The title of this blog is, in actuality, the title of Larry Elder’s latest commentary at hotair.com. And it is a terrific one.
Here is how it begins:
Former President Barack Obama recently explained why he rarely comments on current politics:
“There are moments … where our core values are at stake. In those moments, I think it’s appropriate for me to say something.”
But if the rise of democratic socialism inside his own party, the growing denunciation of capitalism and accusations that Israel is committing “genocide” don’t qualify as moments when America’s core values are at stake, what does?
Elder goes on to show example after example of comments and actions, regarding socialist Democrats telling us of their hatred for the United States and hatred of Israel (and, you can bet, Jews in general). But not a peep out of him. A few excerpts:
In 2013, Obama said, “… nobody questions the efficacy of market economies in terms of producing wealth and innovation and keeping us competitive.”
Today, some of the Democratic Party’s rising stars, with the biggest voices, do exactly that.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani vows to “replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.” One of his endorsed candidates for the U.S. House, Darializa Avila Chevalier, expressed views that would have been unrecognizable in the Democratic Party of President Obama.
Avila Chevalier called for abolishing police and prisons, posted about wiping her hands on the American flag, and denounced interracial relationships by accusing Black and Arab men of “fetishizing ugly colonizer women,” one of several posts in which she attacked white women.
Claire Valdez, another Mamdani-endorsed Democratic nominee for the U.S. House, has vowed to “take away buildings” from alleged slumlords and supports nationwide rent control.
Where is Barack Obama?
Following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, Obama defended Israel’s right to defend itself. He has never accused Israel of genocide. In 2025, he wrote on X: “After two years of unimaginable loss and suffering for Israeli families and the people of Gaza, we should all be encouraged and relieved that an end to the conflict is within sight; that those hostages still being held will be reunited with their families; and that vital aid can start reaching those inside Gaza whose lives have been shattered.”
But as Mamdani, DSA-backed candidates and others within the Democratic Party increasingly describe Israel as an apartheid state committing genocide, where is Obama?
He ends with this:
Obama once scoffed at those who called him a socialist, saying they should “meet real socialists.” He defended market economics as the engine of innovation and prosperity. He defended Israel’s right to defend itself. He urged Americans to reject ideological extremes.
Obama says he speaks when America’s “core values are at stake.” Many Americans — including many Democrats — might reasonably ask: If not this, what? If not now, when?
Do yourself a favor and use the link (here it is again) to read every word. Then think about where the Democrat Party has fallen…and the fact that it continues to fall in that direction every day.
