Barack Obama returned to the campaign trail on Thursday, and it took less than 90 seconds for the crowd to demand “four more years” of the former president.
Obama, campaigning in New Jersey for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy, told the crowd there are two reasons another term isn’t possible: 1. The pesky Constitution; and 2. Michelle Obama.
Video:
Crowd chants “four more years” as former Pres. Obama campaigns for Phil Murphy in New Jersey. https://t.co/qwa4FGsiux pic.twitter.com/MaL43mitx1
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— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) October 19, 2017
Responding to chants of “four more years,” Obama said: “I will refer you both to the Constitution as well as to Michelle Obama to explain why that will not happen, but we’ve got four more years coming up right here in Jersey.”
Later in his speech, Obama struck a more serious tone, saying that the political climate under Trump is divisive and the worldview of those currently leading the country is archaic.
Video:
Obama: “Some of the politics we see now, we thought we put that to bed. That’s folks looking 50 years back.” (ABC) pic.twitter.com/hfPDnNOJNp
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 19, 2017
“Some of the politics we see now, we thought we put that to bed,” Obama said, likely hinting at the recent reawakening of hate groups, particularly white supremacists and neo-Nazis.
“That’s folks looking 50 years back,” he added. “It’s the 21st century, not the 19th century. Come on!”
While Donald Trump continues to bring shame to the United States with his reckless, incompetent and often offensive leadership, Obama gave the country a much-needed reminder of what America can be if we commit ourselves to staying involved and voting rationally.
While Barack Obama’s name won’t be on a ballot ever again, his reemergence into the political arena on Thursday reminded America how much better we can do than Donald Trump.
Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.