did it on the cheap. I got a projector off Craigslist, went to the hardware store and bought some wood to build a frame, then stretched a white canvas over it and stapled it tight.

I'm really proud of the final product it's not perfect, but it's pretty good for an English teacher. Now my family and I all sit and watch it, this screen. Between movies, TV shows and games, we spent the whole winter break looking at my creation.

The funny thing is, we're not actually watching the screen itself. Instead, we're watching the images projected onto it. The things we see have nothing to do with its fabric; they're being cast there, from a gray box hidden on the back of the ceiling. When the lights go on, there's the screen again, just an empty, inert canvas.

I keep thinking of my projector and screen when I think of President Obama in the moment both how he affected the way I look at the world, and how others projected their worldview onto him.

When I first noticed Obama on the stage of the 2004 DNC convention, I saw, with great pride, someone of my own tribe. He was black and mixed like me, but he was also a gifted orator with vision. I was proud that he was even there.

Those who see people like themselves in power all the time don't understand that feeling. They take it for granted. The rest of us don't: It's huge. Trust me.

Mat Johnson is the author of the novels Loving Day and Pym. He teaches at the University of Houston's creative writing program. Meera Bowman Johnson hide caption

Mat Johnson is the author of the novels Loving Day and Pym. He teaches at the University of Houston's creative writing program.

When Obama ran for president and unexpectedly won the Iowa caucus, I was even prouder. But I also didn't think he could win the whole thing, because the America I saw, the one I grew up seeing, was far too racist to ever let that happen.

When Obama did win, my reaction went beyond pride. I was shook. Now I could see this other, more optimistic version of America. It was the one that Obama imagined, the one he projected for us all to see.

After his inauguration, my wife and I drove from Houston back to Philly, to see our family, traveling through the red clay of the deep South. Before the trip, I never knew how beautiful the South was, the way the sun shone down through the Spanish moss of those old trees. I'd been through the South before, but I'd never seen it without thinking about slavery and about the century of racial injustice that followed slavery.

While that history wasn't erased, my wife and I, both the descendants of slaves, were struck with a new, amazing feeling of belonging. With our three small kids in our air-conditioned mini-van, we passed through the very counties where our ancestors lived in bondage. Our wheels spun over the very soil our relatives were forced to toil. But now we, too, were Americans. We were Americans with full membership in a way that we never felt before.

It was the same nation it'd always been, but it was projected through Obama's eyes. I felt like I could see the beauty of America clearer.

For me, Obama was the projector ... he projected a new, beautiful vision of America.

Mat Johnson

I wanted to say that: That for me, Obama was the projector, that he projected a new, beautiful vision of America. Because for most of his presidency, I saw him being used by the majority of white America as the opposite. He was their screen, a canvas on which they cast their own tribal anxiety, their own subconscious racial baggage, until they couldn't see the real man even if they wanted to.

I'll say this for President Obama: We went into his administration talking about a "post-racial America." We went out of his administration talking about a "post-factual" America. Nothing says you've won the argument like your opponent claiming facts don't matter.

It's almost funny now, all the post-racial talk. When Obama was first elected, some white folks seemed to think it was proof that racism was over, that everyone could just shut up about it now. Others soon complained that Obama was making race relations worse, that his blackness made white America a majority of whom didn't vote for him mad as hell.

Some cast onto him the image of the "magic Negro savior," the one foretold in all those Morgan Freeman movies. Conservative media spent years projecting onto him their fear of the radical black man out for vengeance, a modern day Nat Turner. Obama was going to rob them of their civil liberties, take away their guns, even institute Sharia law.

So much was projected onto President Obama God, devil and everything in between. How the world saw him didn't tell you much about him, but it told you a lot about who was doing the projecting.

I didn't always agree with Obama when he was president. Not domestically, not internationally. But I always respected and will always respect that man. And I will be extremely thankful for what he stood for, for what he meant to my family and for the America that he allowed all of us to see.

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Looking Back With Gratitude On Obama, And His Optimistic Vision Of America - NPR

Washington Post

President Obama's Last Chance to Show Mercy New York Times President Obama did the right thing in granting clemency to Chelsea Manning, who was sentenced to 35 years in prison for leaking huge amounts of classified information about American diplomatic and military activities in 2010. Ms. Manning, who has ... In Manning clemency call, Obama sought to reduce sentence viewed as 'nuts'Washington Post Key moments from Obama's final news conferencePolitico Watch Video: Obama defends decision to commute Manning's sentencePBS NewsHour Fox News -USA TODAY -Reuters all 1,462 news articles »

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President Obama's Last Chance to Show Mercy - New York Times

A last-ditch effort for President Obama to try and punch Merrick Garland through to the Supreme Court to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia is unlikely.

A new Congress starts at noon Tuesday and theres no active chatter that the Obama administration has anything in the works or is even contemplating a bizarre, extra-Constitutional power play. If nothing else, the concept is gaining attention in various legal, parliamentary and journalistic salons.

There will be a five minute window between when the 114th Congress adjourns and when the 115th Congress convenes. This little window of opportunity could give Obama the unprecedented opportunity to make an intersession recess appointment, bypass the traditional confirmation process and install Garland on the Supreme Court.

In 2014, the High Court ruled that the executive branch of government cant tell the legislative branch of government what it believes constitutes a Congressional recess. However, its clear that Congress is out of session between the 114th and 115th Congresses.

President Teddy Roosevelt seized the short period between the two Congresses to make 168 appointments to various executive branch and judicial posts widely viewed as a remarkable power grab.

The possibility of a Roosevelt-esque power play would be seen as foolish from a strategic standpoint, according to one Senate GOP leadership aide.

"They would trade a short-term on SCOTUS, for a full-time, lifetime tenured seat on the DC Circuit. And that's assuming that SCOTUS would let it stand, the aide told Fox News.

Thats a reference to the fact that recess appointments only last for a short period. Whereas, Garland is currently serving on arguably the most important court, save for the Supreme Court. And it is a lifetime opportunity unless Garland were to give it up for a chance on the higher court for a couple years. In other words, as a recess appointment, Garland would have to face Senate confirmation at some point.

Also, incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, is a dealmaker. He has to work with the GOP majority. Schumer must also protect vulnerable Senate Democrats facing tough reelections this year. If the Democrats pull the Garland trick, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would shut off the tap to the Democrats.

A stunt like this with Garland would be the thermonuclear option.

Additionally, a move like this is something that no one on Capitol Hill is talking about. Its just not a topic of conversation. For their part, Senate Democrats are busy girding for heating confirmation battles as President-elect Trump prepares to take office.

As for the legal ramifications, while there are experts who say such an "intersession" recess appointment could be legal, it's still quite arguable.

Look back at the 2014 Supreme Court decision on recess appointments.

The High Court struck down a series of Obama appointments to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). It was a victory for the Senate GOP which brought the case.

As a result, the Republican-run Senate has been very careful to hold "pro-forma" sessions every few days (where the Senate literally gavels in and gavels out after 20 to 30 seconds) to leave no gap under which a recess appointment could be valid. The NLRB case indicated that only if the Senate were gone for more than ten days could an administration consider the Senate as being "on recess." Thus, only then would a "recess appointment" be in order.

That said, the Supreme Court's NLRB decision left a murky area when it comes to the brief period in between sessions of Congress. Regardless, the appointment would be challenged and tied up in the courts.

Fox News Chad Pergram and Kara Rowland contributed to this report.

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Last chance for Obama to sneak in Garland to the Supreme ...

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January 2017 will definitely see an onslaught of A-list tourists at the White House. But theyre not coming for the inauguration.

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will host a goodbye party for close friends and major donors Friday, according to a person with knowledge of the marquee affair. The Obamas themselves confirmed during an interview with People Magazine last month that theyd have one final bash at the White House. The president told a young fan that theyd have a grown up party before packing their bags.

Of course, theres no official word from the White House yet. Typically the Obama administration keeps a tight lid on celebration details until the 11th hour, releasing a just-the-facts statement the day of the event. But the big names thought to be on the guest list have been slowly trickling out this week.

Old standbys such as singer Usher and actorSamuel L. Jackson will most likely be there, according to another person with knowledge of the invitees. Also currently practicing their sweet moves aremedia titan Oprah Winfrey, whosnagged an exit interview with the first lady last monthon her fellow invitee and bestie Gayle Kings network CBS; actor Bradley Cooper, who showed up to the French state dinnersans underpants; Beyonc, who sang at both of Obamas inaugurations, and her husband, rapper Jay Z, are both whispered to be performing. Were also hearing that Stevie Wonder, who has performed at the White House, directorJ.J. Abrams and director George Lucas make the list.

If this star-studded shindig follows the traditional Obama script for private parties, the first couple will be footing the billthemselves as they did for the Prince concert in 2015. Cell phones will be confiscated at the White House security gate and social media crumbs will be few. But afterward, tales of the presidents dance moves and sore feet will make the late-night talk show rounds.

The White House party will act as the kickoff of a goodbye tour of sorts for President Obama, who will head to Chicago todeliver a farewell addressJan. 10.

First lady Michelle Obama sat down with Oprah Winfrey at the White House to discuss her husband's legacy in the wake of Donald Trump's election victory. (Reuters)

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President Obama to host a goodbye party at the White House on ...