Obama's Re-Emergence: Calling on the "Brothas" to Fall in Line
Obama's recent remarks suggest a troubling approach to Black male voters.
Post-presidency, Barack Obama’s modus operandi has often involved shaming voters who express dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party, while simultaneously weaponizing identity as a tool to deflect legitimate concerns. He re-emerged last week, this time hitting the campaign trail for VP Harris, delivering a rather insulting and disparaging message directed at Black men. Obama believes Black men are hesitant to support Harris because they are not feeling the idea of having a woman as president.
Hmm, okay, Barack. The charge of sexism is a serious matter. Is he correct in thinking that Black men aren’t backing VP Harris because they don’t want a woman in the presidency? What we do know is that in 2016, 80% of Black men voted for Clinton, while only 13% supported Donald Trump, highlighting how Black men responded when given the opportunity to support a woman presidential candidate.
Meanwhile, Trump won the white women’s vote twice. Ultimately, who's really keeping women from leadership?
In 2016, exit polls by CNN and Edison Research showed that 52% of white women voted for Trump, while Clinton got 43%. In 2020, Trump increased his share to 55%, with Biden getting 44%. So, why is there no scolding of white women? Where are the serious discussions addressing their voting behavior? Such discussions are glaringly absent in big media, which has a vested interest in courting the white female vote. Black men, and Black voters in general, are expected to fall in and vote for whoever the party elevates.
Former President Obama’s remarks reveal a mindset of entitlement, as though he owns your vote. To reduce the concerns of all Black men to something so trivial is not only shameful but ironic. After all, it was Obama (a Black man) that didn’t want Kamala to be the presidential nominee. If you don’t remember or weren’t aware, the former president was late in endorsing VP Harris. He did not believe she could win against Trump, a sentiment he likely still harbors. His initial response after Biden exited the race, Obama remarked, “But I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges”.
Obama, along with Nancy Pelosi and other top party leaders, pushed for an open process at the DNC where Democratic delegates—not the general public—would vote for the next presidential nominee. Obama wasn’t expecting an immediate endorsement from Biden for VP Harris. While Obama may no longer be president, he remains one of the king makers within the Democratic Party. Not getting his way left him furious, as his influence typically ensures decisions align with his preferences.
Mr. Obama, let’s get straight to the point: are you harboring sexism in your heart? Did the notion of a woman leading this nation make you uneasy? Obviously, those aren’t the reasons he hesitated to endorse Kamala as the nominee. However, he knew that she would struggle to demonstrate the competence needed for the role. Obama is highly intelligent and possesses exceptional political instincts; he understood that she would not be effective at the top of the ticket.
Perhaps, Mr. Obama, Black men, Black people, and all people are searching for alternatives because they’re grappling with the harsh realities of life—rent, gas, groceries—all of it weighing them down as they live paycheck to paycheck. It’s not just about political games; it’s about their hard-earned tax dollars being funneled into foreign affairs that do nothing to uplift them or this nation.
Americans are waking up, and they're demanding leaders who truly reflect their needs. Black men have the power, the agency, to vote for whomever they choose—or not vote at all. Whether it’s Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Green, Independent, or staying home, that's their right. No one can dictate that decision because it’s about their lives, their struggles, and their needs.