‘Why Are Black Men Being Lectured?’: CNN Panelist Says Obama ‘Is Wrong’ With Campaign Speech

Former Democratic state Sen. Nina Turner of Ohio criticized former President Barack Obama Thursday night, accusing him of lecturing black men during a campaign event for Vice President Kamala Harris.

Obama urged black men to support Harris while speaking at a Pittsburgh-area campaign office. Turner said that Obama was “wrong” to “single out” the specific voting bloc.

“Why are black men being lectured to? Why are black men being belittled in ways that no other voting group?” Turner told a panel moderated by “CNN NewsNight” host Abby Phillip. “Now, a lot of love for former President Obama, but for him to single out black men is wrong, and some of the black men that I have talked to have their reasons why they want to vote a different way, and even if some of us may not like that, we have to respect it.”

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“So unless President Barack Obama is gonna go out and lecture every other group of men from other identity groups, my message for Democrats is don’t bring it here to black men who by and large don’t vote much differently from black women,” Turner continued.

Trump garnered 12% support from black voters in 2020, according to a CNN exit poll. Several polls, including CBS News and Fox News, indicate Trump is performing better among the demographic heading into the 2024 election.

A CNN poll released in late September showed Harris leading Trump by 55% among black voters under the age of 60, compared to a 71% margin for President Joe Biden in 2020.

“This is wrong for President Obama,” Turner said. “It is a wrong course for the Harris-Walz campaign to lay at the feet of Black men when they have their reasons.”