El-Sayed Compares Obama To His Father Amid Election Campaign
Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed compares former President Obama to his father during interview, ahead of joint campaign event.
2 min read
Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed drew comparisons between former President Barack Obama and his own father during a recent Meet the Press interview, as the two prepare to campaign together in Detroit. El-Sayed, who has previously criticized Obama’s presidency, likened his past remarks to second-guessing a parent.
El-Sayed’s Reflection on Obama
During the interview with NBC moderator Kristen Welker, El-Sayed was asked whether he still viewed Obama’s presidency as a failure. In a 2012 HuffPost essay, El-Sayed had written that Obama “was not the right choice” and that “the list of his failures goes on.”
El-Sayed responded by acknowledging the difficult circumstances Obama faced, saying, “He was handed a really difficult set of circumstances, and he did his best.” When Welker asked if her parents were still living, El-Sayed used the opportunity to draw a parallel, stating, “I wouldn’t have my life but for my dad’s efforts. At the same time, there’s a lot of things about my dad I would do differently, right?”
El-Sayed’s Campaign and Political Context
In hindsight, El-Sayed called Obama a “really capable leader” and a “mentor.” Despite his past criticisms, El-Sayed’s campaign has stated that his earlier remarks do not reflect hostility toward Obama. He used a similar line in an Instagram video, asking, “Do you love your dad? Do you agree with everything your dad has ever done?”
Obama is set to appear with El-Sayed and gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson on October 24, the day in-person voting begins in Michigan. El-Sayed faces Republican Mike Rogers in the November 3 election. A recent YouGov poll showed El-Sayed leading Rogers 49% to 48%, with the two trading sharp attacks in a debate in Grand Rapids.
El-Sayed also expressed regret for his March remarks following the Temple Israel synagogue attack, saying he wishes he had “thought twice” before making them.
Source: Daily Wire
