Obama Took Heat For Keeping His Political Powder Dry. Today’s Speech Proved His Critics Wrong

President Barack Obama reentered the political fray today with a remarkably passionate speech that featured pointed critique of both President Donald Trump and the current toxic political discourse. This came after months of harsh criticism that Obama received from progressives for refraining from explicitly condemning the Trump administration. But by keeping his political powder dry, his breakout speech on Friday was far more potent.

Overall the speech was received exactly how one might expect in this “Rorschach Test” era we find ourselves. Those on the left swooned at what they saw as a nuanced, elegant and hopeful essay encouraging Americans to be their best selves and participating in American democracy. The right was reminded of why they never liked the guy, and were turned off by what they saw as arrogant lecturing that was professorial and soporific.

Either way, the speech was remarkable not just for its contents, but its timing and novelty. With a crucial midterm election looming, it makes sense for the de facto leader of the Democratic party to use his bully pulpit to energize the base.

Critics, however, see Obama’s speech as openly flouting accepted decorum of former presidents by being critical of their successor.  It is rare for a former president to so openly opine on the politics of the day. Ask any presidential historian about the traditions of former residents of the White House and they will be quick to tell you that criticizing the current administration is frowned upon.

Objectively speaking, however, accepted presidential decorum left the building when Trump got near it.

The critical thesis of Obama’s speech, however, was not directly pointed at Trump.  He clearly explained (to what one can fairly describe as a largely anti-Trump crowd) that the current President is a “symptom” of the root problem our country faces: the current cynical and toxic political environment. He then rallied his audience to engage in the democratic process and vote.

Since leaving office in January 2017, the former President has made small and relatively innocuous media appearances, but has largely refrained from commenting on any of the policies, ongoing controversies — including, yes, scandals currently ablaze at the Trump White House. This has led to significant friendly fire from his progressive allies who have based the former president for his radio silence on Trump. The impact of today’s remarkable speech reveals the method to his madness.

President Obama can genuinely defend his political silence from the past two years. After months of negative media coverage from nearly any anti-Trump Pundit, Obama’s voice is relatively refreshing. Because he wisely kept his powder dry, his rhetorical ammo is more politically lethal.

Obama was right to lay low for two years, only to come out and forcefully condemn Trump in advance of the historically important midterm election. It’s difficult to imagine Republicans rallied by their diminishing animus towards a recently resurrected Obama. On the other side of the aisle, one can easily see how his gravitational pull will only make for a much bigger blue wave.

Or at least that’s the hope.

This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.

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