Abdul El-Sayed Has Pitch Perfect Answer When Asked Why He's Campaigning With Obama After Previously Criticizing Him

Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Dr. Abdul El-Sayed was called out by his opposition for campaigning with support from former Democratic President Barack Obama despite having criticized the former POTUS in 2012 over deportations and drone warfare.

Now El-Sayed has directly addressed that past criticism with what some are calling a perfect analogy.

As El-Sayed was leaving the podium after speaking to the press recently, an unidentified reporter asked:

"You previously criticized President Obama. Why are you campaigning with him?"

El-Sayed returned to the podium, saying he'd answer the question, then asked the reporter:

"Do you love your dad?"

After the reporter answered in the affirmative, El-Sayed asked:

"Do you agree with everything your dad has ever done?"

When the reporter responded in the negative, El-Sayed explained:

"So, it's a normal thing to love somebody, to really appreciate all that they've done, and to say, 'Hey, here's some things that I would have done differently.'"

"But, they still did some important things to create opportunity for you. There is no world in which I get to run for office without somebody like President Obama."

You can see EL-Sayed's full response here:

El-Sayed reflected on how then Illinois state Senator Obama's 2004 Democratic National Convention speech inspired him, saying:

"I never saw politics look like that before. It was the first time I ever saw myself in a politician."

After explaining the ways in which their lives were similar, El-Sayed added:

"He was foundational to my ability to run for office. I'm so grateful that he's coming to Michigan to campaign for me. It means so much to me and I hope that I can pick up where he left off."

"You think about something like health care. He called the [Affordable Care Act] a starter home. I think we've outgrown the starter home. I think he would agree. What do we do from here?"

People appreciated El-Sayed explaining how a person can deeply respect and love their predecessors, but still criticize their choices.

@pirinolo14/X

@k3vl4rtr4d3z/X

@AtaraxiaCrev/X

In a separate statement to reporters, El-Sayed said:

"...it is to say that where we push differently is because we’ve learned from what he’s done and because we stand on the shoulders of giants."

"And so, I am so grateful to have been a young man in my 20s with Barack Hussein Obama as president. I would never have seen myself running for office."

The right has tried to paint El-Sayed as a hypocrite for campaigning with President Obama.

But it's not like the POTUS called EL-Sayed's wife ugly and said his father was part of the assassination of President Kennedy, like MAGA Republican President Donald Trump did with Texas MAGA sycophant Senator Rafael "Ted" Cruz. Nor did El-Sayed say President Obama was a "pathological liar," "utterly amoral," a "sniveling coward," and a "trainwreck" like Cruz did of Trump.

There was never any personal animosity between El-Sayed and President Obama, simply a younger generation appreciating their elders, but wanting better and more.

Now Dr. El-Sayed is trying to make that better and more happen.