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Obama tells men that Trump’s idea of masculinity is not a “real strength.”

Vaseline October 11, 2024

As Donald Trump hurls increasingly vile insults at Kamala Harris, former President Barack Obama, campaigning for the Democratic presidential ticket on Thursday, warned men against supporting the Republican candidate despite his behavior.

“I’m sorry, gentlemen, I’ve noticed this especially among some men who seem to think that Trump’s behavior – bullying and belittling people – is a sign of strength,” Obama said at a rally in Pittsburgh, the first of his speech. several appearances he makes on behalf of Harris in swing states.

“And I’m here to tell you: that’s not what real strength is. That has never been the case,” he added. “Real strength is about working hard and carrying a heavy load without complaining. Real strength is about taking responsibility for your actions and telling the truth, even when it’s difficult. Real strength is about helping those who need it and standing up for those who can’t always stand up for themselves.”

Before the meeting, Obama spoke to a volunteer at a local campaign office and said he did noted a lack of enthusiasm for Harris, especially among black men.

“You think about excluding someone or even supporting someone who has a history of denigration Youbecause you think that’s a sign of strength, because that’s what being a man is, putting women down?” he said. “That is not acceptable.”

Obama’s rebuke of Trump’s attitude toward masculinity comes amid a wide gender gap in this election.

Obama’s rebuke of Trump’s attitude toward masculinity comes amid a wide gender gap in this election. Polls show that Harris has significantly more support among women than among men, and that Trump is doing noticeably better among male voters than among women. (Be sure to read my MSNBC colleague Ja’han Jones’ series on Trump-driven hypermasculinity in right-wing circles.)

Both camps try to increase the appeal of their candidates among the opposite sex. For the Harris campaign, this means Obama must make the case for his support. For Trump, this means making patronizing assurances that he will be a “protector” of women while simultaneously ramping up his ugly personal attacks on Harris.