When people criticize or respond negatively to me, usually they’re responding to this character that they’re seeing on TV called Barack Obama, or the office of the presidency, or the White House and what that represents. So, you don’t take it personally. You understand that if people are angry that somehow the government is failing, than they are going to look to the guy who represents government.
Barack Obama talking with Ta-Nehisi Coates for The Atlantic.
This is of course not limited to elected officials. Every person can function as a representative of their organization or profession. It happens to doctors every day because healthcare is broken. It can even happen to the CEO of United Airlines.