The Obamas Strike Back
7Digest
This episode of the Ezra Klein Show delves into the concept of "Obamaism" and its implications for the Biden-Harris ticket, focusing on the speeches delivered by Michelle and Barack Obama at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. The episode explores the core principles of "Obamaism," including pluralism, social progress, and a reinterpretation of American patriotism, emphasizing Obama's belief in bridging the divide between red and blue America and fostering a sense of unity and shared values. It also examines Obama's vision of Joe Biden as a "stabilizer" who embodies the values America needed in the past four years, contrasting this with Obama's own role as a visionary leader. The episode further analyzes Obama's call for a less divisive political landscape, emphasizing the need for listening and understanding across the political spectrum. It critiques the notion of an unstoppable march towards liberal dominance and emphasizes Obama's focus on communication and dialogue. The episode also contrasts Michelle Obama's vision of America with her husband's, highlighting her more realistic and challenging view, acknowledging the ongoing struggles against racism and class warfare. Her speech emphasizes the need for action and resilience in the face of adversity. The episode discusses the evolution of the "when they go low, we go high" mantra, suggesting a shift towards a more assertive and "going big" approach. It analyzes how both Michelle and Barack Obama engaged in more direct criticism of Donald Trump, highlighting the changing political landscape. The episode explores how Kamala Harris fits into the vision of Obamaism, acknowledging her distinct political style and her emphasis on law enforcement. It highlights the contrasting approaches of Harris and Tim Kaine, with Kaine embodying a more traditional Obama-like approach. The episode focuses on Barack Obama's support for the "abundance agenda," particularly his emphasis on increasing housing supply. It highlights the shift within the Democratic Party towards recognizing the importance of housing as a central policy issue and the need for government intervention to address supply constraints. The episode examines Barack Obama's discussion of spiritual emptiness in America, highlighting the shared concern across the political spectrum about loneliness, atomization, and the breakdown of community. It critiques the notion that this is a newly discovered problem and emphasizes the need for political leaders to address these deeper concerns.
Outlines
Obamaism and the 2020 Democratic National Convention
This episode of the Ezra Klein Show discusses the second night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, focusing on the speeches of Michelle and Barack Obama. The episode explores the concept of "Obamaism" and how it relates to the Biden-Harris ticket, particularly in terms of values, policy, and the future of the Democratic Party.
Obama's Vision of Biden and the Need for Stability
The episode analyzes Barack Obama's speech, highlighting his description of Joe Biden as a "stabilizer" and a figure who embodies the values America needed in the past four years. The discussion compares this to the dynamic often seen in startup companies, where a visionary leader is followed by a more managerial one.
Defining Obamaism: Pluralism, Social Progress, and Reclaiming American Patriotism
The episode delves into the definition of "Obamaism," exploring its core principles of pluralism, social progress, and a reinterpretation of American patriotism. It emphasizes Obama's belief in bridging the divide between red and blue America and fostering a sense of unity and shared values.
Obama's Call for Listening and Understanding in a Polarized Political Landscape
The episode examines Obama's call for a less divisive political landscape, emphasizing the need for listening and understanding across the political spectrum. He argues that progress can only be made by recognizing shared values and acknowledging blind spots and prejudices.
Obamaism and the Future of the Democratic Party
The episode explores the evolution of "Obamaism" and its implications for the future of the Democratic Party. It examines the speeches of Michelle and Barack Obama at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, analyzing their visions for America and their critiques of the current political landscape. The episode also discusses the role of Kamala Harris and her potential to embody the principles of "Obamaism" in a new era.
Keywords
Obamaism
A political philosophy associated with Barack Obama, emphasizing pluralism, social progress, and a reinterpretation of American patriotism. It seeks to bridge the divide between red and blue America and foster a sense of unity and shared values.
Abundance Agenda
A policy approach focused on increasing the supply of essential goods and services, particularly housing, to address affordability and accessibility challenges. It emphasizes government intervention to remove barriers and promote economic growth.
Spiritual Emptiness
A sense of meaninglessness and disconnection often associated with modern life, characterized by loneliness, atomization, and a decline in community and shared values. It reflects a broader societal concern about the impact of technology and individualism on human connection.
Yimby
An acronym for "Yes In My Backyard," representing a movement advocating for increased housing density and development to address affordability and housing shortages. It challenges traditional zoning regulations and promotes a more inclusive approach to urban planning.
Post-Liberalism
A political and intellectual movement that critiques traditional liberalism, often emphasizing the importance of community, tradition, and cultural values. It challenges the focus on individual rights and seeks to address the social and cultural consequences of globalization and technological change.
Q&A
How does Barack Obama's vision of Joe Biden differ from his own approach to leadership?
Obama describes Biden as a "stabilizer" who embodies the values America needed in the past four years, contrasting him with Obama's own role as a visionary leader. This comparison highlights the different roles leaders play in times of crisis and change.
What are the core principles of Obamaism?
Obamaism emphasizes pluralism, social progress, and a reinterpretation of American patriotism. It seeks to bridge the divide between red and blue America and foster a sense of unity and shared values, recognizing the importance of inclusivity and social justice.
How does Obama's call for listening and understanding relate to the current political climate?
Obama argues that progress can only be made by recognizing shared values and acknowledging blind spots and prejudices. This call for dialogue and understanding is particularly relevant in a highly polarized political landscape where division and animosity often prevail.
What is the difference between Obamaism and Obama Core?
Obamaism refers to Obama's political philosophy, while Obama Core represents its cultural interpretation. The latter often emphasizes an unstoppable march towards liberal dominance, while Obamaism focuses on communication, dialogue, and reaching out to those who disagree.
How does Michelle Obama's vision of America differ from her husband's?
Michelle Obama presents a more realistic and challenging view of America, acknowledging the ongoing struggles against racism and class warfare. Her speech emphasizes the need for action and resilience in the face of adversity, contrasting with Barack Obama's more optimistic and expansive vision.
Show Notes
Is Obamaism making a comeback? Tuesday night at the Democratic National Convention, Michelle and Barack Obama electrified the crowd with the most powerful speeches of the week so far, and seemed to anoint Kamala Harris as the inheritor of their political movement. For this audio diary, I’m joined by my producer Elias Isquith to dissect those two speeches. We discuss what Obamaism was in 2008 and 2012, and what it means to pass the baton to Harris in 2024.
Mentioned:
“Biden Made Trump Bigger. Harris Makes Him Smaller.” by Ezra Klein
“That Feeling You Recognize? Obamacore.” by Nate Jones
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You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.
This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced and hosted by Elias Isquith. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris, with Mary Marge Locker and Kate Sinclair. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld. Our senior editor is Claire Gordon. The show’s production team also includes Annie Galvin, Rollin Hu, Kristin Lin and Aman Sahota. Original music by Aman Sahota and Isaac Jones. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser.
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