Former President Barack Obama is even criticizing his own Democratic Party for not making a priority the issues Americans care about the most.
Almost every poll taken shows that American voters care the most about the economy and inflation. They are concerned about jobs, crime, and immigration problems. Yet Democrats are focusing on abortion, Donald Trump, and January 6th.
Former President Obama was speaking on the “Pod Save America” podcast, and he criticized Democrats for spending too much of their energy on Trump.
“We spend enormous amounts of time and energy and resources pointing out the latest crazy thing he said … that’s probably not something that, in the minds of most voters, overrides their basic interests: Can I pay the rent? What are gas prices? How am I dealing with child care, etc.,” Obama said.
He also said that he believes his party gets into trouble with voters because they overemphasize identity policies.
“I think where [Democrats] get into trouble sometimes is when we try to suggest that some groups are more — because they historically have been victimized more, that somehow they have a status that’s different than other people, and that we’re going around scolding folks if they don’t use exactly the right phrase. Or, you know, that identity politics becomes the principle lens through which we view our various political challenges,” Obama explained.
“To me, I think, that, for a lot of average folks, ends up feeling as if you’re not speaking to me and my concerns, or for that matter, my kid’s concerns and their future,” Obama added.
Obama said later in the interview that if Democrats want to win elections, they must counteract Republicans’ effective argument that Democrats are “coastal liberals” who “are looking down on you and think you’re stupid.”
Obama ended the interview by explaining that Americans care about how politics are relevant to the things they care about deeply, family, kids, work, and having fun. He challenged his party not to be a buzzkill but said that sometimes they are.
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