You know Hillary Clinton is in trouble when two things happen: 1. People chant “four more years” to Michelle Obama at a campaign event for Clinton 2. President Obama shames black voters to actually vote this election season. Yeah, that actually happened at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation gala last night, the president said it would be a persona insult to him and his legacy if blacks don’t vote in this election. The vote shaming has begun (via The Hill):
At CBC gala, President Obama delivers an impassioned call to back Clinton https://t.co/w1V5NM346t https://t.co/zVZvo4o0mb
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) September 18, 2016
“We have achieved historic turnout in 2008 and 2012, especially in the African-American community. I will consider it a personal insult and an insult to my legacy if this community lets down its guard and fails to activate itself in this election," he said. "You want to give me a good send-off? Go vote."[…]
"If you care about our legacy, realize everything we stand for is at stake. All the progress we’ve made is at stake in this election.
"My name may not be on the ballot, but our progress is on the ballot. Tolerance is on the ballot. Democracy is on the ballot. Justice is on the ballot. Good schools are on the ballot. Ending mass incarceration, that's on the ballot right now," he said. "And there is one candidate who will advance those things, and there is another candidate whose defining principle, the central theme of his candidacy is opposition to all that we’ve done. There's no such thing as a vote that doesn’t matter, it all matters."
The president’s hyper emotional plea for Democrats, especially nonwhite Democrats, to vote this November is just another sign that the party is in a state of panic. Clinton has years of experience in public life, serving as a U.S. Senator, Secretary of State, and being First Lady. This should be a landslide win for her, instead the polls have shown that the race is virtually a dead heat, with some noting that her lock on the Electoral College has been broken. People don’t like, trust, or are fond of old, sick Hillary.
The aura of secrecy doesn't help and it once again landed her in trouble last week. The former secretary of state has a medical episode at the 9/11 Memorial last Sunday. It was the 15th anniversary of the attacks. She left, stumbled off the curb getting into her van, and vanished for 90 minutes. Her doctor later revealed she was diagnosed with pneumonia the Friday before the event, but didn’t disclose that health update to the press. Clinton didn’t think it was a big deal, even though she’s suffered from blood clots, some of which could’ve been life threatening. Any health update concerning presidential candidates is of national importance.
Second, moving away from old, sick Hillary’s 9/11 trip up, Obama is seriously trying to shame black Democrats into voting and if they don’t—it’s akin to spitting in his face for the amazing legacy he’s left us: More debt, a health care law that doesn’t work, chaos in the Middle East, and a foreign policy that’s an utter failure. When the president says this at a formal gathering, you know that Democrats are worried that their base is either going to sit out or vote third party, with the latter being the main source of bleeding for the Clinton campaign. As Chuck Todd noted, the question for the next two or so months is whether she can win these people back or if Trump can actually bring these disaffected Democrats into his camp. It remains to be seen.
Also, “democracy is on the ballot.” We’re going to be fine with a Trump presidency, and Democrats would do themselves a favor by not trying to frame the election as the beginning of the Third Reich if the billionaire wins in November. For starters, the media has been making the same doomsday predictions for every Republicans who has run for the presidency. It's effect has worn off. That’s utterly preposterous, as is trying to coerce your own party members into voting for an old, sick, dishonest, and untrustworthy candidate, who won’t be able to get anything done due to her political baggage. Yes, Trump has baggage, but that hasn’t been hamstrung him. In fact, there’s very little left to throw at him that hasn’t already been reported by the press.
In all, Obama ha sunk to say that not voting is an insult to him. Folks, these people need to work for your vote. No one is entitled to them, unless you think like a Democrat. Sure, there are loyal foot soldiers in any camp, but the ones who just can’t take the plunge shouldn’t be pressured. Vote as you please, no matter what Barry says.