Obama denounces politics of fear

-Source-Chicago Tribune- In his highest profile speech since leaving office former U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday denounced the policies of President Donald Trump without mentioning his name taking aim at the politics of fear resentment retrenchment and decrying leaders who are caught lying and just double down and lie some more. Obama was cheered by thousands in Johannesburgs Wanderers Stadium as he marked the centenary of Nelson Mandelas birth by urging respect for human rights the free press and other values he said were under threat. He rallied people to keep alive the ideals that the anti-apartheid activist worked for as the first black president of South Africa including democracy diversity gender equality and tolerance. Obama opened by calling todays times strange and uncertain adding that each days news cycle is bringing more head-spinning and disturbing headlines. We see much of the world threatening to return to a more dangerous more brutal way of doing business he said. A day after Trump met in Helsinki with Russian President Vladimir Putin Obama criticized strongman politics. The politics of fear resentment retrenchment are on the move at a pace unimaginable just a few years ago Obama added. Those in power seek to undermine every institution ... that gives democracy meaning he said.