Obama explains

It is a sign of the pollution of our public discourse that the President of the United States rubs shoulders with the vile Al Sharpton, demagogue and race hustler extraordinaire. Sharpton is one of the most vile figures in American public life.

It’s an old story, and the race hustle has become a strategic component of Democratic politics. Sharpton has become a mainstream figure in the modern Democratic Party. So it’s no surprise that Obama appeared on Sharpton’s radio show, even if disgust is the appropriate reaction.

Against all the odds, however, for the second time in this campaign season, Obama said something useful and, even more improbably, something true in his appearance with Sharpton (first time here). Obama explains that those Democrats who are running for election or reelection in Republican states who are notably, at times comically, seeking to avoid the taint of Obama, are invaluable supporters of his. Listen up:

Well, look, here’s the bottom line. We’ve got a tough map. A lot of the states that are contested this time are states that I didn’t win. And so some of the candidates there, you know, it is difficult for them to have me in the state because the Republicans will use that to try to fan Republican turn-out. The bottom line is, though, these are all folks who vote with me. They have supported my agenda in Congress. They are on the right side of minimum wage. They are on the right side of fair pay. They are on the right side of rebuilding our infrastructure. They’re on the right side of early childhood education.

So, this isn’t about my feelings being hurt. These are folks who are strong allies and supporters of me. And I tell them, I said, you know what, you do what you need to win. I will be responsible for making sure that our voters turn up.

So those Democratic candidates holding themselves out as independent souls with the best interests of their states at heart are just full of it. Thank you for the explanation. Thank you very much.

Via Mary Katharine Ham/Hot Air.

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