Former President Barack Obama has warned Democratic lawmakers not to create, within the party, a "circular firing squad" that would jeopardize political progress, particularly ahead of the 2020 presidential elections.
Speaking in Berlin at a public meeting of the Obama Foundation, the former commander-in-chief said he was worried that progressive legislators would fall victim to "rigidity" in Washington.
"One of the things that sometimes worries me about progressives in the United States, It may be true here too, it's a certain type of rigidity where we say, "Uh, I'm sorry, that's how it's going to be," and then we sometimes start creating what it's called a "circular firing squad," where you start shooting at your allies because one of them has moved away from purity over issues, "Obama said. occurs, the overall effort and movement are usually weakened. "
Mentioning examples such as his passing of the Affordable Care Act and the Paris Climate Accord, Obama also underscored the importance of compromise in advancing democracy among citizens and legislators who do not agree with a particular philosophy or basic policy.
"You have to recognize that in our structure of democracy, you have to take into account the people who do not agree with you," Obama said. "It means by definition that you will not get 100% of what you want,"
Warning of threats outside democracy, Obama declared the resurgence of nationalism in America "divides us and them "and creates a hostile and unproductive environment.
The comments of the former president lie in the middle of an overcrowded Democratic field with nearly 20 hopefuls in the run-up to the 2020 elections.
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Barack Obama to match UNC vs Duke
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DURHAM, NC – FEBRUARY 20: Former US President Barack Obama watches during the match between North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 20, 2019 in Durham, SC North. (Photo by Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC – FEBRUARY 20: Former US President Barack Obama chats with ESPN analyst Maria Taylor as he attends North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium February 20, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King / Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC – FEBRUARY 20: Former US President Barack Obama attends North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Duke Blue Devils in first half at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 20, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina . (Photo by Lance King / Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC – FEBRUARY 20: Former US President Barack Obama watches during the match between North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 20, 2019 in Durham, SC North. (Photo by Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
Former President Barack Obama attends Duke's visit to North Carolina on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at the Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, New Brunswick. (Robert Willett / Raleigh News & Observer / TNS via Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC – FEBRUARY 20: Former US President Barack Obama (top center) attends the North Carolina Tar Heels match against the Duke Blue Devils in the first half at the Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 20, 2019. Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King / Getty Images)
Former President Barack Obama joins supporters at a college basketball game between Duke and North Carolina in Durham, CN on Wednesday, February 20, 2019. (AP Photo / Gerry Broome)
Former President Barack Obama joins supporters while the national anthem is played at a basketball game between the Duke and North Carolina in the NCAA, in Durham, CN on Wednesday February 20, 2019. (AP Photo / Gerry Broome)
February 20, 2019; Durham, NC, USA; Former President Barack Obama observes during the first half between the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
