At a recent gathering in Wisconsin, the ex-President Barack Obama voiced his bewilderment at the polarized and acerbic climate pervading the United States. He expressed, ‘The country’s atmosphere seems somewhat vitriolic and fundamentally split, causing unprecedented acrimony. It is indeed bewildering.’ He candidly pointed out how people often dismiss the whole scenario as a chaotic circus and choose to remain indifferent.
Despite such words of concern, it should be accounted for that Obama’s discourse, as well as that of his Democrat colleagues, was not without its divisive elements during his tenure as head of state. The rhetoric propagated on numerous occasions could arguably be seen as contributing to the existing division.
An interesting metric to consider here is a Rasmussen survey conducted in July 2016 – half a year before the end of Obama’s incumbency. This poll recorded that a significant 60% of the American populace felt racial ties had deteriorated since Obama had taken office, indicating dissatisfaction with the state of race relations during his presidency.
While campaigning in the 2016 presidential elections, Democrat Hillary Clinton made a statement that still echoes in the memories of many. She referred to a significant portion of Trump supporters as the ‘basket of deplorables,’ attributing various negative labels to them, including racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, and Islamophobic. It can be argued that such overt comments arguably did little to bridge the divide.
We can’t forget Obama’s own remarks during the 2008 presidential campaign. Amid the heat of the race, he commented, ‘People become embittered and find solace in their firearms, religious beliefs, or prejudices against those who differ from them. They harbor anti-immigrant and anti-trade sentiments, seen as outlets for their discontent.’ Expressions like these, however, might be perceived as somewhat dismissive or derisive.
Obama, moreover, seemed to encourage confrontational engagement in his 2008 message to his supporters. He urged, ‘Engage in discussions with them, regardless of their political leanings. Challenge them, confront them directly.’ The call for such an assertive approach may have fostered more discord than unity.
In 2009, the then-president made his stance on public outrage clear, stating, ‘I don’t want to quench the anger. I believe people have every right to be angry. I, too, am angry.’ Having a prominent leader express such sentiments openly could potentially validate and intensify the public’s disgruntlement.
Then in 2010, within the pages of a popular book, Obama referred to members of the conservative Tea Party movement as ‘teabaggers.’ Such language, while perhaps intended humorously, can inadvertently further polarize political discourse.
Again in 2010, Obama commented on the GOP’s ambitions to regain control of the Houses of Congress. He suggested their success would lead to a resurgence of Bush-era policies and result in ‘a bare-knuckle fight on Capitol Hill.’ By framing political disagreements as physical altercations, it might be said that this again encourages a confrontational and combative style of politics.
As the 2010 elections approached, Obama made his appeal to Latino voters, urging them to use their vote as a tool for punishing opponents and rewarding allies—an approach that inherently frames political participation in adversarial terms.
In 2014, Obama remarked on how entrenched racial prejudice was within American society–a reality check for a nation wrestling with its history of racial inequality. He maintained, ‘This issue is profoundly embedded in our society and history.’
Similarly, during a 2016 memorial service for five Dallas law enforcement officers, Obama reaffirmed the existence of bias within the nation—and within its police departments. He observed, ‘We all know this. Regardless of ethnicity or origin, we’ve all had encounters with bigotry at some point in our lives. We have even heard it in the sanctuary of our homes. If we’re true to ourselves, we’ve noticed prejudice in our thoughts and in our emotions. We’re aware. And it’s a burdensome ordeal for some more than others. Although we try to shield ourselves and educate our children better, no one is entirely devoid of implicit bias. No institution is entirely untainted — that includes our police departments.’
These words remind us that political and social divisiveness, though alarming, form part of the broader spectrum of challenges facing the nation. It’s a poignant reminder that words matter in shaping national dialogue, and that the tone set by leaders has a significant impact on the societal fabric.
Barack Obama: “I don’t understand how we got so toxic and just so divided and so bitter.” pic.twitter.com/OWj3uicQ1o
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) October 22, 2024