Obama’s Avoidance of Political Content: A Surprising Admission
In a revealing discussion on Saturday, former President Barack Obama admitted to a group of social media influencers that he avoids political content, preferring instead to watch sports. This confession came during a Biden fundraising event in Los Angeles, where Obama addressed Instagram and TikTok creators about the current political climate.
“We live in a cynical time,” Obama stated, acknowledging the challenges that influencers face when trying to steer clear of political discourse in their work. “I get it,” he said, candidly adding, “I frankly watch sports, mostly.”
This admission from Obama is quite telling. It reflects a sentiment that many Americans share—a fatigue with the relentless barrage of political content and a yearning for simpler, more enjoyable pastimes. In an era where political discourse often devolves into bitter partisanship and social media echo chambers, it’s no wonder that even a former president feels the need to step back and tune into something less contentious.
However, this did not deter Obama from attempting to rally support for 81-year-old President Joe Biden. Despite his own avoidance of political content, Obama urged the young and progressive influencers to leverage their platforms to boost Biden in the upcoming election.
Obama acknowledged that these content creators “may not agree with everything [Biden] does,” but emphasized that the President’s “basic trajectory” and core beliefs would “nine times out of ten” align with their own. He asked the influencers to overlook differences and “use your influence” to engage their followers in a way that supports Biden’s campaign.
It’s a clever move by the Biden campaign. They are well aware that attracting young voters and progressives is crucial, especially in swing states. By courting these influencers, the campaign hopes to mobilize a demographic that is typically less informed and less engaged in traditional political activities.
The strategy is clear: use popular social media figures to reach and activate a broader, younger audience. These influencers have the power to shape opinions and drive engagement among their followers, potentially turning out a significant number of voters on election day.
But let’s be honest here. The real irony lies in Obama’s own admission of avoiding political content while simultaneously urging others to dive into the political fray for the sake of the Biden campaign. It’s a classic case of “do as I say, not as I do.”
As the 2024 election approaches, it will be interesting to see how effective this strategy is. Can a group of largely apolitical social media influencers really sway the youth vote in favor of Biden? Only time will tell. One thing is certain, though: the Biden campaign is pulling out all the stops to secure the support it desperately needs.
In the meantime, we can take some comfort in knowing that even someone as politically immersed as Barack Obama needs a break from the chaos. Maybe we should all take a page from his playbook and tune into a good game every now and then.