Staff Reports
Barack Obama recently took to the campaign trail in Pittsburgh with the fervor of a high school coach trying to rally a team that hasn’t won a game all season. His mission: to breathe some life into Vice President Kamala Harris’s faltering campaign. But instead of rallying the troops, he ended up taking a swing at black men for not flocking to support the Democratic nominee, resembling a frustrated dad scolding his sons for not picking up their socks. With Pennsylvania suddenly looking like a battleground state and internal polls showing Kamala trailing in key areas, it’s safe to say Obama’s speech was more of a desperate ploy than a triumphant return.
In a bold move, Obama decided to directly address the very demographic that Harris is struggling to engage: black men. A classic case of “I trust the experts” gone wrong, he positioned himself as the honest friend urging them not to sit on the sidelines. He lamented the lack of enthusiasm compared to when he was running, hinting that perhaps, just maybe, some hesitance came from their discomfort with the notion of a woman leading the charge in the Oval Office. His diagnosis? A sorely misguided belief that women can’t carry the weight of the presidency without a man’s support. It’s amazing how a multi-millionaire former president thinks he can lecture the average Joe while cozying up in his mansion on Martha’s Vineyard.
Oops! 😬 Obama is calling out Kamala because he says she’s losing the black vote! I’d say he’s right! 😆When Obama is worried you know it’s bad! 🤔
pic.twitter.com/qoO5qKEocq— PammsyNow (@NowPammsy) October 11, 2024
Harris’s support among core Democratic groups has apparently been as stable as a house of cards in a tornado. Some pundits speculate that Obama’s comments may reveal the Democratic elite’s growing fears that she’s not what they thought they were getting. It’s a tough sell when the current political climate has soured on the same old tired rhetoric. Voters are not obligated to support any candidate simply because they share some similar characteristics. Yet, the Democrats seem stuck in the mindset that identity politics are both a shield and a sword. And so, Obama, seeing the writing on the wall, tried to put the blame on black men, which seems to have gone just about as well as one would expect.
Adding to the irony, while Obama admonished the community he represents, his frustration reflected a deeper concern among Democrats: Kamala Harris is not soaring above Donald Trump as they’d hoped. In fact, with internal polling showing her trailing in swing states, it seems increasingly likely she may deliver a fate similar to that of Hillary Clinton in 2016, despite Obama’s well-honed political charm. At this point, many are questioning how much real support Obama can lend, given that even his excitement for the ticket appears lackluster at best. Advocating for a candidate who appears to lack both a solid plan and a clear identity can only amplify the doubts surrounding her campaign.
But the heart of this debate rests in the voting allegiance of black men, who, much to the chagrin of Democratic elites, appear to be eyeing options that better align with their interests. Polls indicating that Trump may capture unprecedented support among black voters in 2024 have sent establishment Democrats into a tizzy. They’re beginning to grasp that voters make decisions based on meticulous consideration, not blind loyalty attached to demographics. It’s a refreshing change that proves nostalgia for political allegiance isn’t enough to win over voters in today’s climate.
As Obama tried to lace his speech with a sigh of the collective disappointment he felt, he unwittingly undercut his messaging. His earlier guidance on fostering mutual respect has been swept aside for the urgency of garnering votes for a candidate failing to resonate with essential voter bases. The juxtaposition left many scratching their heads, especially when one considers that Obama has become somewhat of a reluctant supporter at best. Kamala may need a significant overhaul in her campaign tactics if she hopes to salvage her chances, and given the current trajectory, that might be a day late and a dollar short.
