Former U.S. president and first lady Barack and Michelle Obama released a searing statement on Sunday, in response to the second shooting death by immigration law enforcement officers in Minneapolis, saying federal officers appear to be using tactics “designed to intimidate, harass, provoke and endanger” Minnesota residents.
The couple said U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration officials “seem eager to escalate the situation,” adding, “This has to stop.”
The statement is the latest in a number of bipartisan criticisms of the Trump administration, as well as calls for accountability, amid the current climate in Minneapolis — where federal law enforcement clashed with protesters who poured into the frigid streets over the weekend, in a city already shaken by another shooting death less than three weeks earlier.
“Rather than trying to impose some semblance of discipline and accountability over the agents they’ve deployed, the President and current administration officials seem eager to escalate the situation, while offering public explanations for the shootings of Mr. [Alex] Pretti and Renee Good that aren’t informed by any serious investigation — and that appear to be directly contradicted by video evidence,” the Obamas wrote.
“You are all being incited into civil war, yet none of it solves any of the real problems that we all face, and tragically people are dying,” Greene wrote on social media.
How many times did you call for civil war, Marge?
This is what passes for leadership from the Democratic Party — wait several weeks, then say something utterly obvious, but do nothing.
What would you have Barack and Michelle Obama do?
Even in a minority position, elected officeholders have a bully pulpit, and any US Congresscritter or Senator — certainly a former President and First Lady — are among the most politically powerful people in America. Any of them could call up a local TV station, ask for an interview, and they’d gladly put them on the air, and they could actually say something people need to hear. They could come to a rally, post a video to YouTube. Any high level Dems could show up somewhere or simply speak up and get the press and the people’s attention, effectively sounding an alarm.
The Obamas said nothing for a month of Minnesota’s occupation, a silence that sadly speaks louder than their statements yesterday. Having finally said things that have been obvious for weeks, I expect they’ll return to silence today — but jiminy jeepers I’d love to be wrong.
They could be on national tv with this. They could be calling for a general strike. They could be calling for prosecution. They could be calling to abolish ice. They could be calling for impeachment.
This is pathetic.
It’s Groundhog Day? Barack & Michelle Obama will now return to their hibernation for another six weeks of winter…
What would you have Barack and Michelle Obama do?
Assuming they’re going to be the mouth piece for the Democrats, then they should not only be condemning it, they should be rallying everyone on Capitol Hill that to act in unison against it.
The issue with this currently as I know it directly from an active member of Congress is:
- NO ONE in the Democratic Party wants to stick their neck out to do anything.
- NO ONE in the Democratic Party has the courage nor accountability to act.
- EVERY ONE in the Democratic Party is waiting for someone else to lead the assault on MAGA and it’s not coming.
Further, it’s been suggested that the Democrats could do more within the party and even without leadership. However. they’re too scared due to threats by MAGAts. Two of the memos I was told about suggest:
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Congressional members against Trump who, if they rally together, can force MAGAs hand.
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Judges against Trump who, if they rally together, can impede Trump actions at the court level and inundate the DOJ and Supreme Court with unfulfilled MAGA actions.
Still. they sit on their hands and do absolutely nothing. Democrats, Republicans, it doesn’t matter anymore. None of them care about the people and it’s inaction or actions within the past year which prove that.
Go stand with the protesters.
If they did that — if they’d been doing that for a year — we’d perhaps have an opposition party, and there wouldn’t be tens of thousands of people in the street and Renée Good and Alex Pretti would be alive and well.
Point out that the party they led ten years ago isn’t doing enough to protect the American people.
Escalating the situation so as to use the Insurrection Act in the US and during which time interfere if not cancel the midterm elections.
It’s all about staying in power and avoiding justice.
Yeah, I also feel that’s the plan. Do more and more egregious stuff, until some citizens respond violently, invoke the insurrection act, and cancel midterms
‘seems’ ??
Iran is definitely getting invaded now. Needs mega distraction.
But this is already the distraction from trump being a massive pedo?
They’re not distractions. They’re all independently horrible issues we can fight.
Unfortunately his distraction from being a pedo was to be a Nazi, which is also frowned upon in some circles.
Distract from the distraction. Also, invading Iran will surely get him the Nobel peace prize.
Everything is a distraction of everything
For what reason? because they shoot protesters? I see no moral authority anymore.
Iran is too far, my money is on Colombia.
Not sure if you misspelled Canada
“seems”
Gee, ya think, Sammy?
Thanks Obama 😴
Wow. Thank you for that limp-dick statement in these troubling times. Very inspiring, Mr. President.
Ooooooo a searing statement!
Have you even done that much, friend? Lead, follow or get out of the way.
You have no idea what people are doing.
