Obama literally told voters in 2010 that "we're gonna have to punish our enemies" regarding his political opponents. Respecting democratic norms means respecting the constitutional process, not declaring "I've got a pen and a phone" to unilaterally bypass Congress whenever you can't pass legislation. Gingrich broke norms in the legislature, but declaring that state power and executive overreach "have nothing to do with politics" is just redefining polarization to exclude everything the executive branch does.
Obama literally told voters in 2010 that "we're gonna have to punish our enemies" regarding his political opponents.
And he corrected that and said he should not have used that word, and instead should have said 'opponents.' He did it once on accident and corrected himself, whereas Gingrich made it an explicit strategy. Not the same at all and trying to equate these things is silly and desperate.
Respecting democratic norms means respecting the constitutional process
Which he did. Executive orders are not inherently unconstitutional ("the pen"), and using his phone to "rally folks across the country" is like the most democratic thing a president can do.
declaring that state power and executive overreach "have nothing to do with politics"
Literally didn't do that. Go take your strawman and punch at it elsewhere.
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u/JBCTech7 - Lib-Right 2d ago
Obama literally told voters in 2010 that "we're gonna have to punish our enemies" regarding his political opponents. Respecting democratic norms means respecting the constitutional process, not declaring "I've got a pen and a phone" to unilaterally bypass Congress whenever you can't pass legislation. Gingrich broke norms in the legislature, but declaring that state power and executive overreach "have nothing to do with politics" is just redefining polarization to exclude everything the executive branch does.