Obama faces backlash for comments toward Black men

Former President Barack Obama has faced backlash for his recent comments encouraging black men to run for Vice President Harris in the November election.

At Harris' campaign rally in Pittsburgh on Thursday, Obama said that even though Harris had raised more than $1 billion, “I don't think we'll see the same vigor and turnout that we saw when I was running.” “We're still seeing it in all aspects of our neighborhoods and communities.” ”

That energy lag “seems to be more pronounced in siblings,” he added.

“You come up with all kinds of reasons and excuses, and that's problematic,” he said. “Because part of it makes me think – and I'm speaking directly to men – part of it makes me think, well, the idea that you just make a woman president. Even though you're not feeling it, you come up with other alternatives and other reasons.

Mr. Obama's comments have angered prominent black Americans, even though polls show a generational divide in black men's support for Ms. Harris.

Former Ohio Sen. Nina Turner claimed President Obama's comments were “disrespectful” of black men.

“Why are black men being lectured? Why are black men being disrespected more than any other voting group?” Turner said on CNN Thursday night.

She added that she had “so much love” for Obama. “But it's a mistake for Obama to single out only black men, and some of the black men I've talked to have reasons for wanting to vote differently, and even more so if some of us don't like it.” Even if there are people, we have to respect them.”

“Unless President Barack Obama is going to go out and lecture all men from other identity groups, my message to the Democratic Party is to take it to black men, who generally vote not much differently than black women. “I mean, don't do that,” she said. “As politicians, we should try to get every electorate to vote, and we hope that there are a few good men who care about women being stripped of some of their bodily autonomy. ”

Despite black voters overwhelmingly supporting Harris, one in four black men under 50 still support Trump, according to the NAACP and HIT Strategies. This was revealed in a recent opinion poll.

But actor Wendell Piercesaid President Obama's words sent a “terrible message.”

“The party has to stop scapegoating black men. Black men are not the problem. Neither are white men and white women,” Pearce said in a post on X.

Pierce's latest comments contradicted a message he sent to black men during the Democratic National Convention in August.

At the time, Pierce told black men to remember that “there's blood on the ballot box.”

“Black men who have a problem with the rise of black women have to look at their own inadequacies,” Pierce said. “Why are you so afraid of the people who loved you so much, the people who showered you with love, like your mother, grandmother, aunts and sisters?When you look at someone in your own family, you feel so proud. Can't we think and be brave? Will the community stand up?

In 2020, black voters, including black men, overwhelmingly voted for President Biden, but President Trump definitely won the support of black men.

Support for the Democratic Party among black men has continued to decline since Obama was first elected in 2008.

According to exit polls, 80% of black men supported Biden in 2020, down slightly from 82% for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and 95% for Obama in 2008. This was significantly lower than the 87% in 2012.

Still, Pierce said, “It's inconsequential for a black man to vote for Trump.”

“This accusatory tone will keep some black men from staying home, but it's even worse,” Pearce said. “Black men are questioning our party to find out what decades of loyalty has cost them. That's good. That's healthy. The Democratic Party has a lot to protect. We have a proven track record, and we need to accept that challenge. But after going around this country, especially with black men, I won't let the leaders of our party make condescending statements about them.”