Barack Obama criticises 'defund the police' slogan as a voter turn-off
Barack Obama has criticised the use of the "defund the police" slogan by Democrat activists, saying it lost them a "big audience" with voters.
However, the former president was immediately lambasted by left-wing members of his own party who said it was a "policy demand".
The controversial term emerged following the death of George Floyd while under arrest in Minneapolis in May.
Its proponents support reallocating police funding, in varying degrees, to other areas such as social services and community programmes.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Mr Obama said: "If you believe, as I do, that we should be able to reform the criminal justice system so that it’s not biased and treats everybody fairly, I guess you can use a snappy slogan, like 'defund the police'.
"But, you know, you lost a big audience the minute you say it, which makes it a lot less likely that you’re actually going to get the changes you want done."
Mr Obama added: "The key is deciding, do you want to actually get something done, or do you want to feel good among the people you already agree with?"
He said Democrat activists should instead ask questions such as how to divert young people from getting into crime, and whether mental health workers rather than armed police officers could be sent out to deal with a homeless person.
The former president said: "You know, suddenly a whole bunch of folks who might not otherwise listen to you are listening to you."
However, his comments were criticised by Ilhan Omar, the Democrat congresswoman from Minnesota, who said: "We lose people in the hands of police. It’s not a slogan but a policy demand."
Rashida Tlaib, the Democrat congresswoman from Michigan, said: "Rosa Parks was vilified and attacked for her civil disobedience. She was targeted.
"It's hard seeing the same people who uplift her courage attack the movement for Black lives."
Cori Bush, a black woman elected to Congress from Missouri last month, said: "With all due respect Mr President, let’s talk about losing people. We’re losing our loved ones to police violence. It’s not a slogan. It’s a mandate for keeping our people alive. Defund the police."
Asked if the Democrat party was no longer "cool" and young people were flocking to support Bernie Sanders, the democratic socialist, Mr Obama said he believed "socialism is still a loaded term for a lot of folks".
But he appeared to criticise his own party for not giving Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the young congresswoman from New York, enough time to speak at its national convention.
He said she should be "given a platform".
Mr Obama said: "But, you know, the fact that an AOC only got, what, three minutes or five minutes? When she speaks to a broad section of young people who are interested in what she has to say.
"New blood is always good. And I say that as somebody who used to be the young, shiny cool guy. But now the grey-haired, old grizzled vet."
