We now know what Former President Barack Obama’s message is leading into the midterms. He is drawing a clear line in the sand against the Republican party and Donald Trump saying, “Over the past few decades, the politics of division and resentment and paranoia has unfortunately found a home in the Republican party.”
That was one of the things Obama said today as he spoke to young voters in Urbana, Illinois today. He tweeted, “Today I’m at the University of Illinois to deliver a simple message to young people all over the country: You need to vote, because our democracy depends on it.”
The former Illinois Senator touched on several topics and didn’t hold back. Here is some of what he said:
ON DONALD TRUMP:
Sometimes the backlash comes from people who are genuinely, if wrongly, fearful of change. More often it’s manufactured by the powerful and the privileged who want to keep us divided and keep us angry and keep us cynical because it helps them maintain the status quo and keep their power and keep their privilege. And you happen to be coming of age during one of those moments. It did not start with Donald Trump. he is a symptom, not the cause. He’s just capitalizing on resentments that politicians have been fanning for years. A fear and anger that’s rooted in our past but it’s also born out of the enormous upheavals that have taken place in your brief lifetimes.
“It should not be a partisan issue to say that we do not pressure the attorney general or the FBI to use the criminal justice system as a cudgel to punish our political opponents.” President Obama?? pic.twitter.com/ABSyYdNWyz
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) September 7, 2018
ON THE GOP PARTY:
My administration couldn’t reverse 40-year trends in only eight years, especially once Republicans took over the House of Representatives in 2010 and decided to block everything we did.
OBAMA GOES IN ON THE GOP: "With Republicans in control of Congress & WH, without any checks, they've provided another $1.5t in tax cuts to people like me who I promise don't need it — & don't even pretend to pay for them. It's supposed to be the party of fiscal conservatism!" pic.twitter.com/KXFsWG9fKG
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 7, 2018
ON TRUMP TAKING CREDIT FOR THE ECONOMY:
Just let’s remember when this recovery started.
Fmr. Pres. Obama:
“When you hear about this economic miracle that’s been going on – when the job numbers come out… and suddenly Republicans are saying ‘it’s a miracle.’ I have to kind of remind them actually those job numbers are the same as they were in 2015 and in 2016.” pic.twitter.com/xAUcSG3toY
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) September 7, 2018
ON TRUMP SAYING THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES AFTER CHARLOTTESVILLE:
When you vote, you’ve got the power to make sure white nationalists don’t feel emboldened to march with their hoods on or hoods off in Charlottesville.
President Obama calling out Trump on Charlottesville: “We’re supposed to stand up to discrimination. And we’re sure as heck supposed to stand up clearly and unequivocally to Nazi sympathizers. How hard can that be, saying that Nazis are bad?"pic.twitter.com/ptWGZfKdTo
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) September 7, 2018
ON PUERTO RICO:
Former Pres. Obama: "I know there are Republicans who believe government should only perform a few minimal functions, but that one of those functions should be making sure nearly 3,000 Americans don't die in a hurricane." https://t.co/a4VmXG4UZF pic.twitter.com/48JRiqvzgH
— ABC News (@ABC) September 7, 2018
ON TRUMP’S DECLARATION THAT THE MEDIA IS THE ENEMY:
It shouldn’t be Democratic or Republican to say that we don’t threaten the freedom of the press because they say things or publish stories we don’t like.
Former President Obama: “I complained plenty about Fox News, but you never heard me threaten to shut them down, or call them ‘enemies of the people.’” pic.twitter.com/8zvwngP9L2
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 7, 2018
@BarackObama: I know there are Republicans who believe gov should only perform a few minimum functions, but one of those functions should be to make sure Three Thousand Americans don't die in a hurricane and its aftermath. #PuertoRico
— Ryan Williams (@Ryan_Wms) September 7, 2018
Watch the entire speech above.