Former President Barack Obama shouted over protesters at a Friday Miami rally to tell people to vote for the Democratic ticket next week or face “dangerous” consequences from Republicans in Congress and the White House.
In an indirect rebuke of President Trump, Obama told the crowd that “the character of our country is on the ballot,” and denounced Trump several times without naming him.
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“In the closing weeks of this election, we have seen repeated attempts to divide us with rhetoric designed to make us angry and make us fearful, designed to exploit our history of racial, ethnic and religious division that pits one against another,” Obama said.
“And that makes us believe order would be restored if people who don’t look like we look, love like we love, or pray like we do,” he added.
Obama called President Trump’s decision to send troops to the border to stop a caravan of thousands of illegal immigrants headed there “a political stunt.”
He referenced lies “at the highest level” of the government, threats to “freedom of the press,” and denials of climate change, all jabs at the Trump administration and GOP.
And he criticized Trump for not doing enough to help Puerto Rico after last year’s devastating hurricane and “for ripping immigrant children from the arms of their mother at the border,” and said the president “doesn’t get to decide on his own who is an American citizen and who is not,” referring to Trump’s announcement that he plans to take executive action to end birthright citizenship.
“I’m hopeful we will cut through the lives, block out the noise and remember who we are and who we are called to be, I’m hopeful that out of this political darkness we see a great awakening of citizenship all throughout this country.”
Obama on Friday campaigned in Florida for Democratic candidates, including Sen. Bill Nelson, who is running for re-election, and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who is vying to become the next governor. Both are in tight races against their GOP opponents and are looking to energize their base ahead of the Nov. 6 election.
Campaign events for the close races have gotten tense, and protesters have turned out at both Democratic and Republican events over the past few weeks.
Protesters interrupted Obama several times, but Obama either mocked them or talked over them.
“One of the things I never understood was why if you are supporting the other guy, you come to my rally,” Obama said. “Go to their rallies. Go talk about what you are for. Don’t go hollering here.”
