Speaking at a fundraiser hosted by Gwyneth Paltrow Thursday night for the Democratic National Committee, President Obama urged his base not to get depressed too easily and thus not turn out to vote.
After speaking about the fact that the average person has not seen their wages or incomes go up in the last 20 years, the President also addressed the global issues of ISIL and Ebola. But President Obama also took time to warn Democrats about the importance of getting out the vote in the upcoming November 4th midterm elections, in which Democrats are at risk of losing control of the Senate to extremist Republicans.
According to The Wrap:
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Mr. Obama then addressed what he calls the “congenital disease” among his base, wherein “a) we get depressed too easily, and b) we’re terrible at paying attention to midterm elections.” He added, “I hope that in these midterms you feel a sense of urgency about this — and I’m talking to you, Democrats.”
Ms. Paltrow told the President that she was one of his biggest fans, and then reminded everyone what was at stake on November 4th. She said, “It would be wonderful if we were able to give this man all of the power that he needs to pass the things that he needs to pass.” And this is where Republican heads will explode, as The Wrap described it as Paltrow flirting with Obama, “I’ll shut up now and just say welcome … and you’re so handsome that I can’t speak properly.”
Paltrow “cited sustainable energy efforts as well as Obama’s push for equal pay, which she called ‘Very important to me as a working mother,'” according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Furthermore from THR:
He spoke of 55 months of uninterrupted job growth, investments in energy, the success of Obamacare — “and yet people remain anxious.”
“Most of the gains in our economy go to the folks who are in this lovely yard — and the average person has not seen their wages or incomes go up in the last 20 years.”
The President is right about his base. The fear and skittishness is in the air. The media aids and abets the nervousness of the Democratic base with their attachment to the way things used to be, before Republicans went insane.
Any good news for Democrats is met by the base with disbelief and fear. One small word from a gloating Republican will send many Democrats under the covers, where they can hide from what feels inevitable to them after years of incredulity (2004? Really, America?) and lost elections. But hello, 2008 and 2012. The times they are a changin’.
President Obama ushered in a new kind of Democrat. One who is not afraid and does not run away from conflict. One who stays in the fight, armed with facts, and stays optimistic. One who knows that the war is not won in the media or with unskewed polls, it’s won in battles around the country via the ground game. There are more of them, and they ultimately have the power if only they exercise it.
President Obama knows his base is easily depressed by gloating Republicans. He knows that in the weeks leading up to the election, Republicans will do all that they can to depress morale in order to reduce turnout because lower turnout is good for Republicans. President Obama has been tireless in his efforts to better things for average Americans. The midterms are their chance to be tireless in return. To have his back, so he can have theirs.
Democrats shouldn’t put GOP blinders on and just operate in a bubble of false faith, but they should keep their eye on the ball and not let anything or anyone distract them from getting out the vote in their neighborhood and town. Every battle won is a victory, and eventually these victories will add up to what is inevitable if the Republican Party does not adapt. So the President is reminding them: Don’t get depressed. Get mad at being written off by Republicans and the media. Take that energy to the voting booth.
While in Los Angeles, the President has another Democratic National Committee fundraiser to attend Friday morning, this one hosted by Michael and Eva Chow.
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