Amidst the ongoing political turmoil, some liberals are reportedly calling for former President Barack Obama to take a more active role in the current political landscape.
They accuse him of relinquishing his influential platform during President Donald Trump's second term.
Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Institute, expressed his disappointment to The Atlantic, stating, "There are many grandmas and Rachel Maddow viewers who have been more vocal in this moment than Barack Obama has." Obama, who had actively campaigned for former President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, has largely remained silent since Trump's victory. This silence, according to Green, is disheartening. "It is heartbreaking," Green said, "to see him sacrificing that megaphone when nobody else quite has it."
At an event in New York in April, Obama criticized the Trump administration for attempting to dismantle the post-World War II international order. He suggested that sacrifice might be necessary to counteract Trump's actions. "It has been easy during most of our lifetimes to say you are a progressive, or say you are for social justice, or say you are for free speech, and not have to pay a price for it And now were in one of those moments when its not enough just to say youre for something. You may actually have to do something and possibly sacrifice a little bit," Obama said.
Democratic media consultant Tracy Sefl echoed Green's sentiments, urging Obama to take a more active role. "Should Obama get out and do more? Yes, please," Sefl told The Atlantic. "Help us," she pleaded. "Were sinking over here."
According to Fox News, the Obama Foundation did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Obama, however, did voice his support for Harvard's stand against the Trump administration in a social media post in April.
Eric Schultz, an adviser to Obama, explained to The Atlantic that the former president is selective about the issues he addresses. "We try to preserve his voice so that when he does speak, it has impact," Schultz said. "There is a dilution factor that were very aware of."
Eric Holder, Obama's former Attorney General, argued that Obama has been opposing Trump, but warned Democrats against "regularizing" him. "Should he do more? Everybody can have their opinions," Holder said. "The one thing that always kind of pisses me off is when people say hes not out there, or that hes not doing things, that hes just retired, and we never hear from him. If you f------ look, folks, you would see that hes out there."
Jon Favreau, a former Obama speechwriter, suggested that the Democratic Party needed new leadership. However, he conceded that if Trump attempted to run for a third term, he would implore Obama to return from retirement. "The party needs new rising stars, and they need the room to figure out how to meet this moment, just like Obama figured out how to meet the moment 20 years ago," he said. "Unless, of course, Trump tries to run for a third term, in which case Ill be begging Obama to come out of retirement."
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