Obama steps back into spotlight after voters ignored his warnings about Trump
By
Samantha-Jo Roth
December 2, 2024 4:53 pm
.
Former President Barack Obama is stepping back into the spotlight after President-elect Donald Trump’s decisive 312 to 226 Electoral College victory last month, raising questions about his role in the Democratic Party moving forward.
Obama is participating in a conversation with former German Chancellor Angela Merkel about her new book at the Anthem in Washington, D.C., on Monday. Merkel’s book offers an extensive list of complaints about Trump in her new memoir, describing her experience working with him in an unflattering light.
The former president also plans to headline the 2024 Obama Democracy Forum in Chicago later this week with actor Ryan Reynolds and country singer Reyna Roberts to discuss “pluralism,” in which diverse communities find ways to work together.
Obama’s public appearances come less than a month after the presidential election left Democrats attempting to understand why the party appears to be disconnected from working-class voters. The results of the election also have led some to question whether Obama’s influence remains relevant.
Longtime Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf believes Obama is a critical figure within the Democratic Party.
“His influence is not waning — you can’t get rid of heroes if you can’t replace them,” he said. “The Democrats have a generational issue and a fundamental identity issue.”
“The party has to regroup. The question is — can Barack Obama and the heroes of the past help them do that, or do they need an entire new generation to get to work?” Sheinkopf said.
more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/presidential/3247514/obama-steps-into-spotlight-election-warnings-trump-ignored/
