Former Democratic Ohio state Senator Nina Turner took aim at ex-President Barack Obama on Thursday, accusing him of criticizing black men during an event for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Obama was in the Pittsburgh area rallying support for Harris when he pointed out former President Donald Trump’s growing popularity among black male voters, and attributed it to misogyny, according to NPR.
“My understanding, based on reports I’m getting from campaigns and communities, is that we have not yet seen the same kinds of energy and turnout in all quarters of our neighborhoods and communities as we saw when I was running,” Obama began.
According to him, this lack of excitement “seems to be more pronounced with the brothers.”
He made direct comments to potential Trump voters or those considering abstaining from voting, suggesting their hesitancy might stem from discomfort with a female president.
“Part of it makes me think — and I’m speaking to men directly — part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you’re coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for that,” he accused.
Obama noted that the “women in our lives have been getting our backs this entire time.”
“When we get in trouble and the system isn’t working for us, they’re the ones out there marching and protesting,” he again directed at black men.
He also proclaimed that Harris would stand behind them, while Trump has “consistently show disregard” for black voters.
“On the one hand, you have somebody who grew up like you, knows you, went to college with you, understands the struggles and pain and joy that comes from those experiences,” Obama commented.
“And on the other side, you have someone who has consistently shown disregard, not just for the communities, but for you as a person.”
Turner criticized Obama’s focus on black men, questioning why they were being singled out and treated differently from other voting demographics.
“Why are black men being lectured to? Why are black men being belittled in ways that no other voting group?” Turner said on “CNN NewsNight.”
She said it was “wrong” of the former president to “single out” black men, and noted that those she has spoken to “have their reasons why they want to vote a different way.”
“Even if some of us may not like that, we have to respect it,” Turner added.
“So unless President Barack Obama is gonna go out and lecture every other group of men from other identity groups, my message for Democrats is don’t bring it here to black men who by and large don’t vote much differently from black women,” she concluded.
At the same event, Obama took a shot at the Republican nominee, when he asked the audience, “’Do you think Donald Trump ever changed a diaper?”
When a member of the audience yelled, “His own!” Obama jeered, “I almost said that, but I decided I should not say it.”
Oh, so now you’re trying to shame black men into voting for a candidate just because she’s a woman? She’s not even a black woman She’s Indian. As far as I know, people who come from India don’t call themselves black. But back to the main point, you’re sinking pretty low to do this. I have a feeling it may backfire on you or at least I for one hope it does.
Typical Democrat dog whistle. All you blacks better vote the way Obama demands you do.