Former President Obama aimed sharp criticism at President Trump in a speech at the University of Illinois, where he also called on Democrats to vote in the midterm elections and warned that the biggest threat to democracy is indifference.
Read the Full Transcript
-
Judy Woodruff:
We return now to former President Obama's remarks today to students at the University of Illinois.
From pointed criticism on the current state of politics, to calling for more common ground, one message was consistent, urging people to vote.
-
Former President Barack Obama:
I'm here today because this is one of those pivotal moments when every one of us, as citizens of the United States, need to determine just who it is that we are, just what it is that we stand for.
And, as a fellow citizen — not as an ex-president, but as a fellow citizen — I'm here to deliver a simple message, and that is that you need to vote, because our democracy depends on it.
But over the past few decades, the politics of division and resentment and paranoia has unfortunately found a home in the Republican Party.
They're undermining our alliances, cozying up to Russia. What happened to the Republican Party? Its central organizing principle in foreign policy was the fight against communism. And now they're cozying up to the former head of the KGB.
And, by the way, the claim that everything will turn out OK because there are people inside the White House who secretly aren't following the president's orders…
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
-
Former President Barack Obama:
That is not a check. I'm being serious here.
That's not how our democracy's supposed to work. They're not doing us a service by actively promoting 90 percent of the crazy stuff that's coming out of this White House, and then saying, don't worry, we're preventing the other 10 percent.
It should not be a partisan issue to say that we do not pressure the attorney general or the FBI to use the criminal justice system as a cudgel to punish our political opponents..
(APPLAUSE)
-
Former President Barack Obama:
We're supposed to stand up to discrimination, and we're sure as heck supposed to stand up clearly and unequivocally to Nazi sympathizers.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
-
Former President Barack Obama:
How hard can that be, saying that Nazis are bad?
You cannot sit back and wait for a savior. You can't opt out because you don't feel sufficiently inspired by this or that particular candidate. This is not a rock concert. This is not Coachella.
(LAUGHTER)
-
Former President Barack Obama:
We don't need a messiah.
All we need are decent, honest, hardworking people who are accountable and who have America's best interests at heart.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
-
Former President Barack Obama:
And they'll step up and they'll join our government, and they will make things better, if they have support.
One election will not fix everything that needs to be fixed. But it will be a start. And you have to start
Listen to this Segment
All stories from this series
-
The big midterm wins, losses and potential future political stars4 min
-
How Florida voters are thinking ahead of Election Day12 min
-
In Arizona, courting the independent vote requires a new playbook
-
Why Florida Democrats need young people and Puerto Rican voters to turn out this election8 min
-
The view from inside Florida’s biggest swing county
-
Map: Midterm Elections 2018
-
How Trump and trade factor into Heitkamp’s reelection battle10 min
-
Will ‘red tide’ algae in Florida turn some Republican voters ‘blue’?4 min
-
Why health care has become a top issue for voters in deep red states10 min
-
DOJ announces criminal charges as Russian citizen accused of election interference4 min
-
How Texas Senate race reflects state’s demographic divide5 min
-
How voter feelings about Trump could affect key House races9 min
-
In one of California’s reddest districts, Republican loyalty is tested by an indictment
-
Putin urges American political elites to ‘calm down’ on Russian election meddling11 min
-
Should Democrats or Republicans be optimistic for midterm elections?5 min
-
Threats to Medicare, Social Security in the spotlight ahead of midterm elections
-
School concerns spur passions in Wisconsin governor’s race8 min
-
This Minnesota district is one that could decide control of Congress4 min
-
WATCH LIVE: Ted Cruz, Beto O’Rourke face off in Texas Senate debate
-
GOP faces identity crisis as some candidates stoke racial divide9 min
-
Controversial GOP candidate questions whether white nationalist movement exists
-
The quiet evangelical campaign to help Republicans hold onto the House and Senate
-
WATCH LIVE: Claire McCaskill, Josh Hawley face off in Missouri Senate debate
-
How Brett Kavanaugh and the abortion debate are driving a key Senate race7 min
-
Why 2018 is looking like a wave election for House Democrats
-
What Arizona and Florida primary winners mean for November10 min
-
4 takeaways from the last major primaries of 2018
-
Key takeaways from the Tennessee primaries
-
The politics behind Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination and the Senate battle ahead
-
Congress will have more Latino members than ever before
-
How voters viewed Trump, health care and immigration, according to exit polls
-
4 questions about Jeff Sessions’ departure and the Russia investigation
-
How the Democratic House victory could echo around the world
-
5 things we learned from the midterm elections
-
Democrats gain governors’ seats, but GOP holds some states
-
Abrams, Kemp await more ballots in Georgia governor’s race
-
California Sen. Dianne Feinstein wins fifth full term
-
Senate races in Montana, Arizona and Florida too close to call
-
Michigan legalizes pot, Massachusetts keeps transgender rights and other ballot measure moments
-
Despite House loss, Trump still sees midterms success
-
WATCH: Trump speaks about midterm election results
-
Trump warns House Democrats against investigating his administration
-
The months-long campaign that drove historic black turnout in Alabama
-
What does voter turnout tell us about the 2016 election?
What do you think? Leave a respectful comment.