Obama Shares Thoughts On Charlottesville – Makes It All About Himself

14 Aug, 2017 by Cassy Fiano

Print this article Font size -16+

Since the violence erupted in Charlottesville, Virginia, there has been no shortage of politicians and public figures weighing in to condemn it — and rightly so. But while some people focused on those who were injured and killed, our former president made it all about himself.

Barack Obama responded to the Charlottesville violence with a tweet expressing hope for an end to racial division. He sent out a string of tweets quoting Nelson Mandela, writing, “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love. For love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

It’s certainly a fitting message and one that is relevant in these tense times. But in typical Obama fashion, he had to assuage his ego, too. The tweet he sent featured, not the Charlottesville victims or Mandela himself, but a picture of Obama.

This was a common occurrence during his presidency, with Obama marking various holidays and observances not with relevant photos or videos, but with photos or videos of himself instead. He honored Rosa Parks, for example, by tweeting a picture of himself on a bus. And people on Twitter noticed.

Others pointed out that the divisive atmosphere was largely his own doing:

Do you think Obama’s tweet was inappropriate?

Cassy Fiano

More articles by Cassy Fiano