# Why a Michigan Candidate Is Campaigning With Obama Despite Past Criticism - Original post: https://www.twitter.com/i/status/2117918273924907164 - Source account: [@pearlarianator](https://x.com/pearlarianator) - Source language: English - Duration: 1:42 - Published: 2026-11-05 - Canonical URL: https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism ## Transcript [0:00](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism) Thank you. Elsa, you've previously criticized President Obama. [0:03](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=3) Why are you campaigning with him? I'll take this question. [0:09](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=9) Do you love your dad? Yeah. Do you agree with everything your dad has ever done? [0:14](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=14) Do you? Not entirely. Yeah. 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 I would have done differently." [0:24](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=24) But they still did some important things to create opportunity for you. [0:28](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=28) There is no world in which I get to run for office without somebody like President Obama. [0:33](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=33) I remember watching his DNC speech in two thousand and four and thinking, "I never saw politics look like that before." [0:38](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=38) It was the first time I ever saw myself in a politician. [0:40](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=40) His dad immigrated from Africa. My dad immigrated from a different part of Africa. [0:44](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=44) He had mixed parents. I was raised by my dad and my stepmom, Jackie. [0:47](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=47) He got a funny name. I got a funny name. Although Remington, I'd trade you if you want. [0:51](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=51) He's tall and skinny, and that's where it ends. I'm five, eight. [0:53](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=53) All of that is to say that I deeply appreciate what he made possible for somebody like me. [0:57](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=57) And at the same time, I had criticisms. There were things that I looked at, I said, "Ah, I, I wish we could do that differently." [1:04](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=64) And you know what I'm trying to do now? I'm trying to pick up the baton and run. Right? [1:08](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=68) And that's not because of any an-animosity for him. [1:10](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=70) It's actually out of a deep love for him. [1:12](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=72) Just like I have a deep love for my dad and all that he's done to make my life possible, even if I don't agree with everything he ever did. [1:18](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=78) I have that kind of relationship with somebody like President Obama. [1:20](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=80) He was foundational to my ability to run for office. [1:22](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=82) I'm so grateful that he's coming to Michigan to campaign for me. [1:25](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=85) It means so much, and I hope that I can pick up where he left off. [1:29](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=89) You think about something like healthcare. [1:30](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=90) He ta-- called the ACA a starter home. I think we've outgrown the starter home. [1:35](https://www.translate.mom/transcript/g5qnQjcii5tx/en/why-a-michigan-candidate-is-campaigning-with-obama-despite-past-criticism?t=95) I think he would agree. What do we do from here?