OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
Former President Barack Obama nearly came unhinged on Monday as he railed at former President Donald Trump following his highly successful rally on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.
In particular, Obama echoed other complaints from the left regarding a joke about Puerto Rico told by insult comedian Tony Hinchcliffe in which he referred to the country as a “floating island of garbage.”
Following the left’s outrage, several X users posted factual accounts and references to the island’s chronic battle with trash, complete with photos.
Nevertheless, Obama resorted to what he does best — stoking division and hatred among various groups of Americans during a speech on behalf of Vice President Kamala Harris in Philadelphia, all while claiming to be an agent of ‘unity’:
Donald Trump wants us to think that this country is hopelessly divided between us and them – between the, quote “real Americans” who support him, of course, and the outsiders who don’t – ‘the enemies within.’ Because, what did I say about booing? Vote. Because, because Donald Trump understands – and he’s not wrong about this – that, that dividing people, making them angry, will boost his chances of being elected. It’s not good for the country, but it might improve his odds.
We saw it last night… The man holds a big rally at Madison Square Garden, and the warm-up speakers were saying the most, were-were trotting out and peddling the most racist, sexist, bigoted stereotypes. One guy called Puerto Rico, quote ‘an island of garbage.’ These, these are fellow citizens he’s talking about. Here in Philadelphia, they are your neighbors. They are your friends, they are your coworkers. Their kids go to school with your kids. These are Americans, they’re people.
And that is the reason why this election should not be close. It should be clear. Here’s a good rule: if someone does not respect you, if someone does not see you as fellow citizens with equal claims to opportunity, to the pursuit of happiness, to the American Dream, you should not vote for them.
You should not expect them to make your life better. They will not help you make the– they will not help you pay the bills. They’re not going to work hard, make sure your kid gets a good education. They’re not going to help you with a downpayment on a house.
I mean, we have to reject the kind of politics of division and hatred that we saw represented. America’s ready to turn the page. America’s ready for a better story. Philadelphia, we are ready for a President Kamala Harris.
Harris continued the divisive language during her closing speech at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., Tuesday evening.
“In less than 90 days, either Donald Trump or I will be in the Oval Office. On day one, if elected, Donald Trump would walk into that office with an enemies list,” she said, echoing another familiar myth that Trump will use the Justice Department the way she and President Biden have used it against him.
She then falsely claimed: “Donald Trump intends to use the United States military against American citizens who simply disagree with him.”
