Staff Reports
The Democratic National Convention is turning into a real soap opera, complete with former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama chiming in on President Joe Biden’s less-than-stellar candidacy. Predictably, their speeches were slippery slopes of praise entwined with backhanded barbs that would make any reality show star proud.
Barack Obama, still riding the coattails of his presidency like a surfboard on a gentle wave, took the stage and praised Biden, but not without a few caveats. Rumor has it that Obama’s whispers behind closed doors were instrumental in nudging Biden toward the exit last month. His speech, while shimmering with compliments, also had an undercurrent that said, “Hey Joe, time to pack it up.” The only thing missing was a dramatic flair-up in a commercial break.
🔵DNC RECAP: Former President #Obama thanks President #Biden and praises #Harris during DNC primetime speeches last night.
INFO: https://t.co/JvSdJIcTy6 pic.twitter.com/M7K5srgpDd
— KWTX News 10 (@kwtx) August 21, 2024
While Obama was playing the subtle card, Michelle Obama didn’t hold back. She came out swinging with her musical metaphor, claiming that the air was filled with magic, a charge both airy and concerning. The former first lady waxed poetic about the “contagious power of hope,” as if she was selling tickets to a revival meeting instead of helping to endorse a candidate. Her remarks suggested that the last few years had been nothing but a dreary slog—sneaking the idea that the Biden presidency was a sequel even worse than the last.
The Obamas’ remarks stirred up the political pot, irking some staffers in the White House who found it painfully obvious that they were throwing shade at Biden’s reign. Critics pointed out the obvious: the implication that the Trump years and the Biden presidency were simply different shades of darkness. To make matters worse, Biden and Obama have history, and not all of it is the kind you’ll find in a feel-good memoir. Once upon a time, Biden was miffed that Obama didn’t throw his weight behind him in 2016 and seemed more keen on elevating Hillary Clinton.
Before the convention, there was rumbling among the party elite suggesting that Obama was orchestrating Biden’s diplomatic exit from the 2024 race. Going by reports, Obama’s backroom maneuvering had everyone bracing for Biden to throw in the towel, leaving aides in a tizzy as they tried to figure out if they should care or launch a strategy to hold the fort, no matter how cringe-worthy it might be.
Instead of a harmonious gathering, what unfolded was a dramatic spectacle featuring the Obamas as the shining stars of the evening, drumming up nostalgia for their time while letting the air grow thick with unsaid judgments of the current administration. Amidst their performances, one could find other lesser lights, such as Chuck Schumer and even former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham, taking the stage. The whole affair felt like an awkward high school reunion where even the cool kids couldn’t hide their discomfort. The Obamas may think they’re setting the stage for a Presidential future that doesn’t involve Biden, but time will tell if their plan is as magical as they claim.
