Obama's blunt message for Democrats: 'Toughen up'

[TheProle]

Former President Barack Obama issued a call to action for Democrats at a private fundraiser in New Jersey on Friday evening, urging those frustrated by the state of the country under President Donald Trump to “stand up for the things that you think are right.”

“I think it’s going to require a little bit less navel-gazing and a little less whining and being in fetal positions. And it’s 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, don’t tell me you’re a Democrat, but you’re kind of disappointed right now, so you’re not doing anything. No, now is exactly the time that you get in there and do something,” he said. “Don’t say that you care deeply about free speech and then you’re quiet. No, you stand up for free speech when it’s hard. When somebody says something that you don’t like, but you still say, ‘You know what, that person has the right to speak.’ … What’s needed now is courage.”

Obama’s comments come as the Democratic Party searches for its path forward in the second Trump term and beyond. Many in the party’s 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

[mimitabby]

1. Yes

We’ve been out demonstrating every weekend!

[Tribetime]

50. I might be wrong but I think he meant politicians as much

As fellow Democrats

[Autumn]

2. We have protested a lot. We made a lot of calls. Anything else?

You want to put on some comfotrable shoes and join us?

[jaymac]

3. what else to do

Elect Ms. Foxx in Arizona!!!

[Autumn]

5. I don't live in Arizona

I vote Dem in Colorado

[TheProle]

4. You asking me, or President Obama?

[TBF]

14. Perhaps Obama is aiming at a few high level dems

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]

17. Perhaps you are more privy to the inner workings of senior figures of the Democratic party than Barack Obama is.

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]

20. I'm sure that every elected Democrat will be just fine. nt

[tman]

95. It's not just about every elected Democrat, but the party as a whole..

But by the sounds of it, you have more faith in the Democratic party than Bernie Sanders does. Good to hear.

[vanlassie]

53. ...

“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'

[Noodleboy13]

56. This.

[Jack Valentino]

90. video-audio

[Hekate]

40. Sounded to me like he was talking to media pundits & ostensible leaders, not to rank & file already marching

[yardwork]

54. I can think of some off the top of my head.

[mcar]

63. Really?

I see constant posts here exhorting Democrats to “do something.” Of course many are doing something but it’s not perfect so there we are.

[Autumn]

69. Nobody is perfect, I don't expect them to be perfect. Even if you think they are. nt

[mcar]

70. I don't either

But lots here do. If a Dem pol doesn’t say exactly the right thing, or god forbid, mention their faith in a tweet, they are trashed by some here more than Republicans.

[SocialDemocrat61]

73. True

That's why I avoid all democrats "need" to do X or Y posts from some.

[mcar]

74. And the "why aren't Democrats doing x y z" posts

[betsuni]

84. The screaming about Democratic supporters thinking Democrats are perfect is projection or something like that.

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]

68. He's referring to Democratic politicians

[choie]

77. oooh I see what you did there,

and I agree with you 100%. Maybe don't wait for a fundraiser or speaking event for $100,000 to "fight".

[msfiddlestix]

81. Message was directed to Democratic elected office holders. the people who are so supposed to be representing us.

[awesomerwb1]

6. What, no more "when they go low we go high"?

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]

11. Should have been: "When they go low, we kick them in the balls and shove their faces in the dirt"

[Historic NY]

19. Time to punch back and sucker punch them at every moment

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]

27. When they go low we kick them in the teeth

[poli-junkie]

7. Howz that "when they go low..." going?

[BannonsLiver]

22. You might want to ask his wife, since she's the one who said it.

But you’re not the only one confused about that in the thread, apparently.

[poli-junkie]

23. "Don't boo - vote!"

[BannonsLiver]

25. Yeah. And?

[poli-junkie]

28. It's the same sentiment as Michelle's.

Milque toast.

[BannonsLiver]

32. So your point is that performative things like booing are just as important as voting.

Interesting axe to grind but so are the times we live in, I guess.

[poli-junkie]

36. Obama's "Don't boo" admonition

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 “Don’t boo” admonition to be a frustratingly suppressive.

[Hekate]

43. "Don't agonize, organize" is the other part of what he consistently said

Your feelings are yours to have — but they don’t represent a lot of the rest of us

[Hornedfrog2000]

51. Seems like it does rep most, now

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]

57. Obama and Biden were ready to move on the Russian election interference, iirc...

Can’t remember who kneecapped them on that, but for 8 years Obama and Biden dealt with GOPers in the Senate and House who swore they’d 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 that’s 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 couldn’t 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 Trump’s 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 Obama’s alma mater.

So please don’t talk about the “passivity” of the Obamas. They’ve been up against MAGAGOP for decades now, and they are still working for what they believe in.

[mcar]

65. Well said!

The hatred of President Obama by some here has always baffled me - or perhaps not.

[Hekate]

71. It's amazing after all we've been through, even in the midst of trump, there are still folks who show up...

…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]

75. The "Dems suck" faction

[choie]

78. They kneecapped themselves.

[Hekate]

80. Cool move. The GOP faction couldn't have had anything to do with it then.

[betsuni]

91. ...

[tman]

44. And what were they booing for?...

They were booing in response to the very things Obama repeatedly highlighted about the destructive GOP agenda. If you don’t see the slight of hand Obama was playing with that line, that would explain your very odd issue with it

[poli-junkie]

46. I'm just saying: let people in

attendance at stump speeches yell “Boo!”

Stop suppressing people’s passion.

[tman]

52. Fair enough but a lack of passion at Obama's speeches or any election he ran in was never an actual thing.

[Hekate]

58. I felt soooo suppressed by Candidate Obama. Not

Actually, I felt very inspired by his energy and message.

[poli-junkie]

61. I don't like to be told not to boo.

That’s suppressive.

[Hekate]

62. Bless your heart. You just go ahead and boo our candidates --

[poli-junkie]

72. Not at our candidates! Booing at the Repukes!

Obama didn’t like the crowd to boo at what he said about the Repukes and admonished “don’t 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]

35. hmm... Nah, sounds like pretty good advice to me.

[mcar]

64. A great phrase

[Oopsie Daisy]

39. Better than "it doesn't matter how you vote as long as you vote"...

... One is inspirational and a challenge to be our better selves, the other is meaningless virtue signaling and a terrible strategy.

[Oopsie Daisy]

41. Post Removed

Last edited Tue Jul 15, 2025, 08:09 AM - Edit history (1)

[republianmushroom]

9. Thank you, President Obama.

It is about time this happens. And letter won't do it.

[yankee87]

10. Pedo TACO

Why aren’t 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]

12. Wow people are still using the "when they go low" against the Obama's...

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]

13. "When they go low, we go high" is a quote from Michelle's 2016 DNC speech.

If you read Obama's message he's kind of encouraging that.

“You know, don’t tell me you’re a Democrat, but you’re kind of disappointed right now, so you’re not doing anything. No, now is exactly the time that you get in there and do something,” he said. “Don’t say that you care deeply about free speech and then you’re quiet. No, you stand up for free speech when it’s hard. When somebody says something that you don’t like, but you still say, ‘You know what, that person has the right to speak.’ … What’s needed now is courag

I see everyday people doing alot of things. Not so much when it comes to quite a few elected Dems

[tman]

15. Yes, I know it's from Michelle's speech, which is why I point out they are two different people.

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]

26. There's always been an anti Obama element on DU.

It’s like an allergic reaction to winning elections some folks experience.

[ProfessorGAC]

49. Falls Under The Heading Of...

...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]

66. The anti Obama element has been

annoyingly constant here. I can guess why.

[FirefighterJo]

16. Amerika needs a third term president.

Obama! And throw in Joe, Michelle and Hillary to top it off.

[TBF]

18. "Obama should be a third term president"

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]

88. I had the honor

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]

21. I totally agree

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 can’t 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 f’n vote was needed to fail in the Senate……1 VOTE…let that sink in…

[markodochartaigh]

42. Well, that "1 f'n vote"

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]

67. A Republican vote

Let that sink in. Schumer held his caucus together - even Fetterman.

[BannonsLiver]

24. I agree

And wished he had added a line about the need to stop placating every special interest group as well.

[Beartracks]

29. Right. There's a limit to the value of making every special interest a top priority.

In the great tug of war in America, we all need to grab the same rope to maximize our force.

=================

[usonian]

30. With the greatest of respect for President Obama

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]

33. He was warning us about authoritarianism

https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/barack-obama-trump-speech-trump-autocracy-rcna213729

[usonian]

48. The time for "thinly veiled" is over.

Speaking Tuesday night in Hartford, Connecticut, he offered thinly veiled criticism of President Donald Trump and questioned the administration’s commitment to democracy.

Thinly veiled and we’d 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]

31. How about don't kill OFA and backstab progressives...?

[Warpy]

34. Obama is correct, we can't negotiate with terrorists

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]

37. Profound thanks, Mr. President. (nt)

[jalan48]

38. I wish he and Holder had gotten "tough" with the banksters who were responsible for the 2008 financial meltdown.

His message would resonate more today.

[leftstreet]

45. +1

[3825-87867]

47. Beat me to it!

Wasn't it "Let move on from this?"
Yeah, That worked!
And yes, I voted for him twice.

[betsuni]

85. He decided saving the economy from collapse and saving lives with getting health care passed more important.

He only had those first two years before Republicans took over the House.

[thought crime]

55. It would be great to see President Obama and VP Harris out on the road, too.

More leaders doing what Bernie and AOC have done. Build momentum for the next elections.

[KPN]

59. Toughen up? By giving DNC money? I love Obama, but this is not the bold and courageous leadership we need from people

who may be in a position to do so. Just sayin ...

[allegorical oracle]

60. Luv him, and he means well, but that was a tad hurtful for me. I'm buried in Repugs at the

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]

76. Reading a couple of comments here, boy is it obvious who does not like Democrats

And President Obama.

Yeah, that’s how we fucking got here😡😡😡😡😡

[Eliot Rosewater]

79. Jesus Christ, the bashing of President Obama continues here

😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

[3825-87867]

82. Jesus Christ? Didn't know Democrats were perfect!

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]

83. Spoken at a press-free private fundraiser.

Truly courageous.

[B.See]

86. What I said... stop with the

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]

87. I have to post this old Onion:

[lees1975]

92. I'm disappointed, and frustrated.

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]

93. Most of his criticism were aimed at law firms, universities and yes party elites.

The very things many on here are also frustrated with...so some of the fake outrage over his comments is laughable.

the former president’s comments were interpreted by people in the room as a critique of the party’s elites for having gone quiet when they were sorely needed to step up, according to a person who attended.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/us/politics/barack-obama-trump-democrats.html

[mucholderthandirt]

94. Was he talking to us, or the leadership? Because we've been tough, and speaking out.

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