Democrats have spoken out of both sides of their mouths on the matter of redistricting.

Proposed changes to congressional maps that would boost Democrats' chances in elections are, on the one hand, purportedly a means to "help level the playing field," a way to "restore fairness," and — in the words of Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger — a "response to what we're seeing in other states that have taken extreme measures to undermine democratic norms."

'Gerrymandering is when politicians manipulate the maps in order to predetermine the outcome.'

When faced with proposed changes to congressional maps that threaten their power, Democrats have alternatively likened redistricting efforts to the Holocaust, called them "a threat to democracy," and characterized them as "authoritarian."

This hypocrisy has proven to be an issue for proponents of Virginia's proposed constitutional amendment, which is on the ballot in the April 21 special election.

The National Democratic Redistricting Committee — a supporter of voting "yes" in the gerrymandering referendum that would all but ensure that 10 out of the state's 11 congressional seats go to Democrats — complained on Thursday about opponents of the proposed amendment turning to former President Barack Obama for support.

"A MAGA-aligned dark money group is trying to fool Virginia voters with a dishonest mailer that features an unauthorized photo of President Barack Obama and lies about his position on the Virginia referendum," the NDRC said.

"The 'No' campaign and its allied MAGA-funded dark money groups are so terrified of the voters that they are resorting to desperate, deceptive tactics like this one to spread misinformation and lies," said John Bisognano, president of the NDRC. "There is no confusion. President Obama endorses voting YES to stop Trump and his MAGA allies from rigging our elections and to protect the rights and voting power of the American people ahead of the midterms."

One of the mailers features an image of Obama along with the quote, "For too long, gerrymandering has contributed to stalled progress and warped our representative government," reported the Virginia Mercury.

While characterized by the NDRC and the NAACP Virginia State Conference as so-called misinformation, the Obama quote is indeed genuine — and its context is damning.

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Scott Olson/Getty Images

Obama wrote in a July 8, 2020, post on X, "For too long, gerrymandering has contributed to stalled progress and warped our representative government. Redistricting begins next year — let’s all do our part to protect and restore our democracy."

Obama then urged Americans to join him "in the fight for fair maps" — specifically to support a possible constitutional amendment that would curb gerrymandering.

In the video accompanying the former president's 2020 post, Obama states, "Gerrymandering is a sneaky way for politicians to consolidate as much power as they can."

Another activist featured in the video adds, "Gerrymandering is when politicians manipulate the maps in order to predetermine the outcome so that it benefits one side over the other."

'Barack Obama, Abigail Spanberger, and others have already spoken against this kind of gerrymandering.'

Eric Holder, former President Obama's scandal-plagued attorney general, notes in the video that "you see the greatest amount of voter suppression when you see the greatest amount of gerrymandering."

Desperate to secure a majority in the U.S. House in the midterm elections, Obama and Democrats have jettisoned their supposedly principled stance from yesteryear and are now speaking out of the other side of their mouths.

Obama, specifically, is supporting the "yes" campaign.

In addition to featuring in a video championing Democrat gerrymandering, he stated last month, "Several Republican-controlled states have redrawn their congressional maps to give themselves an unfair advantage in the midterm elections. Now Virginia has a chance to help level the playing field."

The mailer that highlighted Obama's hypocrisy and urged voters to "Protect Minority Representation" was sent to Virginia voters last week by the Justice for Democracy PAC, reported the Virginia Independent News.

A similar graphic was reportedly texted to Virginia voters by the Democracy and Justice PAC — which, like Justice for Democracy, is chaired by former Virginia Del. A.C. Cordoza (R) — along with the following message, "President Barack Obama says 'For too long gerrymandering has contributed to our stalled progress and warped our representative government.' That's why it’s important next month to vote NO against Virginia’s redistricting effort."

As proponents of the gerrymandering initiative melted down over the sight of Obama in the opposition mailers, Cordoza said in a statement to CNN, "No one can refute the accuracy of the quotes we’re presenting. Barack Obama, Abigail Spanberger, and others have already spoken against this kind of gerrymandering — I’m simply reminding voters where they stood."

A Tazewell County judge ruled on Jan. 27 that the proposed constitutional amendment was unlawful. The Virginia Supreme Court then ruled last month that Virginians can still vote for it in the statewide April referendum, though the commonwealth high court may yet uphold the lower court's injunction.

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