This is fascinating for several reasons.

Former President Barack Obama on Thursday admonished Black men who are hesitating to back Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, telling them it’s “not acceptable” to sit out this election and suggesting they might be reluctant to vote for Harris because she’s a woman.

 

The striking comments by Obama, made to a small group of voters in a surprise stop at a local Harris campaign office in Pittsburgh, were part of a more forceful campaign message delivered by the former president on Thursday as polls continue to show a neck-and-neck race. At a rally in the city later that evening, Obama issued some of his most searing public criticisms of his successor to date.

 

The lack of energy some see around Harris’ campaign, Obama first told the smaller group, “seems to be more pronounced with the brothers.”

 

“You’re thinking about sitting out or supporting somebody (in former president Donald Trump) who has a history of denigrating you, because you think that’s a sign of strength, because that’s what being a man is? Putting women down?” Obama said. “That’s not acceptable.”

 

The problem, he suggested, was less complicated than some are making it out to be – and that it often comes down to sexism.

 

“You’re coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses, I’ve got a problem with that,” Obama said. “Because 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.”

First, Obama rolls out of his mansions and private plane to lecture Black men about how they aren’t being racist enough to base their vote on the color of the candidate’s skin. Then, he turns around and accuses them of being sexists. On what planet does Obama live that he thinks he can lecture Black men like this?

Second, the fact that Obama was even in the room is a signal that things are not going well in the Harris camp. They didn’t call out Obama to appeal to independents or undecideds. The called him out to shore up a part of the electorate that has historically voted 90% for Democrats. Harris is losing support in parts of the electorate that the Democrats had been taking for granted for decades.

Third, also notice that Obama isn’t touting Harris’ strengths. Even he can’t come up with any. The entire basis of the Harris campaign is “Orange Man Bad.”

Fourth, frankly, I’m surprised that Obama came out in public at all. Harris is a sinking ship and he doesn’t usually tie himself to losers. He must really be worried about what another Trump presidency will uncover about him and his.