In a recent turn of events, former President Barack Obama has sparked outrage among a section of African American men following his controversial remarks.
Obama suggested that those who do not support Vice President Kamala Harris are sexist, a claim that has not sat well with the demographic in question.
During a campaign stop in Pittsburgh, as reported by the Daily Mail, Obama addressed his supporters, expressing his concern over the apparent lack of enthusiasm for Harris, particularly among African American men. He stated, "You're thinking about sitting out or supporting somebody who has a history of denigrating you, because you think thats a sign of strength, because that's what being a man is? Putting women down? Thats not acceptable."
However, his comments were met with backlash from African American men on social media, who accused the former president of belittling them for not supporting Harris. Former State Representative of Georgia, Vernon Jones, criticized Obama, saying he had been deployed by the Democratic Party to 'whip black men back on the plantation to vote Democrat'.
Rob Smith, a Republican social media personality, questioned Obama's absence over the past four years. He said, "Barack Obama basically trotting him out to try to lecture black men because we are apparently not excited enough to vote for Kamala Harris is crazy because where has this man been at for the past four years?" Smith also pointed out that neither Harris nor Obama were raised like the majority of African American men and women in the country, hinting at their privileged backgrounds.
Jones also criticized Obama's approach, stating, "As a black man, he did everything but address us. What he did, he berated black men, he rebuked black men. He even scolded black men." He further added that black men are not obliged to vote for Harris, whom he referred to as 'madam lock-up-a-brother Kamala Harris because that's her record.' Jones also highlighted issues such as inflation, high interest rates, and 'open borders' that he believes are representative of the Biden-Harris presidential term.
The outrage extended to other African American men on social media. One man stated, "I don't know about y'all but I think that my ancestors fought far too hard for my right to vote in this country for me to support someone just because they look like me." Another group of young men responded to Obama's comments with defiance, stating, "We ain't your brother, brother!"
Media personalities have also weighed in on the issue, suggesting that Obama's comments could potentially harm Harris's campaign, which has largely avoided discussions on gender and race. Columnist Michael Harriot expressed his concern, stating, "If I, and I am, interested in getting Kamala Harris elected then I am upset because he hurt the thing, the strategy, she was employing to win."
Megyn Kelly, commenting on the situation, said, "There are a lot of people in the country who are drawn to Trump right now, notwithstanding his problematic traits, because they think their lives will improve under him, they think the economy will be better under him and they have four years of experiencing it to inform that opinion."
Obama's comments were made in response to reports suggesting that there was lower enthusiasm for Harris compared to his own candidacy, and that some African American men were considering not voting in the election. He said, "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. Now, I also want to say that seems to be more pronounced with the brothers."
Media reports have indicated that African American male voters are a weak spot for Harris, with a quarter of young black men reportedly supporting Trump. This could potentially further decrease Harris's support. As the political landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact the future of the Biden-Harris administration and the Democratic Party at large.
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