Barack Obama’s biographer, David Garrow, criticized the former president and first lady for “talking down” to voters with “tone-deaf and clueless” messaging that he believes damaged Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign.
Garrow, who wrote Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama, told DailyMail.com that their approach may diminish Obama’s political relevance to “Bill Clinton levels” following Donald Trump’s victory.
“People do not want to be talked down to,” Garrow said. “I thought it was tone-deaf and clueless for them to preach as they did.” Garrow suggested this could make Democrats reluctant to place the Obamas front and center in future campaigns.
Concerns Over Obama’s Legacy
Garrow noted that Obama is “extremely concerned and nervous about his historical legacy,” which he says has taken a hit with Trump’s win. Obama’s achievements, like the Affordable Care Act, remain vulnerable to Republican attacks, as Trump has pledged to repeal the law.
The Obamas’ Future in Politics
According to Garrow, the disappointing election results may prompt Democrats to shift away from figures like the Obamas and Hillary Clinton, opting for new leaders outside the progressive sphere associated with figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. While Obama may no longer play a significant political role, Garrow believes his “star-power” will keep him in high demand for speaking engagements.
Focusing on Private Life and Business Ventures
Garrow speculated that the Obamas will spend less time in Washington, opting for a more private life on their properties in Martha’s Vineyard, Chicago, and their new Hawaiian compound. Their business interests, including Higher Ground Productions, are likely to remain central, with Michelle Obama recently promoting her health-focused drink brand, PLEZi, at a California Costco.
Obama’s Messaging Criticized as “Self-Defeating”
Garrow pointed to specific moments, such as Barack’s remarks to a room of Black men suggesting a lack of enthusiasm for Harris as “sexist,” and Michelle’s admonishments against voting for Trump, as examples of missteps. He believes these comments backfired, saying, “At the margins, I think they both harmed her.”
