Former President Barack Obama, in a rare post-presidency speech abroad, took several thinly veiled shots at his successor and other populist “right-wing billionaires” — while openly touting a controversial liberal push for “universal income.”
In one of his biggest speeches since leaving the White House, Obama delivered the 2018 Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Johannesburg, South Africa on Tuesday. He used the platform to rail against populist movements, which have gained strength in the U.S. and Europe.
“Given the strange and uncertain times we are in—and they are strange, and they are uncertain—with each day’s news cycles bringing more head spinning and disturbing headlines, I thought maybe it would be useful to step back for a moment and try to get some perspective,” Obama began.
Obama went on to slam the “right-wing billionaires” leading populist movements, in a clear reference to President Trump and like-minded politicians in Europe.
“Populist movements, cynically funded by right-wing billionaires worried about their own interests,” Obama said. “These movements tapped the unease that was felt by so many people who live outside of urban course. That their social status and privileges were eroding … threatened by outsiders, those who don’t look like them or sound like them.” – READ MORE
[divider][/divider]Former President Barack Obama spoke earlier today in South Africa at an event honoring Nelson Mandela when he spoke on the “utter loss of shame among political leaders when they’re caught in a lie and they just double down”:
Former Pres. Obama: "Unfortunately, too much of politics today seems to reject the very concept of objective truth. People just make stuff up…we see the utter loss of shame among political leaders where they're caught in a lie and they just double down" https://t.co/s4drXPlcRD pic.twitter.com/rn5o4xt9rM
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) July 17, 2018
Because we have quite a few memories of lies that he told where you can say he doubled down. Like, “if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor”:
"Here are the 37 instances we could find in which President Barack Obama or a top administration official said something close to, “If you like your plan, you can keep your plan,” referring to health insurance changes under the Affordable Care Act." https://t.co/PTiWgEt6sZ https://t.co/Yryb6qHBeb
— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) July 17, 2018
Yep, for shame. IRS…Benghazi. . . https://t.co/qwRLbHvWWO
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) July 17, 2018
[give_form id=”79809″] [contentcards url=”http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/07/17/obama-slams-populist-right-wing-billionaires-touts-liberal-push-for-universal-income.html” target=”_blank”]Kind of like lying about healthcare, Iran, green energy, jobs, Libya, Iraq, spending, Russia, taxes, Republicans….? https://t.co/Z5ETgtS1LG
— Ashe Schow (@AsheSchow) July 17, 2018