Former President Obama took more veiled shots at his successor Monday night, suggesting that
the reason the U.S. is not taking more direct action against climate change is because of “hate,
anger, racism — mommy issues.”
Obama appeared at the Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago, where author Dave Eggers interviewed
him about ways to mobilize Americans toward creating social change.
When the topic of global warming came up, Obama’s criticism was particularly pointed.
“The reason we don't” invest in climate change policies, Obama said, “is because we are still
confused, blind, shrouded with hate, anger, racism — mommy issues.”
The comments drew laughter from the audience.
“I mean, we — we are we are fraught with stuff,” he continued, “And — and so if that’s the case
then the single most important thing that we have to invest in is not all — and look I’m a huge
supporter of science and technological research and social science and, you know, evidence-based
learning and all that good stuff. I’m — I’m — people call me Spock for a reason, I believe in
reason and logic and all these enlightenment values, but the thing that really we have to invest
in is people. We got to get people to figure out how they work together — in a — you know, how do
we get people to work together in a cooperative, way.
The erstwhile commander-in-chief did not explain what he meant by “mommy issues,” or how these
related to countering climate change.”
Some observations....
The reason we don't invest in climate change is because it's a stupid unsubstantiated theory and people
call you a lot of things but Spock ain't one of them.
the reason the U.S. is not taking more direct action against climate change is because of “hate,
anger, racism — mommy issues.”
Obama appeared at the Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago, where author Dave Eggers interviewed
him about ways to mobilize Americans toward creating social change.
When the topic of global warming came up, Obama’s criticism was particularly pointed.
“The reason we don't” invest in climate change policies, Obama said, “is because we are still
confused, blind, shrouded with hate, anger, racism — mommy issues.”
The comments drew laughter from the audience.
“I mean, we — we are we are fraught with stuff,” he continued, “And — and so if that’s the case
then the single most important thing that we have to invest in is not all — and look I’m a huge
supporter of science and technological research and social science and, you know, evidence-based
learning and all that good stuff. I’m — I’m — people call me Spock for a reason, I believe in
reason and logic and all these enlightenment values, but the thing that really we have to invest
in is people. We got to get people to figure out how they work together — in a — you know, how do
we get people to work together in a cooperative, way.
The erstwhile commander-in-chief did not explain what he meant by “mommy issues,” or how these
related to countering climate change.”
Some observations....
The reason we don't invest in climate change is because it's a stupid unsubstantiated theory and people
call you a lot of things but Spock ain't one of them.
