Arizona Democrats need less Obama and more 'Yo mama!'

Former President Barack Obama is visiting Arizona this week to rally support for Democratic candidates, and his mere presence, his intelligence and conviction, his decency, humor and charisma are a perfect reminder of what we once had, still deserve, and need in a president.

But he is not what Arizona Democrats need in a campaigner.

The fact of the matter is Obama is just a little too … nice.

During Obama’s presidential run against the late Sen. John McCain the two men ran a tough but mostly respectful campaign.

We saw it played out on TV when a woman at a campaign stop told McCain, “I can’t trust Obama. I have read about him and he’s not, he’s not uh … he’s an Arab. He’s not … .”

McCain interrupted her and said, “No, ma’am. He’s a decent family man [and] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that’s what this campaign’s all about. He’s not [an Arab].”

John McCain was booed for being civil

And McCain stuck with it, even as the crowd booed.

I know.

That seems like so, so long ago.

Perhaps because we learned during the presidency of Donald Trump that civility only works if there is mutual respect.

Crossing parties: Why some Republicans are supporting Democrats

I don’t have to tell you it no longer exists.

Not today.

Just as I don’t have to tell you that Republicans running for office in Arizona have not based their campaigns on what Sen. McCain called “disagreements on fundamental issues” but on election lies, conspiracy theories and an almost psychopathic sense of revenge.

Candidates today rant, threaten and lie with impunity

Most recently, for example, Republican candidate for governor Kari Lake jokingly spoke about the attempted murder of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, who suffered a fractured skull at the hands of a hammer-wielding assailant.

Lake also threatened to arrest any federal OSHA officials who come to Arizona. (An action that would get the arresting officers arrested.) Just as she threatened all manner of crazy stuff about the border and even threatened to “fire the federal government,” as in secede from the union.

It’s been like that all through the campaign, and for much of it Democrats have allowed Republicans to rant and threaten and lie with impunity. Never getting in the faces of the bullies.

It was a strategy based on the notion that voters ultimately will gravitate toward – you know – sane people.

Perhaps that would happen in the Hollywood version.

But that isn’t the movie we’re living in.

Obama does have 3 words in his back pocket

Bringing the former president here now is like casting Tom Hanks when you need Tom Hardy. It’s like giving the part to Will Smith when you need Samuel L. Jackson.

In the vernacular of my old steel town neighborhood, northwest of Pittsburgh, Democrats in Arizona need less Obama and more “Yo mama!”

Actually, they’ve needed it for months.

It was huge risk betting that calm would defeat crazy. That facts would overcome conspiracy theories.

But that’s where we are.

And who knows? Maybe Obama can convince Arizona voters that decent, qualified candidates, who don’t spread fear, make threats or denounce fellow citizens, can also be tough elected leaders.

After all, he could point to himself as an example by using only three words: Osama bin Laden.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Democrats need less Obama and more 'Yo mama!' for voters