THANK YOU, OBAMA!The "women in our lives have been getting our backs this entire time," [View all]
https://apple.news/AZ4I-LLRiRAyGbmJ-k09XWg
VP Harris needs this support so badly!
During an unannounced stop at a campaign field office in Pittsburgh, which came just hours before he was set to appear at his first campaign rally for Harris, Obama said he wanted to speak some truths and address Black men specifically, making his most stark and direct remarks about their hesitancy in supporting Harris to date.
My understanding, based on reports Im getting from campaigns and communities, is that we have not yet seen the same kinds of energy and turnout in all quarters of our neighborhoods and communities as we saw when I was running, Obama said, adding that it seems to be more pronounced with the brothers.
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On the one hand, you have somebody who grew up like you, knows you, went to college with you, understands the struggles and pain and joy that comes from those experience, Obama said, ticking off a list of Harriss policy proposals. In Trump, he added, you have someone who has consistently shown disregard, not just for the communities, but for you as a person, Obama said. And you are thinking about sitting out?
The former president then directly addressed what he thought might be contributing to the soft support among Black men: some mens discomfort with the idea of electing the first female president.
And youre coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses, Ive got a problem with that, he said. Because part of it makes me think and Im speaking to men directly part of it makes me think that, well, you just arent feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and youre coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for that.
Obamas comments created a remarkable moment: The nations first Black president urging other Black men to rally behind potentially the first female president, who is a woman of color, amid suggestions that the voting bloc is showing a notable lack of enthusiasm for her candidacy. Harris is Black and Indian American.
The women in our lives have been getting our backs this entire time, Obama said. When we get in trouble and the system isnt working for us, theyre the ones out there marching and protesting. And now, youre thinking about sitting out or supporting somebody who has a history of denigrating you, because you think thats a sign of strength, because thats what being a man is? Putting women down? Thats not acceptable.