Barack Obama: Urge Americans to Reject Leaders who Stroke “a Climate of Fear and Hatred”

Former President Barack Obama weighed in on the back-to-back mass shootings that occurred over the weekend by urging Americans to “soundly reject” leaders who stoke “a climate of fear and hatred.”

Donald Trump wasn’t mentioned by name, but it appeared Obama’s comments were directed at him.

Obama said in a statement, “We should soundly reject language coming out of the mouths of any of our leaders that feeds a climate of fear and hatred and normalizes racist sentiments; leaders who demonize those who don’t look like us, or suggest that other people, including immigrants, threaten our way of life, or refer to other people as sub-human, or imply that America belongs to just one certain type of people.”

Though he said that heated rhetoric is not new, he added that it “has no place in our politics and our public life.”

Obama continued, “It’s time for the overwhelming majority of Americans of goodwill, of every race and faith and political party, to say as much – clearly and unequivocally.” (The Hill)

Hot Takes:

  • It’s nice to see someone respond to a tragedy in a presidential manner.
  • He makes some several good points and has a way with words.
  • Obama’s not president anymore. Let Trump do the talking.