In Pennsylvania, Barack Obama surprised everyone by condemning the recent assassination of GOP political commentator Charlie Kirk. In doing so, he reiterated his belief that the nation is “at an inflection point.” The former president condemned the escalating political violence in the United States, asserting that it poses a significant threat to democracy. Obama emphasized that while he disagrees with Kirk’s views, he mourns the tragedy and the loss experienced by Kirk’s family.
In his keynote address, Obama reminded us that political violence is not a recent addition to American history. He pointed out that such violence has emerged in every tumultuous time. It’s interesting that he specifically mentioned Kirk’s assassination. He remembered the recent attack on Melissa Hortman, noting how these attacks create an atmosphere of fear and division.
“There are no ifs, ands or buts about it, the central premise of our democratic system is that we have to be able to disagree and have sometimes really contentious debates without resorting to violence.” – Barack Obama
Obama’s speech highlighted a pressing concern regarding how the reaction to Kirk’s assassination could exacerbate existing political and cultural divides. He encouraged people to participate in civil conversations with people of different beliefs, and to treat adversaries with civility even when they disagree. He recognized that crying over victims of violence doesn’t exempt from the need to discuss the ideas they embody.
“Doesn’t negate the fact that what happened was a tragedy and that I mourn for him and his family.” – Barack Obama
In addressing the national political climate, Obama warned against inflammatory rhetoric and discussed the implications of Donald Trump’s language surrounding political opponents. He blamed Trump’s description of opponents as “vermin” and “enemies,” warning that like rhetoric drives the polarization in society.
“What you’re seeing, I think, is the sense that through executive power, many of the guardrails and norms that I thought I had to abide by as president of the United States, that George Bush thought he had to abide by as president of the United States, suddenly those no longer apply.” – Barack Obama
Obama had lauded Utah Governor Spencer Cox for encouraging a more centrist tone in his statement after Kirk’s death. The old president is right that leaders need to be accountable. They alone cannot succeed unless they provide the space needed for political discourse to flourish without resorting to violence.
In his comments, Obama reflected on his own experiences guiding the country through moments of crisis. He was particularly reminded by the aftermath of a 2015 shooting at a church in Charleston, South Carolina. He highlighted the need to acknowledge divisions truthfully at the same time that he called for a return to respect for each other as American citizens.
“Those are all topics that we have to be able to discuss honestly and forthrightly, while we still insist that in that process of debate, we respect other people’s right to say things that we profoundly disagree with.” – Barack Obama
His op-ed notably denounced the arbitrary deployment of National Guard troops into Washington, and the initiation of ID checkpoints by federal agents in Los Angeles. He lamented the fact that all of this plays into an increasingly hostile climate where attacks on protestors or agitators are becoming more normalized.
The backlash to Obama’s comments was just as quick, if not more so, from the Obama administration’s spokesmen. Abigail Jackson, a White House special assistant as well as communications director, hit back tellingley at Obama’s reputation for division during his presidency. She labeled him “the architect of modern political division in America” and claimed that many Americans felt more divided under his leadership than united.
“Obama used every opportunity to sow division and pit Americans against each other, and following his presidency more Americans felt Obama divided the country than felt he united it.” – Abigail Jackson