Obama’s comments appear in a new video supporting Gavin Newsom’s Proposition 50 which would allow the California legislature to draw new congressional boundaries ahead of the midterms

Barack Obama has entered the political fray ahead of November’s special election in California, accusing Republicans of attempting to “rig the next election” in a new ad backing Governor Gavin Newsom’s Proposition 50, a ballot measure that could reshape the state’s congressional map.

“Republicans want to steal enough seats in Congress to rig the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years,” Obama says in the 30-second ad, urging voters to approve the proposal. “You can stop Republicans in their tracks.”

  • DupaCycki@lemmy.world
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    1 hour ago

    As far as I can tell, Newsom is just a ‘fascist, but not too obvious, so people won’t protest’ kind of candidate. A perfect pick if you want to salvage what remains of the empire and delay its inevitable collapse. But then again, it’s not like Americans have any reasonable candidates. And we’re also going on the assumption that there will be another election, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

    Would he be an improvement for the American people? And for other countries? At the very least, minorities in the USA would be [mostly] safe for a few years.

    • Basic Glitch@sh.itjust.works
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      8 hours ago

      AOC is my top choice, but I know everybody has a million reasons why America wouldn’t elect her as president.

      But, I had this thought the other day, and I know this is nobody’s dream team, but possibly the odd couple situation that just might work. Am I crazy for thinking a Pritzker-AOC ticket might actually have a decent chance?

      • ToastedRavioli@midwest.social
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        5 hours ago

        The Pritzkers are literally the billionaire family of the Hyatt hotel chain fortune. They are, if anything, one part of the problem with the democratic establishment. If you want there to be zero change in society when it comes to taxing the wealthy to create social safety nets, JB is your guy.

        Realistically there is zero chance that an actual progressive and a Pritzker could ever function on one ticket. Thats like Bernie running with Bezos, it makes no sense

        • Basic Glitch@sh.itjust.works
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          2 hours ago

          So the argument most people seem to focus on regarding AOC is that she’s too far left, especially in terms of economics. If we could have an actual progressive VP, I would hope we could logically then actually have a progressive as a president.

          Pritzker may be from a wealthy family, and not be extremely progressive in terms of economics, but several of his economic policies seem more progressive than a lot of establishment Democrats. They would be an odd couple, but might offset each other enough to make a good team and cast a wide net.

          He raised minimum wage in his state to $15 an hour back in 2019, he passed a law to protect collective bargaining, and he passed a graduated tax law that didn’t make people making $250K or less pay more in taxes.

          I would say the least likeable trait, and probably the thing that would make their pairing least likely, would be his unwillingness to call for the ceasefire in Israel until October of 2024 (which sadly is still a better track record than a lot of establishment Dems).

          It’s also worth noting that he apparently funded his own campaign for governor with his own wealth, and that could make him less beholden to big donors like many establishment Dems.

          I also think he and AOC are two of the few politicians who could really mop the floor with the MAGA narrative control bullshit, and their individual strengths and differences could make them more difficult to target with typical narrative control attacks.

        • WindyRebel@lemmy.world
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          4 hours ago

          Pritzker is a guy who comes from money but actually does try and govern for the people. I live in Illinois and he did a bang up job for COVID, is actively doing things to try and fight/resist ICE and shows up in person to talk to the people, has signed vaccination protections to law, he helped to get stalled projects (like road repairs) going, he’s helped with education funding and requiring homeschooling to have more standards, and more.

          Yeah, he’s not perfect but he’s at least one who fucking fights for the people and is trying to find ways to make things better for us in Illinois. I truly believe he would do the same on a national level.

          • SabinStargem@lemmy.today
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            3 hours ago

            Definitely among the top five people that should be president. AOC is my first pick, but I would be alright with Pritzker too. Newsom is vaguely acceptable, in the sense that he at least has the ability to lead and isn’t a complete idiot. I guess he would at #10.

          • ToastedRavioli@midwest.social
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            4 hours ago

            I never said he is a bad governor or even a bad politician. I said it is antithetical for anyone who is legitimate progressive to run with him. The Prtizkers at large are the type of people who are democrats in the interest of protecting their money. Typical establishment democrats who will make limited concessions in whatever way is needed to prevent any radical change from occurring. No DemSoc or Progressive candidates or voters should be foolish enough to let the fox be in charge of the henhouse

            Being better than nutjob conservative billionaires doesnt make someone a good fit to run with progressive candidates

            • WindyRebel@lemmy.world
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              4 hours ago

              We will see if the progressives like Mandani can do what they say. There is still a lot of resistance in law and interests against them. I think that’s why people get these aspirations to do big positive things in government and then can’t because reality hits. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it’s going to take multiple years and rounds of those kinds of elections and the voters do not have that patience.

      • nondescripthandle@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        2 hours ago

        Making memes online is not standing up to a fascist, thats a delusional take. Pritzker vowing to arrest people who help ICE agents is standing up to a fascist. And neither of those things alone make’s a good candidate.

    • WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world
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      16 hours ago

      They also rigged the last election, and every election for several decades.

      If all of the Geriatric Old Pedophiles various attempts at election fraud were prosecuted the US wouldn’t be a failing fascist state today.

      “Purging” voters, “gerrymandering”, etc are morally and ethically no different than election fraud; you’ve already chosen treason against democracy.

        • hddsx@lemmy.ca
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          2 hours ago

          The answer isn’t Newsom or Trump. I’d take Warren, despite her age. I’d take AOC.

          • Soulg@ani.social
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            8 minutes ago

            If newsom wins the primary then you take newsom in the general.

            I don’t want him to win the primary either but I’m not stupid.

            • hddsx@lemmy.ca
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              2 minutes ago

              I’m sorry, but Newsom gives me the same ick as Trump. I would consider third party if Newsom is nominated. That’s how much I don’t want him to be president, and I voted for both Biden and Harris.

      • Mangoguana@lemmy.world
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        12 hours ago

        You better start finding a better candidate bro before the lesser evil is nominated then.

        You can’t complain about what is happening around you unless you give a solution.

        • nondescripthandle@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          2 hours ago

          You can’t complain about what is happening around you unless you give a solution.

          This is the stupidest take, give me one reason why? Am I also not allowed to complain about the rising cancer rates without giving a solution for those? I sure as shit better not hear you complain about AI ever again unless you can tell me how to fix it too. And global warming? Better just shut the fuck up about it until you personally have a plan on how to fix that.

          All this phrase is is a cudgel to shut up people you don’t want to have to address.

        • mika_mika@lemmy.world
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          10 hours ago

          Yes you can complain and should complain, probably louder. Have fun licking boot, people like you are why we got Trump.

          • Mangoguana@lemmy.world
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            8 hours ago

            Be the change you want to see, complain all you want but all you are doing is setting yourself and the world around you for more complaining.

            (Spoilers for disco elysium) You remind me of that disco elysium communist ending, where all the comrades end up wasting their lives complaining about the bourgeoisie without actually doing anything about it, getting drunk every night each taking turns judging which sickly misery inducing rant was the most powerful.

            • whoisearth@lemmy.ca
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              4 hours ago

              Real world is the levellers and the diggers and good ol’ Oliver Cromwell.

              Everyone complaining. Everyone calling for change. King killed. No one had a plan for after.

              Systems will only change if there is an environment conducive of that change.

              I would argue Obama knows this. Change is incremental.

      • ImgurRefugee114@reddthat.com
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        13 hours ago

        The smallest balls are still the biggest in a room full of eunuchs… The only thing good about Newsom is his PR team’s social media campaigns, and sadly that puts him far ahead of everyone else. Literally nothing else makes him worthy of consideration (or even mention). Dems have gone out of their way to be as inept and complicit as possible, and have purged nearly all authenticity from the party. It’s a hollow shell for capital interests wrapped in a pride flag and a costume of ‘civility.’ It’s fucking embarrassing that he’s as popular as he is right now, but that’s the best you can get from ‘liberals’ who see Bernie and Mamdani as a threat.

      • Jumbie@lemmy.zip
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        13 hours ago

        I am tired of people with your attitude. Holy shit you’re an insufferable group.

  • minorkeys@lemmy.world
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    16 hours ago

    They are actively shaping the electoral environment. They don’t just want to, they are actively preparing to do so.

  • mistermodal@lemmy.ml
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    17 hours ago

    Wow, Obama’s political instincts are as sharp as ever. Can’t think of anyone more charismatic and respected than Governor Newsom 🤗

  • tidderuuf@lemmy.world
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    17 hours ago

    “they are trying to rig the election, so vote Yes on this ballot where we do the same thing they are”

    Politics these days are hilarious.