Disappointed in Obama

[CalFione]

For the first time since he burst onto the scene in 2004, I am disappointed in Barack Obama.

He was a great President. Exactly what was needed in the wake of Bush.

He saved the American economy that was plummeting towards depression.

He saved the American Auto industry.

He got the greatest expansion of Healthcare coverage in 40 years passed through congress.

But his legacy and the country are at stake now. And he needs to fight for Joe, his VP who was there with him for all of it.

If Trump wins, everything Obama accomplished is forever wiped out. If Trump wins, Obama becomes the last legitimate President this nation ever has - as there will never again be a free and fair election.

Fight for Joe in SC, Barack. Clyburn is a great endorsement, but not the same.

Put your thumb on the scale, Barack. Joe was always there for you, be there for him now.

And save you legacy.

[RandiFan1290]

1. Welcome Back to DU

Last edited Mon Feb 24, 2020, 05:12 PM - Edit history (1)

and buh bye

[Cha]

7. What do you mean "welcome back"?

I see you post that to more than a few members.

[HarlanPepper]

25. It's a signal that the OP isn't one of the cool kids

You know, the ones who have tens of thousands of posts know all the lingo and run the show. It’s a big deal to them to signal those virtues. It’s 4th grade playground shit for people with not a lot going on.

[RandiFan1290]

40. Awww

Are you mad that the OP is now banned for trolling?




They disrupted poorly

[HarlanPepper]

42. What are you on about?

[RandiFan1290]

43. lol

[HarlanPepper]

45. Is mad a new synonym for "mockery"?

[tritsofme]

28. OP is now PPR'd.

[RandiFan1290]

41. What a shock!

[Moderateguy]

31. Obama has to signify the unity of the Democratic Party

This means that he cannot endorse until a nominee is chosen. He will endorse that nominee at that point

[Autumn]

38. It was a quick 8 days

[RandiFan1290]

44. lol

[ChubbyStar]

48. That was such a short visit

Maybe he smelled funny?

[hlthe2b]

2. I'm sure this is painful and difficult for Obama to hold back.

I suspect if he speaks out beforehand, it will backfire, but I understand the urge to see him do so.

[democrattotheend]

20. I agree

I think it's possible but not guaranteed that the moderate wing will consolidate around a candidate if Obama endorses. If it doesn't work, then he loses the ability to be a unifying figure at the end of the process. From what I've read, he also feels pretty strongly that people should get the chance to vote before he wades into it. I can respect that.

[thesquanderer]

26. Yup, it could easily backfire.

Imagine he endorsed Joe today, and Joe still didn't make it past Super Thursday. What a waste of capital, and arguably even diminishes the value of the future support he gives to the eventual winner. "My fellow Democrats, I didn't want him either, but we have to get behind Bernie Sanders." He needs to maintain his position as someone who can help unite the party in the end. It's harder to do that if your earlier actions were divisive... which a Biden endorsement would be.

There are good reasons that ex-Presidents just don't do this.

[JonLP24]

3. It may be just my opinion

but I think it is good Obama is staying out of this primary considering how divisive it has been. I'm sure Obama will come out strong for whoever wins the nomination.

[tecelote]

4. Hope and Change!

We need a hard left turn.

Climate change and income inequality need to be the focus today or our children, who are already inheriting a mess, will be in dire straights by the time they are my age.

[Cha]

8. No we don't.. we need a leader who is a uniter and

will help down ticket Dems.

[JudyM]

29. He's uniting plenty of those who want to be united, it seems.

Some don’t want to unite if the framework isn’t to their liking. But the framework seems to be shifting, Cha... so many voters don’t identify with a particular party as a litmus test this time around, and we need them all to defeat trump.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. I'm not

With the massive shift in population and the death of the old dominant culture -

He will be heralded as the Founder of the New America in 100 years.

His legacy will remain and be a beacon of Tolerance and Kindness for the other.

[texasfiddler]

6. Obama is not endorsing him for some reason

Is he worried he will add fuel to the Republican - Bernie vote that Limbaugh/Trump has called for in the past? Who knows.

[Happy Hoosier]

22. I think he sees himself as having a duty to stay out of the primary NT

[Locrian]

9. obama wanted Harris...

And was "sorta" warming to Warren as the compromise to Bernie.
He doesn't think Joe is electable.

[blue-wave]

10. Hmmm

Because you talk to Obama every day? Sounds like pure conjecture to me.

[Locrian]

17. uh, yeah.... of course it is. Every post on DU is pure conjecture. - n/t

[Tommy_Carcetti]

11. Former Presidents typically don't get involved in primary battles

I don’t know of a time where one actively campaigned for a candidate before the nomination was clinched.

[Tarc]

12. Presidents have historically demurred on the issue of primary endorsements

Why Presidents Wait to Endorse Their Successors

Presidents hold off on endorsing a candidate in an effort to stay above the day-to-day politics of the primaries.

“We view presidents as head of their parties,” Perry said. “That may not mean very much anymore, but it’s at the very least symbolic.”

Presidents may also wait now to avoid backing the wrong horse in a contested primary, in order to stay in the good graces of the eventual nominee. But once they do endorse, they are more active campaigners when they have a personal investment in their successor.

Just because the S.S. Biden is taking on water, doesn't mean Obama is or should break tradition.

[redqueen]

13. 1. Biden has already tried this 3x and lost each time. Why did people expect different?

Because he was a VP? Makes no sense to me...

2. Former presidents don't endorse before the primary is over
3.

[Skya Rhen]

14. For this first time, I am disappointed too. Biden has always put his neck on the line for Obama.

I see nothing in return.

[denem]

16. When Obama chose Biden as VP - Joe promised not to run again.

Should Obama be disappointed in Biden?

[thesquanderer]

23. When did Biden put his neck on the line? n/t

[SharonClark]

34. I'd like to know that as well.

[gollygee]

15. I disagree

It's important that, when we have a candidate, Obama gives 100% to that candidate. We can't afford to have any in-party bickering about who Obama really wanted to be the candidate. I think he's doing the right thing.

[uponit7771]

18. No

[treestar]

19. President Obama respects the rules

He is not going to endorse a primary candidate. He will support the nominee.

[bluestarone]

21. In my mind i feel Obama already made his feelings known!

He selected him Vice President!!! THAT'S good enough for me!! i CAN read between the lines on this!! Joe's our man!!!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

24. If he endorses Joe and Joe loses it's a repudiation of him and that's a risk he's unwilling to take.

I can't blame him.

[Skya Rhen]

27. So Obama is not putting his neck on the line and it's his right to do so. My eyes have been opened.

[Yavin4]

30. When Obama first ran for the Democratic nomination, he defeated the Clinton machine

which was formidable at the time.

He did it by out-working and out-organizing that machine. He didn't need a big name endorsement to save him.

[squirecam]

36. Obama got the biggest name endorsement at the time.

And it meant quite a lot.

http://content.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1707700,00.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/bill-clinton-told-ted-kennedy-obama-coffee-years-game-change-article-1.197492

[Yavin4]

39. Oh Please. The Kennedy name was not that big in 2008.

Come on man.

[karynnj]

49. Obama got a huge lift that he needed going into super tuesday

That year, 23 states voted then and it was a barrier for everyone but HRC who already had near 100 percent name recognition. Kerry's endorsement before SC and Ted and Caroline Kennedy after SC both gave Obama great press and helped get some who worried about Obama being young and less experienced. Their endorsements addressed that. The two of them were party elders on the left vs the Clinton wing.

[Tweedy]

32. Really bad notion

And if former Vice President Biden loses after Barack Obama jumps all in for him, what then?

This election is critically important exactly as you say.

We need everybody on board with our nominee. I don't disagree that sometimes it does not look as though Senator Sanders understands that with his absurd false equivalency.

Yet, Barack Obama as the most liked politician out there can bridge divides no-one else can. He cannot do that nearly as effectively if he puts his hand on the scale during these primaries.

I respect Joe Biden a great deal. It does confuse me a bit that his campaign has not pushed out his excellent record.

Where are the stories about the billions in stimulus money Joe managed so successfully? What a contrast to this president's hand in the taxpayer cookie jar.

[cherryinpa]

33. CalFione

I agree with 99% of what you post, but look at the dangers of Obama taking a position.

If it falls on the wrong side he discredits himself and his abillity to heal future divisions.

He's taken the right decision and as much as I dont like the outcome, in the longer run it will be better for the party.

[Skya Rhen]

35. He doesn't have to endorse but at the least he can reiterate that he's not endorsing anyone which

would negate that misleading ad that Bloomberg airs every hour.

I strongly believe that this one ad propelled him to top tier in this race, thereby dividing the central lane and making it easier for Bernie to win. Obama can do something as innocuous as that to at least help save his own legacy.

[bluewater]

46. +1000

So true.

[Autumn]

37. Finally. That was a fast 8 days.