Obama Urges Democrats to Quit ‘Whining’ and ‘Do Something’: ‘Less Navel-Gazing’ and ‘Being in Fetal Positions’

AP Photo/John Minchillo

Former President Barack Obama offered some blunt advice for his fellow Democrats at a private fundraiser, urging them that the way to avoid despair was to quit “whining” and “do something.”

The 44th president spoke Friday evening at a fundraising event hosted by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) and his wife, Tammy Murphy, at their Red Bank, New Jersey home, according to a report by CNN’s Arlette Saenz. The fundraiser was described as an “intimate dinner” and raised $2.5 million for the Democratic National Committee, through in-person and online donations, a source told CNN. Part of those funds will be used to help the campaign of Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), the Democratic nominee for governor.

Excerpts of Obama’s remarks, obtained by CNN, and include multiple quotes in which he directly addressed Democrats’ frustrations with President Donald Trump’s second term and other actions by Republicans at the state and federal level.

Obama told the attendees that he was not “surprised” by the actions of Trump or his administration, because “there are no more guardrails within the Republican Party.”

The solution, said Obama was to take action, reiterating his support for law firms, universities, and others targeted by Trump to fight back:

What’s being asked of us is make some effort to stand up for the things that you think are right. And be willing to be a little bit uncomfortable in defense of your values. And in defense of the country. And in defense of the world that you want to leave to your children and your grandchildren. And if we all do that, if we do our jobs over the next year and a half, then I think we will rebuild momentum and we will position ourselves to get this country moving in the direction it should.

“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,” he said, urging Democrats to avoid complacency and “do something,” because “what’s needed now is courage”:

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. 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.”

As far as what that action should specifically look like, Obama pointed to the upcoming midterm elections, including the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, as “a big jumpstart for where we need to go.” He praised the candidates Sherrill and former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) as “powerful spokespersons for a pragmatic, commonsense desire to help people and who both have remarkable track records of service.”

“Stop looking for the quick fix. Stop looking for the messiah. You have great candidates running races right now. Support those candidates,” said Obama, asking Democratic donors to “start building up our coffers in the DNC” to “make sure that the DNC has what it needs to compete in what will be a more data-driven, more social media-driven cycle, which will cost some money and expertise and time.”

Obama also criticized Democratic policies that are viewed by voters as making their lives harder, like overly restrictive zoning and building regulations.

“You want to deliver for people and make their lives better? You got to figure out how to do it,” he said.

“I don’t care how much you love working people. They can’t afford a house because all the rules in your state make it prohibitive to build. And zoning prevents multifamily structures because of NIMBY,” Obama continued, meaning the “Not In My Back Yard” opposition by local residents who vociferously oppose new development and infrastructure in their neighborhood. “I don’t want to know your ideology, because you can’t build anything. It does not matter.”