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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHoly Shit - Obama finally speaks out
Thanks Cory Booker - you woke them all up
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Barack Obama Says The ‘Silent’ Part Out Loud With ‘Unimaginable’ Trump https://www.huffpost.com/entry/obama-trump-universities-law-firms-hamilton-college-speech_n_67ef6831e4b0fe50ebd39bc8
Barack Obama didn’t need to name-drop Donald Trump on Thursday to take a swing at how conservatives treated his time in the Oval Office compared to the current president.
“It’s unimaginable that the same parties that are silent now would have tolerated behavior like that from me or a whole bunch of my predecessors,” said Obama as he reportedly drew applause in a speech at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York.
The former president — in a speech that attendees were barred from recording — was referring to the Trump administration’s attacks against law firms as well as funding threats toward universities, which have been fueled by claims that schools aren’t protecting Jewish students from antisemitism.
The speech was detailed by CNN Politics writer/editor David Wright in a thread on X, formerly Twitter.
Obama, per Wright’s rundown, continued, “Imagine if I had said to law firms that were representing parties that were upset with policies my administration had initiated that you will not be allowed into government buildings. We will punish you economically for dissenting from the [ACA] or the Iran Deal.”

Demovictory9
(35,457 posts)Trump can do, say whatever
malaise
(283,289 posts)M$Greedia has facilitated this mess
They created this despicable mobster monster
mdbl
(6,288 posts)
Response to Demovictory9 (Reply #1)
Post removed

Raven
(14,244 posts)Quakerfriend
(5,820 posts)universities because they don’t protect Jewish students while Elon gives Nazi salutes & they display Nazi symbols at CPAC etc, etc.
calimary
(85,967 posts)VERY worried. We NEED Marc Elias to speak for us and get media coverage for saying what we're all feeling.
Wednesdays
(20,484 posts)How about "disappeared"?
Along with several others.
Justice matters.
(8,307 posts)El Salvador is like Russia's Siberia now?
surfered
(6,332 posts)Just like they do with their religion.
erronis
(19,198 posts)just like they do with their holy book.
BattleRow
(1,559 posts)AllaN01Bear
(24,834 posts)LittleGirl
(8,663 posts)except too many words.
Emile
(34,181 posts)Attilatheblond
(5,684 posts)Conjuay
(2,385 posts)that using ‘his own words’ against him can’t be be the reason.
Rec
SalamanderSleeps
(771 posts)Then, people will believe that the Democratic Party has really turned a corner, and is ready to push the GOP mafia into the ocean.
markpkessinger
(8,706 posts). . . Somehow, "speaking out" in a speech that attendees are barred from recording doesn't really cut it.
DENVERPOPS
(11,851 posts)I have been wondering for years, where Obama was, where Bill Clinton was, where Hillary Clinton was, and where Kamala Harris is...........Who else?????????
We in Colorado shouldn't be talking, we have Two Dem U.S. Senators that are never heard from and a couple of Dem U.S. House members not saying much if anything.........Also a Denver Dem Mayor who is a joke, and a "Dem" Governor that is pro corporations.......
Danascot
(5,009 posts)is the citizen."
BoRaGard
(5,122 posts)

wordstroken
(1,097 posts)
Dennis Donovan
(30,496 posts)Updated: Apr. 04, 2025, 6:52 a.m.|Published: Apr. 03, 2025, 9:26 p.m.
/snip/
But Obama said while he disapproved of new tariffs that sparked the stock selloff, he was more worried about Trump’s attacks on American values.
“I’m more concerned with a federal government that threatens universities if they don’t give up students who are exercising their rights to free speech,” Obama said, without ever citing Trump by name. “The idea that they can say to law firms that if you represent parties we don’t like we’re going to pull all our business is contrary to the basic compact we have as Americans.”
Trump, a Republican first elected after Obama’s two terms, has threatened to withhold billions in federal funds from universities unless they change their policies on diversity and student protests. He has also revoked security clearances for lawyers in liberal law firms.
Obama urged universities, law firms and citizens to fight back.
“If you’re a law firm being threatened, you might have to say, ‘We might lose some business because we stand for a principle,‘” the Democratic former president said. “If you are a university you might have to say, ‘We stand up for what we believe in and we’ll pay our researchers for a while from our endowment.‘”
/snip
Prairie_Seagull
(4,103 posts)Like many of us I was waiting, figured it would happen, didn't know when.
Thanks Mr. President.
IronLionZion
(48,564 posts)The Obama and Biden administrations used thoughtful analysis for their policies. The Trump administration clearly puts no effort or thought whatsoever. We can all see it.
paleotn
(20,295 posts)God I miss that man.
What I don’t get is the Jewish student bit with Donny. Many, maybe most, of his followers are old school antisemitic. Why would they give a shit? Hate Palestinians more I guess? Then again I’m assuming they think about what they do and why they do it. Not much thinking going on with that bunch of ingrates.
Justice matters.
(8,307 posts)war-criminal bibi's approval?
Just speculating.
maxrandb
(16,520 posts)I don't need to imagine what would happen, because his own party and voters would, rightfully, stand against him.
That is quite different than the monster we are currently dealing with.
Martin68
(25,537 posts)markpkessinger
(8,706 posts). . . but I think he needs to do more than "speak out" in a speech attendees are barred from recording.
RockCreek
(974 posts)flashman13
(1,160 posts)J-9
(72 posts)all that 3rd term talk. If came out strong saying that he would run, just bring it, Repubs would say it's unconstitutional. I know they are trying to bend it to fit the orange ahole and not Obama. But if he were loud about it and got folks riled up, that dumb talk would cease.
thought crime
(163 posts)Response to malaise (Original post)
BidenRocks This message was self-deleted by its author.
FakeNoose
(37,218 posts)No paywall link: https://archive.ph/leStO
Chump DID revoke protection to Joe Biden's adult children, that was just announced a couple weeks ago.
"Trump to end Secret Service protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden"
NBC News Link: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-end-secret-service-protection-hunter-ashley-biden-rcna196826

Figarosmom
(5,306 posts)Because I saw part of it when I was scrolling through youtubes earlier.
Rhiannon12866
(232,840 posts)https://democraticunderground.com/132145679
malaise
(283,289 posts)
Rhiannon12866
(232,840 posts)And the thing that struck me was that he spoke at my college! We had numerous speakers when I was there, but never a president! I wonder where it was held, or if there was room for alumni! I can imagine that the place was packed!!!