THIS IS WHAT A REAL PRESIDENT SOUNDS LIKE
Obama Delivers Hard-Hitting Speech Attacking Trump – And Anyone Who Doesn’t Vote
Former President Barack Obama delivered a hard-hitting speech Friday afternoon attacking President Donald Trump by name, and chastising those who enable him, on both sides, including, especially, those who do not bother to vote.
“This is not normal. These are extraordinary times, and they’re dangerous times,” President Obama said. “But here’s the good news. In two months we have the chance, not the certainty, but the chance to restore some semblance of sanity to our politics.”
The two-term Democrat who took America from the brink of financial catastrophe to a well-running economy while improving the civil rights of many Americans received cheers and a rousing ovation after speaking to students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was at the school to receive an award in ethics in government, but took the opportunity to reveal his midterm strategies for the Democrats.
And departing from his usual deference to tradition, the former president mentioned his successor by name, as he attacked him.
“It did not start with Donald Trump. He is a symptom, not the cause,” Obama told students, noting Trump counts on fear and anger.
Obama mentions Trump by name!
“He’s just capitalizing on resentments that politicians have been fanning for years, a fear and anger that’s rooted in our past but it’s also born out of the enormous upheavals that have taken place in your brief lifetimes.” pic.twitter.com/fmoaPfCiHu
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 7, 2018
President Obama tried to build bridges while also reminding listeners that the Trump administration is responsible for the deaths of nearly 3000 Americans in Puerto Rico:
Former Pres. Obama: “I know there are Republicans who believe government should only perform a few minimal functions, but that one of those functions should be making sure nearly 3,000 Americans don’t die in a hurricane.” https://t.co/DPtImezAWQ pic.twitter.com/M89gmPK2FJ
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) September 7, 2018
And he attacked bullies, discrimination, and neo-Nazi supporters.
“We are Americans, we’re supposed to stand up to bullies, not follow them. We’re supposed to stand up to discrimination. And we’re sure as heck supposed to stand up clearly and unequivocally to Nazi sympathizers,” President Obama said, to applause. “How hard can that be, saying that Nazis are bad?”
President Obama calling out Trump on Charlottesville: “We’re supposed to stand up to discrimination. And we’re sure as heck supposed to stand up clearly and unequivocally to Nazi sympathizers. How hard can that be, saying that Nazis are bad?”pic.twitter.com/ptWGZfKdTo
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) September 7, 2018
And he urged students to vote for actual gun reform:
OBAMA: “If you’re tired of politicians who offer nothing but thoughts & prayers after a mass shooting, you’ve got to do what Parkland kids are doing. Some of them aren’t even eligible to vote yet. They’re out there working to change minds & registering people…you gotta vote!” pic.twitter.com/MR0xCNwPZn
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 7, 2018
He also did not shy away from scolding millennials for not voting – many, he said, out of apathy.
OBAMA: “In the last midterm elections in ’14, fewer than 1 in 5 young people voted. 1 in 5! Not 2 or 3… Is it any wonder this Congress doesn’t reflect your values & priorities? Are you surprised by that? The whole project of self-govt only works if everybody does their part.” pic.twitter.com/3sRuGczqFe
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 7, 2018
The biggest threat to democracy, Obama told students, is cynicism.
OBAMA: “In the end, the threat to our democracy doesn’t just come from Donald Trump or the current batch of Republicans in Congress or too much compromise from Democrats or Russian hacking. The biggest threat to our democracy is indifference. The biggest threat is cynicism.” pic.twitter.com/5R5ck7QYpo
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 7, 2018
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