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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsObama's blunt message for Democrats: 'Toughen up'
I think its going to require a little bit less navel-gazing and a little less whining and being in fetal positions. And its going to require Democrats to just toughen up, Obama said at the fundraiser, according to excerpts of his remarks exclusively obtained by CNN.
You know, dont tell me youre a Democrat, but youre kind of disappointed right now, so youre not doing anything. No, now is exactly the time that you get in there and do something, he said. Dont say that you care deeply about free speech and then youre quiet. No, you stand up for free speech when its hard. When somebody says something that you dont like, but you still say, You know what, that person has the right to speak. Whats needed now is courage.
Obamas comments come as the Democratic Party searches for its path forward in the second Trump term and beyond. Many in the partys base have called for a more forceful response from Democratic leaders at a time when the party is locked out of power.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/14/politics/obama-democrats-message

Weve been out demonstrating every weekend!
Tribetime
(6,707 posts)
Autumn
(48,150 posts)You want to put on some comfotrable shoes and join us?
Elect Ms. Foxx in Arizona!!!
Autumn
(48,150 posts)I vote Dem in Colorado
TheProle
(3,508 posts)Response to TheProle (Reply #4)
Post removed
TBF
(35,165 posts)with that message. I don't want to unjustly accuse or be too negative but will say that I feel the problem with many of the leaders and the high dollar donors is that they are acting like it's just a cycle and we will come out on top after the midterms. Sort of the "give them enough rope and they hang themselves approach".
Normally I would say ok that's one approach, but this is not a "normal" republican administration we're dealing with. As we all know, they are literally grabbing folks off the street and putting them in concentration camps - in this country and abroad. It's sick. Stomping on our rights, passing bills that take away any humanitarian benefits we have (such as Medicaid), and will grab Social Security when they're ready also.
Obama's a smart guy - I think he absolutely sees the republicans for what they are, and it wouldn't be lost on him that the money they are throwing at ICE to ramp up their gestapo is very dangerous to this country.
tman
(1,226 posts)Or maybe you feel the Democratic leadership is currently providing satisfactory, strong, clear and non fetal positioned leadership that does not require encouragement to do better?
I think they can.
Autumn
(48,150 posts)tman
(1,226 posts)But by the sounds of it, you have more faith in the Democratic party than Bernie Sanders does. Good to hear.
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
The battle outside ragin'
Will soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'
Jack Valentino
(2,795 posts)Hekate
(98,530 posts)yardwork
(67,148 posts)I see constant posts here exhorting Democrats to do something. Of course many are doing something but its not perfect so there we are.
Autumn
(48,150 posts)mcar
(44,926 posts)But lots here do. If a Dem pol doesnt say exactly the right thing, or god forbid, mention their faith in a tweet, they are trashed by some here more than Republicans.
That's why I avoid all democrats "need" to do X or Y posts from some.
mcar
(44,926 posts)betsuni
(28,108 posts)I noticed it in 2016 when conspiracy theories, disinformation, lies about a Democrat or Democrats were posted and a normal rational Democratic person would easily debunk it, resulting in vicious personal attacks ending in WHY DO YOU THINK THEY'RE PERFECT? Of course this silly thing is still around, like making everything into moral purity tests which of course Democrats always fail because the accusers have no idea or totally ignore what that Democrat has or is doing.
Obviously no normal rational person ever thinks anyone's perfect. They don't have a habit of cultish idolized worship. Those projecting constantly accused normal rational Democrats of marching in lockstep, toeing the line, being in a cult, blind allegiance, worshiping, being rah rah cheerleaders, hive mind, pay fealty, genuflecting and so on. Their only creative outlet seems to be insulting Democrats.
synni
(451 posts)choie
(5,814 posts)and I agree with you 100%. Maybe don't wait for a fundraiser or speaking event for $100,000 to "fight".
msfiddlestix
(8,110 posts)awesomerwb1
(4,788 posts)I hope Obama has an even tougher message behind closed doors for the Dem "leadership", because it's severely MIA (unless it's to ask for donations).
dalton99a
(89,376 posts)Historic NY
(39,118 posts)leave them reeling. They need to get out of the playing echo chamber of our shitty Media. Too many times they allow them to control the message. Go where no Democrats go.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(125,876 posts)poli-junkie
(1,309 posts)
BannonsLiver
(19,395 posts)But youre not the only one confused about that in the thread, apparently.
poli-junkie
(1,309 posts)
BannonsLiver
(19,395 posts)
poli-junkie
(1,309 posts)Milque toast.
BannonsLiver
(19,395 posts)Interesting axe to grind but so are the times we live in, I guess.
poli-junkie
(1,309 posts)was too repetitive and suppressed how voters feel. His admonition during his stump speeches was to people who vote, when he needed to broadcast to folks that needed to be persuaded to vote. Surpressing that passion amongst those in attendance snuffs potential passion to folks who may be listening online.
I found his Dont boo admonition to be a frustratingly suppressive.
Hekate
(98,530 posts)Your feelings are yours to have but they dont represent a lot of the rest of us
Hornedfrog2000
(354 posts)Michelle would say that, and people thought it was great. It was wrong then, and now. They were way too passive on the war Russia declared on the USA. They are still too passive.
Hekate
(98,530 posts)Cant remember who kneecapped them on that, but for 8 years Obama and Biden dealt with GOPers in the Senate and House who swore theyd make Obama a one-term president, and did everything in their power to stop everything he actually got done, not to mention things like making sure he only got one SCOTUS vacancy filled.
As for they still being too passive, if you are referring to Michell and Barack Obama, they have chosen what they want to do in terms of educating and motivating Americans, and if you think thats nothing, you might want to look it up.
Regarding the Obama presidential legacy, know this: Trump hates Obama like poison, always has. This is a highly intelligent and highly accomplished Black man who excelled at a university Trump couldnt get into, won the Nobel Peace Prize, mocked Trump at the WH Correspondents Dinner, got the Affordable Care Act through, sent Biden to do a Cancer Moon Shot, and many other things as well. All of them got under Trumps thin skin, and he neither forgives nor forgets. He is dismantling every damn thing done by Obama/Biden: taking people off Medicaid and Medicare, cancelling most Cancer research, and is going all out trying to destroy Obamas alma mater.
So please dont talk about the passivity of the Obamas. Theyve been up against MAGAGOP for decades now, and they are still working for what they believe in.
The hatred of President Obama by some here has always baffled me - or perhaps not.
Hekate
(98,530 posts)
to tell us what an abject failure and disappointment Obama was and is. It seriously makes me wonder wtf their motivation is, because when I check the year some joined I know damn well that they know better.
Thx, mcar.
mcar
(44,926 posts)choie
(5,814 posts)Hekate
(98,530 posts)





tman
(1,226 posts)They were booing in response to the very things Obama repeatedly highlighted about the destructive GOP agenda. If you dont see the slight of hand Obama was playing with that line, that would explain your very odd issue with it
poli-junkie
(1,309 posts)attendance at stump speeches yell Boo!
Stop suppressing peoples passion.
tman
(1,226 posts)Hekate
(98,530 posts)Actually, I felt very inspired by his energy and message.
poli-junkie
(1,309 posts)Thats suppressive.
Hekate
(98,530 posts)
poli-junkie
(1,309 posts)Obama didnt like the crowd to boo at what he said about the Repukes and admonished dont boo, vote.
I was turned off by this during his stump speeches. I found it repetitive and suppressive. Let the people get mad at the Repukes!
tman
(1,226 posts)mcar
(44,926 posts)Oopsie Daisy
(6,163 posts)... One is inspirational and a challenge to be our better selves, the other is meaningless virtue signaling and a terrible strategy.
Oopsie Daisy
(6,163 posts)Last edited Tue Jul 15, 2025, 08:09 AM - Edit history (1)
republianmushroom
(20,614 posts)It is about time this happens. And letter won't do it.
yankee87
(2,603 posts)Why arent we flooding the feeds with pedo taco commercial?
Only people I hear are right wing nuts.
Need to go scorched earth on these fuckers.
tman
(1,226 posts)Is always funny to me. Do they actually believe Barack Obama became the Democratic nominee as an underdog, defeating the "Clinton machine" and becoming a two term president by playing nice?
lol
Also, Barack and Michelle Obama are two different people.
Autumn
(48,150 posts)If you read Obama's message he's kind of encouraging that.
I see everyday people doing alot of things. Not so much when it comes to quite a few elected Dems
tman
(1,226 posts)It's also a played out sound bite that people like to use against them.
If "kind of encouraging that" is what you read from his latest remarks, I don't know what to say to you. lol
BannonsLiver
(19,395 posts)Its like an allergic reaction to winning elections some folks experience.
ProfessorGAC
(73,557 posts)...TIWWLE. (This Is Why We Lose Elections)
People being against a 2 term president from our party because of some minutiae that failed their purity test 10 years ago.
The lack of focus on the goal is often astounding.
You & I couldn't agree more on this.
mcar
(44,926 posts)annoyingly constant here. I can guess why.
FirefighterJo
(401 posts)Obama! And throw in Joe, Michelle and Hillary to top it off.
TBF
(35,165 posts)hopefully you were being sarcastic, because no, that is not what is needed.
We've seen very clearly what people respond to. Trump said he was going to fix the economy and people responded by electing him. Of course, the only fixing he is doing is taking care of himself and his billionaire friends.
We need younger people to step up, and the focus needs to be on labor. Zohran Mamdani talked about the economy non-stop and won his big primary. Folks are hurting in this country. We all know the billionaires are looting as much as they can, and it needs to stop.
FirefighterJo
(401 posts)To meet with president Obama very briefly. He oozes strength and integrity. He is everything the US needs. From the hellhole Trump has brought to the calm prosperity Obama gave... Bring him back please.
Abstractartist
(275 posts)Democrats need to toughen up a lot . Schumer acts all puffing out his chest because he got the Big bill name changed . Yeah cool old man, not going to impress anyone when they are dying because their Medicaid was cut, or their taxes are so high, they cant buy food and pay rent/ mortgage . Democrats need to pull a page out of LBJ playbook . Push so punks up against the wall and tell them how it is 1 fn vote was needed to fail in the Senate 1 VOTE let that sink in
markodochartaigh
(3,333 posts)would have been a f'n Republican vote.
And the Republican wall didn't crack because the Republicans are afraid of billionaire money in their primaries, and lunatic Republicans' guns in their daily lives.
Democratic politicians need to pound home that Republicans are too afraid to stand up for their voters' best interests.
mcar
(44,926 posts)Let that sink in. Schumer held his caucus together - even Fetterman.
BannonsLiver
(19,395 posts)And wished he had added a line about the need to stop placating every special interest group as well.
Beartracks
(13,991 posts)In the great tug of war in America, we all need to grab the same rope to maximize our force.
=================
usonian
(18,990 posts)Where were you when only Bernie and AOC were stumping the entire country, including deep red areas?
When millions hit the street to protest the newborn king?
The collective leaders of the party have been relatively silent about THE SECOND TRUMP COUP ATTEMPT.
Kind sir:
TheProle
(3,508 posts)usonian
(18,990 posts)Thinly veiled and wed still be worshiping King George, and learning German, those of us with blond hair and blue eyes.
Say it like it is. This is a full press destruction of democracy.
We, the people know how to protest, to boycott and soon, to stage a national strike. Our leverage is in numbers. Sometimes, the battle calls for the heavy artillery, to cover the ground troops.
Only talking about actions, not personalities.
General Strike Info (numbers need to be updated)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10114325
JCMach1
(28,794 posts)Warpy
(113,680 posts)and that is obviously where the whole GOP is headed. It's a holy war against Democrats and most of them can't articulate why. They just know if we're fer it, they're agin it, calling us Communists for even entertaining the thought of opposing them.
Paladin
(31,013 posts)jalan48
(14,905 posts)His message would resonate more today.
3825-87867
(1,470 posts)Wasn't it "Let move on from this?"
Yeah, That worked!
And yes, I voted for him twice.
betsuni
(28,108 posts)He only had those first two years before Republicans took over the House.
thought crime
(488 posts)More leaders doing what Bernie and AOC have done. Build momentum for the next elections.
KPN
(16,748 posts)who may be in a position to do so. Just sayin ...
allegorical oracle
(5,324 posts)local, state, and federal levels here in FL. Not a thing I can seem to do about it, either. Am too poor to move (my home is paid off and in disrepair due to the hurricanes), have no neighbors except MAGAts. To top it off, my sweet kitty-cat died two days ago and I can't stop myself from looking for him -- even 'tho I know he's gone and buried. And then I feel guilty because so many others are so worse off than I am. And the future seems so frightening.
Eliot Rosewater
(33,127 posts)And President Obama.
Yeah, thats how we fucking got here😡😡😡😡😡
Eliot Rosewater
(33,127 posts)😡😡😡😡😡😡😡
3825-87867
(1,470 posts)Saying anyone disagrees with comments from Obama or Biden or Clinton or Carter, etc is as bad as the MAGAs kissing trump's butt. I expect Republicans to be total idiots and support ANYTHING a Republican says because they are simply mindless followers. I never expected Democrats to hold that Democrats are perfect.
If supporters agree with everything some Democrat says only because they are a Democrat then bitch that others can't criticize or disagree, they're not really any different from those on the right.
Just because Obama's a Democrat, doesn't mean he did everything right for Democrats or the American People. And he didn't!
aocommunalpunch
(4,516 posts)Truly courageous.
B.See
(5,834 posts)self flagellation, in fighting and second guessing, figure out WHY some inspire while others don't, and GET BEHIND THOSE WHO DO.
seems to me a no duh proposition.
betsuni
(28,108 posts)Response to TheProle (Original post)
tman This message was self-deleted by its author.
lees1975
(6,683 posts)And I'm doing something about it. The party needs new leadership. We need to use the power we have in a much more forceful and convincing way, just like Republicans did when they were the minority party.
Don't ask me for money to help you get re-elected. My contributions, not big but they're there, go to Leaders we Deserve, to Bernie's anti-ologarchy crusade and Indivisible. Let's see some effective opposition and maybe I will be convinced. You lost me when you were afraid to pack the Supreme Court back when you could.
tman
(1,226 posts)The very things many on here are also frustrated with...so some of the fake outrage over his comments is laughable.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/us/politics/barack-obama-trump-democrats.html
mucholderthandirt
(1,604 posts)We the people are getting stronger and louder and meaner, and leadership wants to think about a response and come up with some sternly worded letters. Maybe next Tuesday.
FFS