Posted on 12/07/2017 10:09:40 AM PST by Renkluaf
American democracy is fragile, and unless care is taken it could follow the path of Nazi Germany in the 1930s.
Mixed in with many softer comments, that was the somewhat jaw-dropping bottom line of Barack Obama last night as, in a Q&A session before the Economic Club of Chicago, the Chicagoan who used to be president dropped a bit of red meat to a hometown crowd that likely is a lot closer to him than the man whose name never was mentioned: President Donald Trump.
Obama's comments came after a series of playful questions from moderator and Ariel Investments President Mellody Hobson—in the great Batman vs. Superman debate, for instance, we learned Obama sides with Batman—before she eventually asked him what he's learned as a world citizen of sorts.
One thing he's learned is that "things don't happen internationally if we don't put our shoulder to the wheel," Obama said, speaking of the U.S. "No other country has the experience and bandwidth and ideals. . . .If the U.S. doesn't do it, it's not going to happen."
Obama gave one specific example, but it was a solid one: Ebola. To fight the virus the U.S. did everything from build an airport tarmac in Africa to send in medical teams and ferry medicos from other countries. "We probably saved a million lives by doing that," he said.
At least indirectly, those comments could be seen as criticism of Trump, whose foreign policy focuses on an "America first" paradigm that critics say distracts from this country's unique role.
Obama moved from that to talking about a nativist mistrust and unease that has swept around the world. He argued that such things as the speed of technical change and the uneven impact of globalization have come too quickly to be absorbed in many cultures, bringing strange new things and people to areas in which "people didn't (used to) challenge your assumptions." As a result, "nothing feels solid," he said. "Sadly, there's something in us that looks for simple answers when we're agitated."
Still, the U.S. has survived tough times before and will again, he noted, particularly mentioning the days of communist fighter Joseph McCarthy and former President Richard Nixon. But one reason the country survived is because it had a free press to ask questions, Obama added. Though he has problems with the media just like Trump has had, "what I understood was the principle that the free press was vital."
The danger is "grow(ing) complacent," Obama said. "We have to tend to this garden of democracy or else things could fall apart quickly."
That's what happened in Germany in the 1930s, which despite the democracy of the Weimar Republic and centuries of high-level cultural and scientific achievements, Adolph Hitler rose to dominate, Obama noted. "Sixty million people died. . . .So, you've got to pay attention. And vote."
Obama said his greatest "regret and disappointment" was the failure to enact tighter controls on gun possession. Though the issue resonates in far different ways with different parts of the population, "something is broke," Obama said, his own voice breaking, as he talked about 6-year-old girls shot to death at Sandy Hook, girls not too different in age from his own daughters.
To the best of my knowledge, the session, which went well over an hour, represented the lengthiest comments the former president has made in a semi-public setting since he left office.
Admission to the event was open to club members and their guests. Hobson said a record 2,800 people attended, filling two ballrooms at the Chicago Hilton.
Actually, his mention will be a footnote footnote
I notice he keeps to the venues where everyone is just like him and thinks he’s wonderful.
Out here in the real world...he ain’t squat and he knows it.
I’m good with that - for now. Since he’s a commie to the core, maybe a cleansing of historical records would be more fitting...
Obama can suck ass.
Sarah Sanders said Christmas no less than 6 times today.
Trump is in charge and he understands the responsibility.
The Dems can get bent.
I hope its reduced to a prison cell in Leavenworth.
I SECOND YOUR MOTION!
I hope he is extradited to Egypt, where he is justifiably hung.
obammy, who?
Sounds good to me
Inflation reached 21%/year in 1980.
Carter lost seven countries to Communism.
Filled the bureaucracy with REDS.
All judicial appointees were pro-abortion.
Gutted the military.
Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.””
NSA wiretapping
Uranium One
Clinton e-mails
Benghazi
2 feet high & rising..........
Dirt bag’s presidency was a bad nightmare, but we’re getting over it.
Already is a footnote.
Wouldn’t it be great if the menu’s at restaurants with all the Presidents just had a blank gap 2008-2017
Obama ? Obama? who’s Obama ?
HALFRICAN!!! LOL!!!
Already a footnote. Share this amazing fact with your friends:
Hussein is the only occupant of the Oval Office to seize power for two terms—but to do so with FEWER votes the second time around.
In 2008 he deceived 66,882,230 voters into thinking he deserved the job. Four years later, his cult dropped off to 65,455,010.
Trump, four years later got 62,984,825 votes and defeated the most bigoted media, gop-e, and Democrat swamp in history. And he didn’t spend NEARLY as much money as the machine against him.
Trump won by tapping into a source forgotten by the elites: the American people of all races, ages, socioeconomic levels.
How many people did your horrific terrorist supporting policies in the Middle East kill ? Why did not America lead the fight against ISIS ? Why did it take the Russian military to stop ISIS in the Middle East?
Obama “warns,” like it’s a bad thing he becomes a small footnote in history?
He should be thankful his pathetic tenure is not spelled out in history books. His main accomplishments: the debacle known as Obamacare, MASSIVE debt and nothing to show for it, and the worst state of race relations since the Civil War.
Hey Barry, you should be glad that your pitiful “accomplishments” will become a tiny footnote in history.
Most corrupt/EVIL administration EVER.
FUBO, you POS SCUMBAG
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