# Obama's got 9 days to show some guts and save the republic **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 23, 2020, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393 "2020-02-23T15:09:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/261 "2020-03-02T16:32:37Z")
> [@Corry\_El](#): > > … Sanders’ proposals like up to 8% pa wealth tax … Sanders’ proposal is good for family values. A bachelor worth $10 billion will be able to reduce his annual wealth tax by $96.7 million simply by getting married. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/262 "2020-03-03T01:11:17Z")
We haven’t had the big prize of an endorsement from Obama himself, but there has been an impressive slate of prominent establishment Democrats rallying behind Biden over the past few days. I would not be at all surprised if the Big O has privately urged many of them to do this while he remains nominally neutral. Whatever the reason, it’s great to see (as is the steady decline in Bernie’s chances on the 538 tracker, mwahahaha). ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/263 "2020-03-03T05:19:33Z")
An analyst on MSNBC said Obama has been giving what they called “smoke signals” in support of Joe Biden. One of the most important was that today his close associate Susan Rice endorsed Biden. So he’s kind of trying to have it both ways, but it is better than nothing. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/264 "2020-03-03T15:15:43Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > We haven’t had the big prize of an endorsement from Obama himself, but there has been an impressive slate of prominent establishment Democrats rallying behind Biden over the past few days. I would not be at all surprised if the Big O has privately urged many of them to do this while he remains nominally neutral. Whatever the reason, it’s great to see (as is the steady decline in Bernie’s chances on the 538 tracker, mwahahaha). I’ve been expecting the nonsanders vote to coalesce around “whomever is leading except Bernie” as people drop out. It’s happening faster than I expected, though. I didn’t see Buttigieg dropping this quickly. Sanders would make a terrible President. The thing is, even if you’re a hardcore democratic socialist, Sanders is a much worse choice than Biden. Biden, however centrist he might be, has the political skills, allies and favors to get something progressive done. Sanders doesn’t; his list of Congressional accomplishments and alliances is astoundingly short. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/265 "2020-03-03T17:23:19Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > An analyst on MSNBC said Obama has been giving what they called “smoke signals” in support of Joe Biden. One of the most important was that today his close associate Susan Rice endorsed Biden. So he’s kind of trying to have it both ways, but it is better than nothing. I think Obama is keeping his powder dry in case of a brokered convention. The Democrats will need someone well respected by the entire party to help them to reach a compromise nominee and unite behind them going into the general. Obama is the obvious choice for this. If he comes out hard for Biden now, he’s going to be viewed by the Sanders camp as a biased stooge of the establishment, and so lose any effectiveness. They may view him that way anyway, but it will be worse if he comes out now. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/266 "2020-03-03T17:37:40Z")
There is some chatter that Obama called Buttigieg to encourage him to drop out in favor of Biden. I’m sure Obama is as terrified of a Sanders nomination as I am, I can see him doing this. I would not be terribly surprised if Biden overtakes Sanders in delegates tonight and goes on to gain a plurality by June, at which time Obama should go ahead and endorse. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/267 "2020-03-03T17:47:38Z")
If I were an engaged voter that had decided on Buttigieg or Klobuchar, I’d be really pissed off about now. Not about Buttigieg and Klobuchar dropping out, but about the timing. For months now, voters have been watching debates, reading OpEds, researching policy positions and making a choice. And I feel that the timing of these dropouts was arranged in order NOT to give these voters time to carefully pick a new candidate. If I had picked Klobuchar or Buttigieg I’d stay home. Or vote for Sanders or Bloomberg. I actually do not expect great turnout in the primaries. Because I don’t know many people IRL that are enthused about anyone. In general, the sentiment I’m hearing is “I don’t like any of them but just pick someone and I’ll vote for them in November”. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/268 "2020-03-03T19:42:02Z")
I can’t cosign that whole post, but it is kind of dumb that so many candidates are gone before people get a chance to vote (and it’s especially dumb to have early voting in this scenario). I really think they need to go to a nationwide primary, with ranked choice voting. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/269 "2020-03-04T09:10:34Z")
NBC News posted the following late Monday afternoon: > **[Looking for Obama's hidden hand in candidates coalescing around Biden](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/looking-obama-s-hidden-hand-candidate-coalescing-around-biden-n1147471)** > > Pressure increases on Mike Bloomberg as candidates exit the race and back Joe Biden. > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON — As Democrats begin to coalesce around Joe Biden as the moderate alternative to Bernie Sanders, there appears to be a quiet hand behind the rapid movement: former President Barack Obama. > Obama spoke with his former vice president after he handily won the South Carolina primary on Saturday, and with Pete Buttigieg on Sunday when he dropped out of the Democratic race, according to people familiar with the calls.[…] > > People close to Obama said the former president has been keeping close tabs on the race. They said the signal has been sent in the past 36 hours that he sees Biden as the candidate to back… ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/270 "2020-03-04T12:15:39Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > he’s going to be viewed by the Sanders camp as a biased stooge of the establishment, and so lose any effectiveness. > > They may view him that way anyway, but it will be worse if he comes out now. Thank you for that last bit, I WAS about to ask if there was anyone who’d assume such a role that they would NOT view as “a biased stooge of the establishment”. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/271 "2020-03-04T14:11:27Z")
Obama: Well, my work is done here. Democrats: You didn’t do anything! Obama: [_chuckles_] Didn’t I? [_Beams out_] ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/272 "2020-03-04T14:12:55Z")
* * * ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/273 "2020-03-04T17:51:01Z")
I see it as the smart move, and the correct move. “Correct” in the sense of my idealism for democratic egalitarianism…let the Democratic voters decide, and then get on their agenda rather than try to move them towards his. Smart, in the sense that he avoided “putting a thumb on the scales”. There will be malcontents complaining about the “Establishment DNC” regardless, but no good reason to give them a good reason. I like Bernie’s politics, but don’t like him as a candidate. Stakes are just too damn high. Not even “Us against Them”, its Not Them against Them. I’m on the conservative wing of the extreme left, but at least Biden isn’t stupid and evil. That counts. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/274 "2020-03-04T18:13:50Z")
Assuming Obama has been masterminding the path of the campaign, how exactly is he doing it? The big shift this week was the primary results. Did Obama personally show up at each polling place and whisper to voters that they should vote for Biden? ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2020, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/275 "2020-03-05T02:03:10Z")
Srsly? He let it be known that Amy and Pete needed to get out of the race and endorse Joe. He probably also talked to Beto, Harry Reid, Jim Clyburn, etc. He doesn’t need to talk personally to each voter–why say something silly like that? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2020, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/276 "2020-03-05T03:22:04Z")
“He let it be known…”? How does one shout in the passive voice? And how, exactly? Was it a stunning suggestion. catching experts and observers off-guard with the out-of-the-ballot box thinking? “Today, Obama insinuated a hint that maybe the lesser candidates should move to an early resolution for the sake of unity!” “Whoa, Biff, once again he shows us what a wild and crazy guy he is! Where does he get these far-out ideas?” ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2020, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/277 "2020-03-05T04:20:30Z")
He will endorse Biden. He owes him. He is just waiting sure Sanders is beaten first. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2020, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/278 "2020-03-05T04:53:24Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > “He let it be known…”? How does one shout in the passive voice? Why would he need to shout? When you’re Barack Obama, Democrats listen intently to your whispers. See post #269 for the deets. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2020, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/279 "2020-03-05T05:25:28Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Srsly? He let it be known that Amy and Pete needed to get out of the race and endorse Joe. He probably also talked to Beto, Harry Reid, Jim Clyburn, etc. He doesn’t need to talk personally to each voter–why say something silly like that? And what did they do? Sanders’ campaign took a major downturn this week. But it wasn’t some backroom deal. It was because primary voters all over the country voted for a different candidate. How exactly did Obama or anyone else influence the way those people voted? And keep it a secret? It seems to me that the only way Obama could have influenced the outcome of the primaries was by very publicly endorsing Biden (or denouncing Sanders) and asking people to vote in a particular way. Which he did not do. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2020, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/280 "2020-03-05T06:14:01Z")
Duuude. I’ll try one more time, but then I give up if you don’t, or won’t, get it. There were a number of “anti-Bernie” or “center-lane” candidates. Voters who didn’t want Bernie were scattered, spread thin, not sure who to unite behind. And some of them just liked Pete or Amy better than Joe, but if it was down to Joe or Bernie, they definitely weren’t picking Bernie. So by urging those other candidates to get out of the race, and by urging influential Democrats like Clyburn, Reid, and Beto to endorse Biden, Obama back-channeled additional support behind Biden to make him \*the \*guy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393.md?page=15)