A former Democratic state senator has condemned Barack Obama’s “lecturing” of Black men after the former president claimed they were coming up with “excuses” not to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris because she’s a woman.
The former president, himself a Black man, urged other men of color to rally in support of the Democratic presidential candidate as he launched into a scathing critique upon hitting the campaign trail in Pittsburgh on Thursday.
He made reference to reports claiming that Harris is struggling to mobilize Black voters – which the former president says “seems to be more pronounced with the brothers” – and declared that the demographic isn’t OK with the idea of a female president.
A recent NAACP poll found one in four young Black men backed Trump heading into the election. Typically, Democrats have carried a vast majority of Black votes – 92 percent went to Biden – but the newest poll shows Trump making inroads with young Black voters.
Obama’s stern words have been subject to criticism, including from former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner.
“Why are Black men being belittled in ways that no other voting group [is]?” the Democrat told host Abby Phillip on CNN’s NewsNight.
“Now, a lot of love for former President Obama, but for him to single out Black men is wrong.”
Fox News anchor Jesse Watters described Obama’s remarks as “mansplaining,” the anchor wrote on X.
Former GOP Georgia Representative Vernon Jones rebuked on X: “I don’t have anything in common with Kamala. No Thanks BO, Blacks had enough of you and @KamalaHarris.”
Conservatives on social media were also quick to seize on the comments.
“Three weeks before an election and they sent daddy out there to lecture the children. Harris is in trouble,” one X user stated.
Another added: “I can’t stand that he thinks the ‘brothers’ owe their vote to Kamala, like he needs to lecture them for not falling in line. What a condescending, arrogant man.”
Read more at Theindependant.com