A lot has happened since Barack Obama left the White House, so it should surprise no one that in the former president’s return to the spotlight Monday, he had a lot to say.

Obama didn’t offer any criticism of his successor, Donald Trump. Instead, he offered a list of four things he said are wrong with American politics today.

First, Obama drew laughs from students in the audience at the University of Chicago by jokingly asking, “So, what’s been going on while I’ve been gone?” There was no mention of Trump in his opening remarks.

(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)


Former President Barack Obama: "So, uh, what's been going on while I've been gone?" pic.twitter.com/IUao9GdkV1 — CSPAN (@cspan) April 24, 2017

Obama zeroed in on four things he said hinder good government and get in the way of finding solutions to major issues of our time such as climate change, economic inequality, a lack of opportunity and a criminal justice system under siege.

His four issues? Political gerrymandering, money in politics, a politicized media and voter apathy.

“All those problems are serious, they’re daunting, but they’re not insoluble,” Obama said. “What is preventing us from tackling them and making more progress really has to do with our politics and our civic life.”


Obama: The single most important thing I can do is prepare next generation to take its crack at changing the world https://t.co/hmdsUWI2He — CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) April 24, 2017

Here’s what Obama said, specifically.

On political gerrymandering

“Because of things like political gerrymandering, our parties have moved further and further apart, and it’s harder and harder to find common ground.”

On money in politics

“Special interests dominate the debates in Washington in ways that don’t match up with what the broad majority of Americans feel.”


On a ‘politicized media’

“Because of changes in the media, we now have a situation in which everybody’s listening to people they already agree with, and are further and further reinforcing their realities to the neglect of a common reality that allows us to have a healthy debate and then try too find common ground and actually move solutions forward.”

On voter apathy

“When I said in 2004 that there were no red states or blue states, there were United States of America, that was an aspirational comment. And it’s one, by the way, that I still believe when you talk to individuals one on one, there’s a lot more that people have in common than divides them.”

“But that obviously isn’t true when it comes to our politics and our civic life. And maybe more pernicious is the fact that people just aren’t involved — they get cynical and they give up. And as a consequence we have some of the lowest voting rates in any advanced democracy and low participation rates that translate into a further gap between who’s governing us and what we believe.”

Obama’s remarks — the first after a three-month, self-imposed seclusion from public life since Jan. 20 — were broadcast live on cable television and generated a lively conversation on Twitter. While some people discussed having Obama back in the public dialogue, others weighed in on his message.


Hearing President Obama speak right now is reminding me of how much I miss having a president who I love and respect... pic.twitter.com/iyXR8SXOrv — Caroline Orr (@RVAwonk) April 24, 2017

It's so strange watching and listening to President Obama right now. It feels like ages ago that this sense of calm I feel was mundane. — Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) April 24, 2017

There were reactions to Obama’s remarks on gerrymandering.

I hope President Obama will work on fixing the gerrymandering that places so many districts at disadvantage. Wasn't he planning on that? — ∂eαԻ ℛεα∂eΓ დ (@jk_steady) April 24, 2017


Obama blames the democrat collapse on gerrymandering. Always someone's fault other than his own. Good, he'll never improve. — Mendy (@mendy721) April 24, 2017

And then there were reactions to his remarks about money in politics.

Obama thinks money in politics is a problem?!! If only he'd been in a position to do something about that!! #Gfy — Mel Knows It's Owl Happening Again🦉 (@melgray8) April 24, 2017


Obama just clearly stated our major problem, Money In Politics. Look, until we change that we won't change as a nation — J. Fonte (@J_Fonte28) April 24, 2017

But there were also some reactions on his take on the evolution of media, which includes social media.

Sooo, same ol' #PresidentObama 😴



Obama blames current political climate on social media and cable news https://t.co/D1mqpFyH45 pic.twitter.com/8CARZlpvHj — I Yam What I Yam (@Nvr4Get91101) April 24, 2017


Obama trotting out that same old tired lines about media, despite four months of vacation — Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) April 24, 2017

And then others chimed in on his remarks about voter apathy.

As fmr President Obama reiterates, civic engagement by young people should be encouraged. One of those avenues can be the Americorps program https://t.co/qF5oWCNH7z — Pablo W. Best (@thinkactlead_) April 24, 2017


Nice to see #POTUS44 come out of hibernation. By encouraging civic engagement & respect he can make a useful contribution all should applaud — Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) April 24, 2017

Do you agree with Obama’s assessment of what’s wrong with American politics today? What do you think are the solutions to those problems? Watch his full remarks here and share your thoughts.

Have some thoughts to share?

Join me in a conversation: Shoot me a private email with your thoughts or ideas on a different approach to this story. As always, you can also send us a tweet.


Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @RunGomez