Staff Reports
The recent revelation from Fox News reveals that former President Barack Obama is still pulling strings behind the scenes of the Democratic Party, particularly when it comes to pressuring President Joe Biden to bow out of the 2024 race. This maneuvering has ultimately paved the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to take the mantle as the Democratic nominee. It seems that Obama’s influence is alive and well, and it doesn’t stop there. Once upon a time, he was also a key player in elevating the political prospects of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Flashback to 2006, when Walz was a fresh face in politics, taking his first shot at Congress. According to sources, Obama was one of the earliest and most significant endorsers of Walz’s congressional aspirations. It appears as though the former president had a bit of a soft spot for Minnesota, as he threw his support behind not just Walz but also Amy Klobuchar, who was busy being the Hennepin County attorney at that point. Walz fondly remembered an event where a supporter of his insisted on snapping a photo with them, which he later dubbed a capturing of “a future congressman, a future senator, and a future president.” The irony of this statement ages quite poorly, considering the present administration.
Ian Sams, senior national spokesperson for the Harris-Walz campaign, joins Linsey Davis at the DNC, where "the American people got to meet Tim Walz for the first time." https://t.co/2YVK9HcpRd pic.twitter.com/1f2HT2z2jH
— ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) August 22, 2024
The support didn’t end there, as Obama lent his political clout to Walz again in 2018 during his run for governor. The former president proclaimed that Walz was a candidate uniting the state on the foundation of shared ideals rather than division. One has to wonder if Obama was channeling some sort of benevolent spirit, considering how often the Democrats seem to thrive on disunity these days. With a campaign message that included “affordable healthcare” and “quality education,” Walz was likely singing to the choir of progressive ideals that resonate with many Democrats despite the reality of budgetary constraints.
In 2022, Obama once again came out of the woodwork to endorse Walz, employing the same playbook as before—taking advantage of dire issues to rally support. He highlighted Walz’s policies on budgeting, taxes, and public investment with all the flair of a seasoned politician. Remarks such as balancing budgets while cutting taxes for the middle class may sound appealing, but they often mask the classic leftist tendency to grow government while claiming the efforts are for the little guy.
The recurring theme here seems to be that Obama’s endorsements have become somewhat of a political rite of passage for Democratic candidates, but one can’t help but chuckle at the idea that it has to take a former president to propel these politicians forward. If Walz truly had the qualifications and charisma to lead the state, wouldn’t he stand on his own two feet? The fact that he continually needs Obama’s backing raises questions about his viability as a leader outside the shadows of the Democratic elite. Perhaps it’s high time for Minnesotans to ask themselves whether they want leaders of their own making or merely more puppets on a politically orchestrated stage.
