Former President Barack Obama said Saturday that November midterm elections would give Americans “a chance to restore some sanity in our politics,” taking another swipe at his successor as he raises his profile campaigning for fellow Democrats to regain control of the House.
Obama didn’t mention President Donald Trump by name during a 20-minute speech in the key Southern California battleground of Orange County but the allusions were clear.
“We’re in a challenging moment because, when you look at the arc of American history, there’s always been a push and pull between those who want to go forward and those who want to look back, between those who want to divide and those are seeking to bring people together, between those who promote the politics of hope and those who exploit the politics of fear,” he said.
His appearance — one day after a strongly worded critique of Trump at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — touched on themes of retirement security, climate change and education.
“If we don’t step up, things can get worse,” the former president told the audience at the Anaheim Convention Center. “In two months, we have the chance to restore some sanity to our politics. We have the chance to flip the House of Representatives and make sure there are real checks and balances in Washington.”
Obama gave shout-outs to seven Democratic candidates in competitive House districts across California that are considered crucial to the party’s efforts to oust Republicans from control. Four of those districts are at least partly in Orange County, a formerly reliable GOP bastion that went for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.
“We’re going to put on our marching shoes, we’re going to start knocking on some doors, we’re going to start making some calls,” he said to cheers.
Clinton trounced Trump by more than 4 million votes in California in 2016 and carried Orange County by 9 percentage points. A surge in immigrants has transformed California and its voting patterns. The number of Hispanics, blacks and Asians combined has outnumbered whites in the state since 1998. Meanwhile, new voters, largely Latinos and Asians, lean Democratic.
In Orange County, Republicans held a 13-point edge in voter registration 10 years ago but that has shrunk to 3 points while independents, who tend to vote like Democrats in California, have climbed to 25 percent.
Democrats, hoping to build on their 39-14 advantage in the state’s congressional delegation, are eyeing Republican seats in districts that Clinton won in 2016. Each of the seven candidates that Obama campaigned for on Saturday fit that description.
In Orange County, GOP Rep. Mimi Walters faces a challenge from Katie Porter, a law professor at University of California at Irvine. Environmental lawyer Mike Levin is seeking an open seat to replace retiring GOP Rep. Darrell Issa in a district that includes part of Orange County.
Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, whose district encompasses part of Orange County, is fending off a challenge from Democratic real estate investor Harley Rouda to secure a 16th term in Congress despite barely winning 30 percent of the primary vote. In the other Orange County race, Gil Cisneros, a Democratic philanthropist and Navy veteran, is vying for an open seat created by retiring Republican Ed Royce.
Obama also highlighted two races in the state’s Central Valley, praising venture capitalist Josh Harder in his bid to unseat four-term Republican Jeff Denham, and T.J. Cox, who is challenging David Valadao in a district where Democrats hold a 17-point advantage in voter registration.
He also made a plug for nonprofit executive Katie Hill in her Los Angeles-area race to unseat sophomore Republican Steve Knight, who won an underwhelming 53 percent of the vote in 2016.
California Republicans said Obama’s appearance would have little impact and may even help their party.
“I wish he would come more often because he reminds Republicans of eight years of misery,” said Republican National Committeeman Shawn Steel, who lives in Orange County. “It reminds the Republicans why these midterms are important.”
Vice President Mike Pence says it’s disappointing that Obama is back on the campaign trail criticizing Trump.
Says Pence: “The truth is, the American people in 2016 rejected the policy and direction of Barack Obama when they elected President Donald Trump.” Pence comments came in a taped interview set to air on “Fox News Sunday.” Fox released an excerpt on Saturday.
Obama is expected to deliver a similar message in Cleveland on Thursday, when he campaigns on behalf of Richard Cordray, the Democratic nominee for Ohio governor, and other Democrats.
(AP)
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3 Responses
Note the Never Ended Arrogance of Pres Obama.
Even when he was President he attacked the Republicans Often instead of ttying to United the country.
He Often railed against the other Political party. Indeed we Sadly see the US seems to have rather Militantly Bitter Masses of Democrats in it. I even remember when Pres Bush won how Bitter the Democrats were.
And frankly President Trump has Condemned Racist groups and Anti Semites, maybe a little slow but eventually Clearly and Soundly. Indeed it was peculiar Nazis and KKK were meboldened when it was known the President had Jewish grand children and a Jewish daughter.
Pres Obama NEVER CONDEMNED JIHADIST ISLAM WHICH WAGED WAR ON THE USA!! The Democrats Acted even during Elections as if there is No ISLAMC Threat even as Islamists Attakced New York and Washington DC Killing Thousands of US civilians!! And in Paris, London, Spain, Moscow, Libya, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Philipines, Tunisia, Nigeria, Afganistan, Iraq!!! OBAMA started the Iran Deal that AWARDED IRAN with Tens of Billions of Dollars Even Though They were Known to Support TERRORISTS as Hamas, Hizbolla, Islamic Jihad and Yemeite Houtis! Thats exactly where it ended up Mr Obama!!! And you OFTEN THREATENED ISRAEL INCLUDING AT THE UN VOTE to RETREAT FULLY TO 1967 Borders even though that would mean KICKING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF JEWS FROM HOMES THEY LIVED IN FRO DECADES and LEavign the Western Wall, Ancient Jewish cemetary on Mount of Olives, Smauels Tomb, Rachels Tomb and Cave of teh Patriarchs of Jewry in Palestinian hands where likely no Jews would be safe anymore to visit or protect from Islamic Desecration! And IGNORING Palestinian Gaza Terrorist Regimes or Terrorism Incting and Financial Supporting West Bank Regimes!! And We Know You Met, with the Balck Congressional Causus, With Open Anti Semite who Praises Hitler Fahrkhan as the Photo was revealed after you left office! SHAME ON YOU AND THANK G-d YOU ARE GONE FROM POWER!
To : Benk
Obama treated PM Netanyahu horribly while Mr. Netanyahu was visiting him.
Obama removed the bust statue of PM Winston Churchill from the White House. Mr. Obama was
unaware that the Nazis had a history of bayoneting captured black US POWs in their eyes.
Obama has little, if any, depth of thought politically, economically, diplomatically, etc.
Even Mr. Churchill a long hater of Stalin and the communists recognized that the Nazis were far
more evil then Stalin—hence his decision to unconditionally help Stalin in June 1941.
Mr Churchill’s secretary, at the outset of the Nazi invasion of Russia, reminded him of is long
standing opposition to Communism—Churchill replied: ” If Hitler invaded Hell, I say a few kind words
about the devil in the house of Commons”
I doubt seriously, how important such a decision was for Britain, Russia or the world
including Obama and his supporters.
A goy,
Gerry Mullen’
PS: Suggest ALL Jews do more Talmud Torah, more Davvening and more Chessed. Hopefully, you will be written
in the Book of Life for the coming year.,
i can not help but notice that this mamzer is looking more and more like a chimp with times.