@MSNBC Y'all need to stop with that particular phrase…
— Kenny Baker (@Kennybaker85) April 24, 2017
Earlier today, former President Obama did what he does best and took the stage to lecture other people on the importance of leadership and personal responsibility. But don’t worry: He’s not looking to jump back into the political fray anytime soon. At least not according to his former press secretary and current MSNBC political analyst Josh Earnest.
As Earnest told Chris Jansing, Obama’s not going to get involved in politics again — unless it’s absolutely necessary:
Josh Earnest: Obama would jump in if government crosses 'red lines' https://t.co/abNKiQgzhJ pic.twitter.com/LwS8wlAkrK
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) April 24, 2017
Transcript:
Jansing: What do you think would motivate to get back involved in the public debate in a way he’s not willing to do right now?
Earnest: Well, Chris, after the last eight years, the president doesn’t relish the prospect of getting back into the day-to-day fights that characterize governing the United States of America in the 21st century. The president doesn’t have much interest in, you know, weighing in on the tax reform proposals that the Trump folks are promising to release later this week. He doesn’t have much of an interest in weighing in on what steps Republicans in Congress can take to keep the government open. He spent the last eight years doing it. It’s somebody else’s turn to do that now. I think what would motivate President Obama is if we saw the federal government start to cross some clear red lines in terms of long-observed norms and values that, frankly, I think that we’ve started to take for granted.
What was that about “red lines,” Josh?
@MSNBC Winner of "Today in Unintentional Irony"https://t.co/qiiYHYtsNW
— Chelsea's Resumé (@EF517_V2) April 24, 2017
Like we've never heard that one before?
Please. https://t.co/1XuMyhEylD
— Tommy (@formerftt) April 24, 2017
Seriously. Earnest is nothing if not a colossal tool, but of all the phrasing to use, he went with “red lines”?
@MSNBC I can't believe the idiot actually used the phrase "red lines".
— I'm The Bomb (@MeosoFunny) April 24, 2017
Not your brightest moment, Josh. Not that there are a whole lot to choose from.
@MSNBC Red lines again? ??????
— Pat Loep (@PatLoep) April 24, 2017
@MSNBC We going with this red line garbage again? SMDH
— Ker' Plunk (@OICANCITNOW) April 24, 2017
@MSNBC He actually said red lines ? What a joke
— brendan (@giants2007) April 24, 2017
@MSNBC We all know how serious the red lines are. Watch out.
— ??Michael Lazzaro (@mlazzaro) April 24, 2017
@MSNBC like Obama jumped in when Syria crossed its red line????
— D. Simone (@d4simone) April 24, 2017
@MSNBC like in Syria?
— 70's Mollymook Lad (@SirLiberal) April 24, 2017
@MSNBC Like Syria?
— Glenn Amurgis (@gamurgis) April 24, 2017
@MSNBC Like his red line in Syria?
— Socratic Oath (@SocraticOath_) April 24, 2017
@MSNBC Is this the same kind of red line this bastard threatened Syria with, or nah?
— Natasha Fatale (@N_Fatale) April 24, 2017
500k dead Syrians would like to tell you, to get fucked Josh. https://t.co/GzTPauESXk
— Mujahed Kobbe (@Moj_kobe) April 24, 2017
He didn't jump past a red line for the worst genocide/refugee crisis since WWII so yeah not holding our breath here Josh. https://t.co/7AyLV5mLeG
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) April 24, 2017
@MSNBC @AaronMagid If these are anything like his Syrian red lines then no one has anything to worry about.
— Kiran Ahmed (@kiranahmedd) April 24, 2017
i mean, we already know Obama does not act when 'red lines' are crossed. So nbd https://t.co/2C8p4mMkq0
— Corinne Clark (@corinnec) April 24, 2017
@MSNBC Lol. If you're gonna wait for Obama to act with another "crossing the red line" you're gonna be waiting forever.
— Jack Trilling (@HandsomeJack71) April 24, 2017
@MSNBC yeah we've all seen what Obama does with red lines
— Scrappy (@vonscrappy) April 24, 2017
@MSNBC LMAO! We all know how Obama is with "red lines."
— Johnny Philistine (@TejasGator) April 24, 2017
@MSNBC Well we all know how much red lines mean to him…
— Anthony Tamburello (@POTUS2078) April 24, 2017
@MSNBC @joshearnest not the best use of term "red line" since @POTUS44 seems to draw them and let everyone cross them without consequence
— Michael Zientz (@mwz524) April 24, 2017
@MSNBC Last time he put a red line out there he did jack. Soooooo
— Loren C (@LorenSethC) April 24, 2017
@MSNBC Yeah, because he's got a stellar track record of enforcing red lines. NOT
— dfconservative (@BigRfaze) April 24, 2017
@MSNBC Do you REALLY want Obama talking about 'red lines'?
— Chris McAllister (@themanfronUNCLE) April 24, 2017
@MSNBC Hey Joshy….the red line is way behind you.
— IGOBYBTOTHEJ (@Wewdrshug) April 24, 2017
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional tweets.