Obama is one of the Left’s biggest allies. But that’s taken a drastic turn after his latest comments.
And Barack Obama just made a stunning admission about the state of the Harris campaign.
Former President Barack Obama voiced his concerns on Thursday about a significant lack of support for Vice President Kamala Harris among Black men, attributing the hesitation in part to her being a woman. While addressing a crowd at a “Black Voters for Harris” event in Pittsburgh, Obama, now 63, spoke candidly about the energy gap he perceives in Harris’ campaign compared to his own.
“We have yet to see the same kinds of energy and turnout in all corners of our neighborhoods and communities as we saw when I was running,” Obama remarked, highlighting the difference between past and present enthusiasm levels in the Black community. He specifically pointed out the gap as being “more pronounced with the brothers,” referring to Black men.
Calling out what he described as “reasons and excuses” for the lukewarm reception of Harris’ candidacy, Obama expressed frustration. “I’ve got a problem with that,” he emphasized, stating that part of the issue might stem from discomfort with the idea of a woman president. “You’re coming up with all kinds of reasons… Part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president.”
The former president also took aim at Black men who support Donald Trump, a growing trend reflected in recent polling data. Surveys indicate that more Black Americans, particularly Black men under 50, are considering voting for Trump in 2024 than in the previous election, with one poll showing 1 in 4 Black men leaning toward the former president. Obama denounced this shift, particularly when it comes to the perception that Trump’s tough, often divisive rhetoric represents “strength.”
“You’re thinking about sitting out or supporting somebody who has a history of denigrating you because you think that’s a sign of strength because that’s what being a man is? Putting women down? That’s not acceptable,” Obama stated, speaking out against what he called a misconception about masculinity.
At the rally, the former president was visibly passionate when addressing those who see Trump as the better candidate. “I’m sorry, gentlemen… I noticed this, especially with some men who seem to think Trump’s behavior pulling and putting people down is a sign of strength. And I am here to tell you that is not what real strength is,” he declared.
Obama further urged the crowd to support candidates who embody what he thinks is genuine leadership, saying, “[T]he good news is that you have candidates to vote for in this election that demonstrate that kind of care, who know what real strength looks like, who will set a good example and do the right thing.”
Though acknowledging the economic strain many families are feeling due to rising prices, Obama incorrectly attributed this largely to the COVID-19 pandemic instead of the failing economic policies of the Biden/Harris admin, adding that he understands why people might be frustrated and want to shake things up.
However, he firmly rejected the idea that Trump would be a beneficial change for working-class families. “What I cannot understand is why anybody would think that Donald Trump will shake things up in a way that is good for you, Pennsylvania.”
Comparing Trump to the late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, Obama remarked, “You’ve got the tweets in all caps, the ranting and raving about crazy conspiracy theory, the two-hour speeches — word salad — it’s like Fidel Castro, just on and on.”
However, not all attendees at the Harris rally agreed with Obama’s assessment. Reggie Jones, a vendor selling Harris merchandise at the event, offered a different perspective on why Black men might be hesitant to support Harris. “[It’s] because she locked a whole lot of us up as a prosecutor,” Jones said. He admitted that his involvement with the rally was purely business: “I’m just selling her stuff for the money.”
Other attendees echoed similar sentiments, including Salmata Alghali, who believes that men’s support for Trump comes from wanting something different. “[Harris] represents the same old thing… Trump is saying things that might sound ridiculous, [but] they are excited,” she said.
One undecided voter at the event, Na’een Akbar, was more concerned about Harris’ stance on foreign policy, citing her support for Israel as a key issue. “They support Israel no matter what it is, right or wrong. I can’t support her if she supports that,” Akbar stated.
Despite these mixed reactions, the rally drew a number of Harris supporters, including those too young to remember much of Obama’s presidency. Attendees like Ellie Laing, who recalled voting with her father for Obama when she was six, expressed enthusiasm for the former president’s presence, while others, such as teacher Pat Manion, hoped that Obama’s involvement could energize Harris’ base.
Manion, who brought his biracial pre-teen son to see Obama, noted the personal impact of the former president’s legacy, but also recognized the challenge of translating that nostalgia into political support for Harris. “Hopefully he’s going to get them out for Kamala,” he said.
It’s clear that the Harris campaign needs Barack Obama to rally for her as she continues to slip in the polls.
They’re getting desperate so that means they need heavy backup if they want to defeat Donald Trump this November.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
