Obama Had Some Words for 'the Brothers'

Former President Obama minced no words Thursday in Pittsburgh during an unannounced stop at a campaign field office for Vice President Kamala Harris hours before Obama appeared at one of Harris' rallies for the first time. Declaring his intention to "speak some truths" to voters, but especially Black male voters, he went on to question the amount of support Harris is getting. Notable quotes, from the Washington Post and the Guardian:

• "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. Now, I also want to say that that seems to be more pronounced with the brothers."

• "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," he said. On the other hand, "you have someone who has consistently shown disregard, not just for the communities, but for you as a person ... And you are thinking about sitting out?"
• "And you're coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses, I've got a problem with that," he continued. "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."
• The "women in our lives have been getting our backs this entire time," he said. "When we get in trouble and the system isn't working for us, they're the ones out there marching and protesting. And now, you're thinking about sitting out or supporting somebody 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? That's not acceptable."
• At the rally itself later, Obama again addressed men: "I'm sorry, gentlemen—I've noticed this, especially with some men who seem to think Trump's behavior, the bullying and the putting people down, is a sign of strength. I am here to tell you that is not what real strength is and has never been."

(More Barack Obama stories.)