Like Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama just won’t go away.
And like the 2016 loser, Obama never misses an opportunity to exploit identity politics.
June is Pride Month for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, which included Pride Day and several other LGBT events.
Jiwandeep Kohli, who identifies himself on Twitter as “#Neuroscientist | Clinical #Psychologist in Training | Amateur Pastry #Chef | Sometimes #Photographer | #SciComm Enthusiast | #BiInSci,”
wrote a post on Twitter on June 1.
“I’m proud to be a bisexual bearded baking brain scientist. I feel fortunate to be able to express all these aspects of my identity, and will continue to work toward ensuring the same freedom for others. #PrideMonth #PrideTurban #LoveIsLove,” he wrote.
I’m proud to be a bisexual bearded baking brain scientist. I feel fortunate to be able to express all these aspects of my identity, and will continue to work toward ensuring the same freedom for others. #PrideMonth #PrideTurban #LoveIsLove pic.twitter.com/SVhc0iwDF0
— Jiwandeep Kohli (@jiwandeepkohli) June 1, 2019
Then Obama retweeted the post with his own remarks.
“You’ve got a lot to be proud of, Jiwandeep. Thanks for everything you do to make this country a little more equal. Turban looks great, by the way. Happy Pride Month, everybody!” he wrote.
You've got a lot to be proud of, Jiwandeep. Thanks for everything you do to make this country a little more equal. Turban looks great, by the way. Happy Pride Month, everybody! https://t.co/SO7mgnOkgl
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 4, 2019
Jiwandeep has about 7,400 followers on Twitter, Obama more than 100 million. So, a retweet from the former president brought a lot of reaction — and a lot more identity politics.
#PrideMonth, I am proud of a son I lost to opioids 2 years ago on 6/30, who's wish was healing for all. I am proud to be a Persian/American mother who turned the immense pain into a healing opportunity & help others who suffer. Thank you Mr. Obama for your humanity and compassion
— LIFE Optimization Method, Dr. Manijeh Motaghy (@DrMotaghy) June 4, 2019
I'm an overweight Lebanese-Jewish heterosexual evolutionary behavioural scientist who is a war refugee. My wife self-identifies as a man. Can I get some love from Barack?
— Gad Saad (@GadSaad) June 4, 2019
https://twitter.com/walterowensgrpa/status/1135963440265252865
Of course, the call for unity and respect for all is laudable. But then again, Obama spent eight years dividing Americans into black and white, gay and straight, rich and poor, religious and non-religious, so that call is once again just for the headlines it’ll no doubt generate.
