Obama takes apparent jab at voters: 'You get the politicians you deserve'

While former President Barack Obama waded back into the political realm on Tuesday, encouraging people to be more civically involved during an appearance in Italy -- he seemingly took a jab at voters and those who don't bother to vote, warning them, "you get the politicians you deserve."

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"People have a tendency to blame politicians when things don't work," said the former president at the Global Food Innovation Summit in Milan. "But as I always tell people, you get the politicians you deserve. If you don't vote and don't participate and don't pay attention, you get policies that don't reflect your interests."

Since leaving the White House in January, the 44th president has repeatedly called for citizens to be more active in the democratic process. During his first post-presidential public appearance at University of Chicago last month, Obama urged young leaders to get involved.

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"The single most important thing I can do is help in any way I can prepare the next generation of leadership to take up the baton," said Obama.

In Italy on Tuesday the former president also talked about leadership. "The mark of a good leader is somebody who is able to empower other people," said Obama.

"So often, we think of leadership as somebody at the top who is ordering other people around, but it turns out, for me at least, what made me understand leadership was when I could see somebody who thought they didn't have a voice, thought they didn't have influence or didn't have power, and teach them how they could speak up on the things that were affecting their lives."

He began his post-presidential era by staying silent and out of the public eye, minus a water skiing adventure and few vacations. But the former president has become more and more politically active since President Donald Trump reached his first 100 days mark.

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On Sunday night Obama called on members of Congress to show "political courage" by opposing the repeal and replacement of his signature health care bill the Affordable Care Act as the American Health Care Act heads to the Senate.

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"I hope that current members of Congress recognize that it takes little courage to aid those who are already powerful, already comfortable, already influential," Obama said.

"But it takes great courage to champion the vulnerable, the sick and the infirm" and those with "with no access to the corridors of power."